Giving your toddler benadry or dramaine for airplane???/

[Lulu's Mom]

I do not want to sound like I am attempting to drug my child to sleep, but we have a red eye flight in a little over a week and I wanted to ensure that my 2 year old DD sleeps the whole time. Has anyone ever given their toddler benadryl or dramamine to help their little angels sleep better??? Also did you test it before you left tp ensure that it did not have the reverse effects??

I usually just give her tylenol and a lollypop, helps her, but I want to ensure that she sleeps the whole time.

Thanks

 

[LynnTH]

I have done this a couple of times. I checked with my Doctor beforehand and he said it was fine to do. We gave our DS (when he was younger) a dose about an hour before we were scheduled to depart. Worked great and he slept most of the way. We used Benadryl and we did try it out at home first because some kids get the opposite effect and get all pumped up.

 

[MommaPooh217]

Hello,

Not to be rude but it sounds like that is exactly what you are doing.You really don't want to give a 2 year old something like benadryl that can (and has) had the opposite effect of what you want. And I would not even consider Dramamine for a 2 year old. If you want her to sleep try keeping her up a little past her bedtime so that she does take a good nap and bring some small toys and books to keep her occupied in the meantime. Getting a portable cd and some story disks is also a good idea. Get her some sticker books and some paper dolls is also a good idea and willl keep her busy til she's tired enough to nap. No plane ride is long enough to resort to giving your child medication unless that child it truly sick and needs it.

As a mother of 4 children 23, 20, 7 , and 3 and the survivor of countless 14 hour drives to Orlando trust me when I say there is a better alternative . Ask yourself this question..Is this in the best interest of my child ? The people on this board are full of good ideas and can probably make some great suggestions as to an alternative to medicating your child. Have a lovely trip and enjoy every moment with you DD 2 . I apologize I somehow offened you but this is just MHO.

Blessed Be,
Tina

 

[hoosiergirl7]

Just an FYI thought, when we talked to our Dr. about it when we had to give it to DS, she told me that some kids get hyper on it rather than sleepy. It has reverse effects in some kids. Ans she also said that some kids don't react at all to it. They function normally. She warned me so that I didn't automatically assume that he'd conk out when we gave it to him. Our son has yet to get really sleepy from it. It just doesn't have much affect on him and that's okay.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Hello,

Not to be rude but it sounds like that is exactly what you are doing.You really don't want to give a 2 year old something like benadryl that can (and has) had the opposite effect of what you want. And I would not even consider Dramamine for a 2 year old. If you want her to sleep try keeping her up a little past her bedtime so that she does take a good nap and bring some small toys and books to keep her occupied in the meantime. Getting a portable cd and some story disks is also a good idea. Get her some sticker books and some paper dolls is also a good idea and willl keep her busy til she's tired enough to nap. No plane ride is long enough to resort to giving your child medication unless that child it truly sick and needs it.

As a mother of 4 children 23, 20, 7 , and 3 and the survivor of countless 14 hour drives to Orlando trust me when I say there is a better alternative . Ask yourself this question..Is this in the best interest of my child ? The people on this board are full of good ideas and can probably make some great suggestions as to an alternative to medicating your child. Have a lovely trip and enjoy every moment with you DD 2 . I apologize I somehow offened you but this is just MHO.

Blessed Be,
Tina

 

[Lulu's Mom]

Hello,

Not to be rude but it sounds like that is exactly what you are doing.You really don't want to give a 2 year old something like benadryl that can (and has) had the opposite effect of what you want. And I would not even consider Dramamine for a 2 year old. If you want her to sleep try keeping her up a little past her bedtime so that she does take a good nap and bring some small toys and books to keep her occupied in the meantime. Getting a portable cd and some story disks is also a good idea. Get her some sticker books and some paper dolls is also a good idea and willl keep her busy til she's tired enough to nap. No plane ride is long enough to resort to giving your child medication unless that child it truly sick and needs it.

As a mother of 4 children 23, 20, 7 , and 3 and the survivor of countless 14 hour drives to Orlando trust me when I say there is a better alternative . Ask yourself this question..Is this in the best interest of my child ? The people on this board are full of good ideas and can probably make some great suggestions as to an alternative to medicating your child. Have a lovely trip and enjoy every moment with you DD 2 . I apologize I somehow offened you but this is just MHO.

Blessed Be,
Tina

Not that I am taking offense to what you said... but I do not think that I fully explained the situation. We are taking a red eye flight, leaving home at 11:47 pm and landing at 6:45 am the next morning. It is only a 5 hour flight.

I usually give my DD tylenol because she does get sick on planes.. ie diareha, not wanting to eat, restlessness, being uncomfortable and so on, unfortuantly we are not privledged enough to be able to drive to Orlando since we live in Nevada.

Also I am very good at entertaining my child especially on airplanes since this will be our 8th trip with our DD so I am extremley expeirenced in this matter and I know what to do to keep her occupied. Getting her to sleep is the hard part since she does get sick and has her chair, or my DH or myself to sleep on.

I appreciate your concern and if I made it sound like I just wanted to drug her that is my fault. But maybe you should not be so quick to judge.

 

[la79al]

I felt guilty about Nyquil so I tried melatonin once when DD DESPERATELY needed sleep. It worked very well and since it is more natural, I felt better.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Our pediatrician gave her toddlers Benadryl to sleep on the plane. It was her first time giving them Benadryl, and they both threw up on the plane! I don't think that is a common reaction, but I mention it just so you can try Benadryl one night at home before the trip (maybe on a weekend?) to see how they react. Our pediatrician had a miserable flight!

As far as the safety, the label for Beandryl says to consult a doctor for kids under six. You will probably need to call your pediatircian to get the right dose, usually based on weight. We have given Benadryl to our DD when she was under six (doctor's orders for allergies), and we had to find out the right dose from the doctor.

Best wishes for a happy flight!

 

[isla bonita]

Just a thought if you do not know how your child reacts to the benadryl I would not give it.

My guys have the oppisite reaction. We used it for an allergic reaction and they were bouncing off walls. Not a thing you want to happen on a plane I might add.

 

[noahynav]

Well, I plan on giving my 2 yo Benadryl for our flight next week, but I am doing it because I am worried about ear pain. Am I wrong in assuming that Benadryl helps with ear pain? Is there anything else I can give for ear pain?

 

[MrsPete]

I appreciate your concern and if I made it sound like I just wanted to drug her that is my fault. But maybe you should not be so quick to judge.

The child has no medical need for the drug. You're talking about giving it to her for your convenience. If that's not drugging the child, what is?

I checked with my mom, the Director of Children's Protective Services for this county, and she verified what I already suspected: what you're talking about is illegal. Chances of anyone noticing, caring, or reporting you is slim, but it is illegal.

Maybe I've just been lucky, but my kids have always been great travelers -- even when they were toddlers. Depending upon the situation, we often kept them up extra-long so they'll go to sleep on their own. We always let them pack a small number of quiet toys, and that works great.

 

[MrsPete]

Well, I plan on giving my 2 yo Benadryl for our flight next week, but I am doing it because I am worried about ear pain. Am I wrong in assuming that Benadryl helps with ear pain? Is there anything else I can give for ear pain?

No, Benadryl won't help with ear pressure while flying. Here's what will:

Infants: Bottles or nursing
Toddlers: Lollipops
Children: Gum

 

[littlelambie]

We give ds Gravol about an hour before we depart. He is usually asleep before the rest of the passangers have finished boarding. We usually give it to him to ensure he sleeps, because we usually have to be out of the house by 330 in the morning!!! We find that if he sleeps on the plane, life is so much easier when we land, collect our luggage and clear customs. My dr. said Gravol was safe, and my ds has a heart condition, and it was still safe.

 

[Disney4Drew]

I will not and do not give my son ANY type of medication unless he is ill. I don't understand this at all...

 

[Ellielovesdisney]

I have never given DD(3) any medication to sleep, but I can understand the circumstances that would lead to this decision I think you should do what you feel is right for your situation, with direction from your pediatrician.

 

[tammy1210]

I asked our Ped about giving ds something when he was four and it was his first flight - he's extremely nervous about certain things and doesn't mind pitching a total loud fit if he's scared of something - I had no idea how he'd react on the plane - she suggested Benadryl to make him sleepy - but, she did tell me to try it before we left because it will have the opposite effect on some kids. BTW - he was as calm as a cucumber and can't wait for our next plane ride!

I can also understand your circumstance - we're going to the Virgin Islands in Nov and we're looking at a 4 hour plane ride with our 3 year old - not sure how that's going to go!

Also - remember with the new airline guidelines that you won't be able to take Benadryl on the plane so it would have to be given before you got on.

 

[Manda]

The child has no medical need for the drug. You're talking about giving it to her for your convenience. If that's not drugging the child, what is?

I checked with my mom, the Director of Children's Protective Services for this county, and she verified what I already suspected: what you're talking about is illegal. Chances of anyone noticing, caring, or reporting you is slim, but it is illegal.

I find that hard to believe. The generic version of Benadryl is marketed as a sleep aid in Tylenol PM, Motrin PM, etc. It's commonly prescribed as a sleep aid both when it was prescription only and now that it's over the counter. I take Tylenol PM often myself when I'm traveling. I don't see how helping a child to sleep would be any different. I was given prescription Benadryl as a child for sleep issues.

 

[karenTX]

No, Benadryl won't help with ear pressure while flying. Here's what will:

Infants: Bottles or nursing
Toddlers: Lollipops
Children: Gum

Benadryl may help with the sleeping since it is an Antihistamine but as for helping ears...all it does is dry you up. What helps with the ears is a Decongestant which shrinks down membranes. Unfortunately, most children's degongestants have pseudophedrine in it that hypes most kids up.

I just went over all this today with DD's doctor. He gave a prescription for PediaTex which is mainly a decongestant (non-pseudophedrine) with a small amount of antihistamine in it. She has had it before and did great. We talked at length about the benadryl thing. He saw no problem with it in small amount for a long or overnight flight. Since my flight is only 2 hrs, he'd rather I didn't, hince the PediaTex for her allergies instead, if we need it.

I'd just talk to your doctor and do what is in your mother's instinct to do. You're her mom not us, you know your child best. There should be no flaming or finger wagging, or threats of legal action.

 

[Married_A_Disney_Nut]

HI

Don't let anyone tell you what to do with YOUR child! You know your child best, and as long as you and your doctor ok the use of the medication then by all means go ahead IMHO

My dd threw up all over the airplane because on her first flight ever to Europe we were naive and thought she'd be fine. From then on it was Gravol for us - the pleasant side effect is that she sleeps especially during evening or early am flights. It's not so good for daytime flights as it screws up her sleep schedule.

My younger dd now gets gravol too - I don't want to try out another child vomiting all over the seats etc. It isn't a great way to start of a trip - I felt sorry for the people around us because if they are smell sensitive as I am just the smell and the idea of someone vomiting can make me sick.

The gravol here in Canada is safe for infants and comes in liquid form as well as chewable tablets - i think dramadine is your US equivalent.

Take care, have a good flight and do what you think is right for your child.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I checked with my mom, the Director of Children's Protective Services for this county, and she verified what I already suspected: what you're talking about is illegal. Chances of anyone noticing, caring, or reporting you is slim, but it is illegal.

As a PP stated, the active ingredient in Benadryl is used and marketed as an over the counter sleep aid, which is her intended purpose. She is hardly using a medicine for a non-approved purpose. If her pediatrican OKs it (being a medical doctor, not a social worker), why in the world would you care or give her a hard time? It is not illegal to give non prescription medications for their intended purpose under the direction of a physician - where do you get this stuff?

To the OP, check with your pediatrician and listen to him/her, not any of us, particularly those who would be so bold as to criticize the parenting skills of someone they don't know. Let's hope Children's Protective Services would utilize their employees and resources on problems that need to be solved.

Sending pixie dust for a safe flight and that you survive this thread!