Benadryl and flying with toddler and infant...

[jrb022704]

Our pediatrician told me to give the kiddos (3.5 y/o and 10 months) benadryl before leaving to help them sleep on the plane. Has anyone tried this and did it work? If so, how early on do I need to give it to them?

 

[Tikicampers]

Have you given your kids benadryl before? I ask, becasue my mother gave it to my brother once when he was young. The doctor told her it would knock him out. Well, it didn't. He was bouncing off the walls. Not all children react to it the same way.
I should say, that I do not like to give my kids any medicine unless it is absolutely neccessary. Will your older child watch a dvd on a portable player?

 

[wrighter]

I have to second the notion of trying it out at home before using it when traveling. And keep in mind that when it comes to the excitement of air travel, sometimes you just never know what you're going to get. I tried the Benadryl out on both of my kids at home, and it totally knocked them out. On the plane, however, it just made them groggy and grouchy, but they never slept.

Use your judgement on this one, and I also agree that investing in a portable DVD player is TOTALLY worth it. Good luck!

 

[jrb022704]

I have to second the notion of trying it out at home before using it when traveling. And keep in mind that when it comes to the excitement of air travel, sometimes you just never know what you're going to get. I tried the Benadryl out on both of my kids at home, and it totally knocked them out. On the plane, however, it just made them groggy and grouchy, but they never slept.

Use your judgement on this one, and I also agree that investing in a portable DVD player is TOTALLY worth it. Good luck!

I do have a portable dvd player and plan on bringing it. I just didn't know what to do about the benadryl since the pediatrician is the one who recommended it. My son has never had it and I don't remember the reaction my daughter had when she had it over a year ago.

 

[all4fun]

Our pediatrician told me to give the kiddos (3.5 y/o and 10 months) benadryl before leaving to help them sleep on the plane. Has anyone tried this and did it work? If so, how early on do I need to give it to them?

He told you to give your 10mos old Benadryl? I read on Dr Sears site HERE that you're not supposed to give children under one year this to sleep. Not that you should let an internet doctor trump your real doctor but maybe get a second opinion from a pharmacist or another ped first. jmo. When we flew w/ds the first time he was about this age and he slept in his car seat w/out any help from drugs so I don't personally think its necessary. When we go to WDW it's a 6-7 hrs flying time since we have to travel x-country.

There are also herbal (homeopathic) sleep remedies you can use w/children that I personally would feel more comfortable with. Calms Forte 4 Kids is one (only recommended for age 2+). I've used the adult version on myself and thought it worked nicely to help me relax and there were no side effects in the morning.

hth

 

[Manda]

I've found that Benadryl as a sleep helper comes in much more handy at bed time on the first night in the hotel room. My kid just could. not. stop. It was madness. I finally gave him 1/2 a tablet of chewable Benadryl and he was asleep in 20 minutes. Considering I take Tylenol PM myself in similar circumstances, I don't really have a problem with it.

I've given it to him for flights before. On our first trip down, it worked on the way down, but not the way back. I gave him 1/2 a chewable as we were in line waiting to board and it kicked in right as we started taxi-ing. He nodded off right as we went up into the air. It seems to work well if it's bed time or nap time any way and you know he's going to need help getting to calm down and fall asleep in the middle of airplane excitement. However, if it's not a time where he'd be tired any way, it's probably not going to knock him out.

 

[bumbershoot]

Going along with all4fun here. Dr Sears is a very trusted doctor (and father of several).

I just had an experience with a prescription drug like benadryl, where the dentist required DS to have it before his appointment, I stupidly went along with it, and DS was bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day. It did NOT calm him down, and DS was an angry, furious, tasmanian devil who refused a nap, despite getting up VERY early for the appointment, until 5pm in the afternoon (he's 3 but he still likes his 2 hour nap normally at 1 or 2).

That said, I think drugging a kiddo for the *possible* convenience for a flight is a tricky one. If they react opposite (and just b/c they respond sleepily to it once doesn't mean they will every time...I myself have random reactions to OTCs depending on the day), it's going to be a rotten experience.

Plus, and this is IMO, you're taking away the truly FUN experience of flying...maybe they wont' like it, but maybe they'll be like my boy and really enjoy the vast experiences of flying...seeing the often-pretty (or maybe i'm just spoiled with SeaTac's updates) airports, seeing all those people, interacting with kind flight attendants, and so on and so forth. My guy hasn't been an angel, but he's enjoyed quite a bit of the flights he's been on.


Anyway, your ped has recommended this, but many others do NOT.

Oh and homeopathic remedies are AMAZING. We've had great luck with Rescue Remedy (to calm EVERYONE down). Boiron brand chamomile used to work great until DS got ahold of the whole bottle and it hasn't worked since.

 

[pumpkin5156]

Just remember that doctors are practicing medicine. They don't always have the best judgment, and YOU know your kids better than anyone!

I am not opposed to giving medicine as a sleep aid very rarely, but I would do what the pp said, and use it the first night in the hotel. I once took 3 Tylenol PM's on a 16 hour flight and didn't get one wink of shut eye. I just cannot sleep on planes, and instead I felt like I had a hang over and my eyes wouldn't stay open (yet I couldn't sleep). SO, all in all.....I'd say forget it on the plane (unless it is a red eye), and use it for that first night in the hotel room. Those little nerves will be running all over the place!


Have fun

 

[barkley]

Have you given your kids benadryl before? I ask, becasue my mother gave it to my brother once when he was young. The doctor told her it would knock him out. Well, it didn't. He was bouncing off the walls. Not all children react to it the same way.
I should say, that I do not like to give my kids any medicine unless it is absolutely neccessary. Will your older child watch a dvd on a portable player?

i have to echo this-my dd takes benadryl fine but it sends ds off the deep end, literaly wires him up.

 

[Rapunzel]

I've only had to give my son Benedryl once, and it made him a hyper monkey.

I suppose if you talked to your doctor already and they suggest it you could try it, however I dont think I could drug my kids to fly.

I'd suggest if you want him to be calm to use a little lavender oil or lotion.

 

[2goofykids]

Hi. When we flew to disney with my dd for the first time she was 9 months. Her pediatrician also recommened Benadryl. I did try it at home first and only worked so-so. Instead we ended up giving her Tylenol Cold, which has the antihistamine, decongestant, and tylenol in it. I was mostly worried about ear pain (my ds & I both have bad ear pain on planes). It worked well that time. We just went again last month and she was 19 months. I'm not sure it helped as much on the way home, but it did take us a long time to get off the ground so it is possible it was wearing off. I usually gave my kids the tylenol cold about half an hour to an hour before we got on the plane, so it had time to start working.
Also, remember the restrictions on liquid medicines. The first time we took my dd it was right after the original no liquid ban, so we put just enough in a small container and gave it to her before we went through security. We waited until close to boarding time to go through security, the lines weren't bad so we could do that.
HTH!

 

[jeepgirl30]

First, I would not recommend bendryl just to get the infant to sleep. It has had opposite effects on my kids.

Also, I noticed you posted on another thread about having the children share a seat on the flight. If you are wanting the kids to sleep perhaps you'd be better off letting the older child have their own seat. It seems a bit unsafe to strap them in together if they are going to be sleeping. My kids tend to move and throw arms around a lot.

 

[wlfans]

I personally wouldn't give a 10m any Benadryl. A decongestant for the ears maybe. I wouldn't give them any medication to knock them out on the flight unless they have a problem with flying. Also, I agree with another poster that trying something on a flight is risky. If the kids have never taken that medication you don't know it there could be a reaction. I would play it safe. We have a daughter with a peanut allergy and actually give her Benadryl before we get on the plane and carry more ben and Epi with us. This is only to lessen an reaction she could have from anything on the plane. Her allergy is not severe.

 

[tanyaandallie]

How long is your flight? Unless you have a really long flight, I would not think a 3.5 year old would need benedryl and I would not give it to a 10 mos old. There are many other ways to either get them so sleep or keep them busy on the plane.

I am not opposed to benedryl. My dd used to a terrible sleeper and we would give it to her to help her sleep when we were out of town. Otherwise we were all up all night long while on vacation. Luckily she sleeps fine now. I also gave it to her one time on a flight. It was a return flight from Hawaii and it was a night flight. Honestly, the worst idea ever. She ended up having an ear infection (which we didn't know about). Her ears were hurting so every 10 minutes she would wake up screaming. Meanwhile, the benedryl made her a complete limp noodle. It was horrible. At least if I had not given her the benedryl I could have given her tylenol or something for the pain.

Anyways, if you are taking a very long flight, I might consider it but for a shorter (3.5 hours or less I guess) I would just entertain them and hope for the best. Likely your 10 mos old will sleep and your older child will not. But, it's ok. At 3.5 he likely can go without a nap for one day. My dd never sleeps on the plane no matter how much we try. But, she is fine and just goes to bed early.

 

[thepeach80]

My kids have flown a couple of times and have never had problems flying, even w/ all the ear problems they have. AJ was 4 mos and then 28 mos when he flew and Evan was 10 mos, neither cried and caused any problems and slept most of the flights. I wouldn't give my kids meds to help them sleep in this case, maybe the homeopathic stuff before bed, but not benadryl.

 

[jrb022704]

How long is your flight? Unless you have a really long flight, I would not think a 3.5 year old would need benedryl and I would not give it to a 10 mos old. There are many other ways to either get them so sleep or keep them busy on the plane.

I am not opposed to benedryl. My dd used to a terrible sleeper and we would give it to her to help her sleep when we were out of town. Otherwise we were all up all night long while on vacation. Luckily she sleeps fine now. I also gave it to her one time on a flight. It was a return flight from Hawaii and it was a night flight. Honestly, the worst idea ever. She ended up having an ear infection (which we didn't know about). Her ears were hurting so every 10 minutes she would wake up screaming. Meanwhile, the benedryl made her a complete limp noodle. It was horrible. At least if I had not given her the benedryl I could have given her tylenol or something for the pain.

Anyways, if you are taking a very long flight, I might consider it but for a shorter (3.5 hours or less I guess) I would just entertain them and hope for the best. Likely your 10 mos old will sleep and your older child will not. But, it's ok. At 3.5 he likely can go without a nap for one day. My dd never sleeps on the plane no matter how much we try. But, she is fine and just goes to bed early.

The flight should only be 2.5 hours. I don't think she'll need it. I was just wanting to be prepared...just in case.

 

[MommySiobhan]

I was just curious as to how long your flight is going to be?

 

[MommySiobhan]

Oops just read the above post.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Our pediatrician told me to give the kiddos (3.5 y/o and 10 months) benadryl before leaving to help them sleep on the plane. Has anyone tried this and did it work? If so, how early on do I need to give it to them?

Ugh! I am sorry but not all doctors have it right. You have to do what you feel comfortable with but I would never give them something just to sleep. Especially a 10 month old. At 3.5 they are pretty easy to entertain and at 10 months just pack some things you know they'd like. Snacks, books, new toys, DVD player etc. We have flown with kids that age and never had to give them anything to sleep. Do what you think is best but I am from the school that just because a doctor says it doesn't always make it good advice.

I had a friend who was pregnant and had trouble sleeping at the end of the pregnancy and her OB told her to take a dose of Benadryl and a shot of vodka before she went to bed to help her sleep! She did it and thought it was just fine!!! Case and point. Not every doctor got an A.

 

[PeachesDoesHair]

Our pediatrician recommended benadryl along with a decongestant for our flights from Oklahoma (for dd3 and ds1). The decongestant for the ears and the benadryl helps with motion issues as well as makes them sleepy. We did not use the benadryl on our first flight as it was only an hour and early in the morning, but we did use it on the second.

DD3 got hives during our trip, so the benadryl was not quite as effective the second trip because she had been taking it consistantly for three days.

I found our flight to Florida had many families with children.