Child w/fear of flying

[SuBeat]

DH really doesn't want to drive to WDW again, so we are planning to fly. The problem is our DS11 is afraid to the point where he says he would just as soon stay home if that is the only way he can get to Florida. Has anyone dealt with this before? Any tips on making it easier on him (and us)?

 

[mep319]

DH really doesn't want to drive to WDW again, so we are planning to fly. The problem is our DS11 is afraid to the point where he says he would just as soon stay home if that is the only way he can get to Florida. Has anyone dealt with this before? Any tips on making it easier on him (and us)?

My daughter is afraid but young enough that we can still drag her on without too big of a fight. Depending on the size of your 11 yr old you might want to discuss with your doctor the possibility of something to relax him. We usually give DD a motion sickness pill. It makes her a bit drowsy and takes the edge of. She would get so worked up she would make herself vomit...not a fun thing on a plane. She has flown a few times a year since she was 2 and this fear of flying just started about 3 yrs ago. We've discussed it but unfortunately fears are generally not rational so it's difficult to explain away. Good luck but definatley consult a doctor.

 

[Tinky]

SuBeat,
Did your son tell you why he was anxious about flying? We kinda had the same problem with our 7 year old and once we talked about it and he got his fears out in the open he was good to go. Now he cant wait until our next flight.....
Sometimes its hard to really get a child to tell you whats really going on in those little heads.... Good luck and we'll think good thoughts!

 

[njcarita]

i can sure sympathize with your son

my husband and i after many years of flying- nothing short of a medical emergency or family emergency will get us to fly-

just a suggestion
have you thought about taking amtrak- we went down 2 trips ago- and loved it- my 3 kids loved it - it was a great adventure

 

[rgf207]

fear of flying is very common. Has he ever flown before? I travel a lot with my job and I fly weekly. I suggest finding out what exactly his fears are. After all, Airline travel is the safest means of travel. The Dramamine medecine does cause drowsiness and would most likely calm him down. You may want to discuss with your doctor also.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd's first time flying was from Boston to Seattle. She was almost 5. She was really worried about it. Cried the week before and such. Of course, I'm not the happiest flier in the world either. What I did, and we still do it, is to make a game of take-off and landings. Dd closes her eyes, holds onto my hand and squeezes hard. As we taxi down the runway, her eyes are still closed. She then has to tell me when we actually leave the ground. Then we reverse it on landings. It has helped a lot. And she has gotten quite good at it.

I also talked to her about the fact that the plane really wants to be in the air. That is what it's built for. There is a site..Fear of Flying...I think it's called. It's run by a pilot. He explains what is going on at any given time of the flight. He explains the whacky noises you'll hear. There are even video's of the inside of the plane and such. It's a great site.

If your son is concerned about terroism, and who isn't today, there's not much you can say. You could mention that there are sky marshalls on the planes. We don't know who they are, but they are there for our safety. That you can no longer get into the cabins with the pilots like before. That alone makes me happier!

My dd, now 11, is a very good flier. We fly Song now and the t.v.s in the seatbacks are a huge help. You can close the window shade and almost forget you are in the air. You can buy a movie to watch or watch one of the many channels offered. JetBlue does this too. She still gets nervous but not nearly as badly as before. And talking to her about it has actually helped me with my fears. Good luck.

 

[SuBeat]

Thanks for all the replies! I knew I could count on my fellow Dis-ers. What he is afraid of is the actual take off...specifically that he will throw up on take off. He is also a worrier by nature and tends to get himself VERY worked up over things. We've discussed the safety of air travel vs. traveling by car, and that his uncle is on an airplane several times a week. Rationally he knows he is safe, but seems more afraid of how he will feel physically. When we mentioned getting medication from the dr. he was all for it, I just feel a little guilty about drugging him to get him on the plane. LOL

 

[rgf207]

SuBeat. You can go to your local Wal-Mart or other drug store and pick up Dramamine which is relatively inexpensive. They have a regular and less drowsy kind. I dont get airsick but sometimes I take a dramamine when I have long flights. It usually helps me sleep for a while. You should not need a prescription for that but they also have other motion sickness medecines that need prescriptions.

 

[mep319]

I hate to to the medication also! But my daughter is the same way...and trust me vomiting on the plane is no fun! Those bags really aren't large enough! My doctor actually recomment 1/2 pill of Bonine for my DD8...of course it states on the package not to use for kids under 12...but my ped said to use it. It doesn't make them drowsey but I'm starting to think it has a placebo effect...she thinks once she takes the pill all will be fine...maybe I should try a chewable vitamin next time!

 

[goofy4tink]

I hate to to the medication also! But my daughter is the same way...and trust me vomiting on the plane is no fun! Those bags really aren't large enough! My doctor actually recomment 1/2 pill of Bonine for my DD8...of course it states on the package not to use for kids under 12...but my ped said to use it. It doesn't make them drowsey but I'm starting to think it has a placebo effect...she thinks once she takes the pill all will be fine...maybe I should try a chewable vitamin next time!

You read my mind. If a child is more worried about being ill on the flight, and there haven't really been any issues in the car, then I would be very tempted to give him a Benedryl and tell him it's for airsickness. It would then serve two purposes...calming effect and he would believe it prevents sickness!!! Whatever it takes to make the kids feel better I figure.

 

[Snoozan]

I usually gave my DS's Dramamine for the flights to WDW. I had one DS who was especially anxious about flying, but the Dramamine put him to sleep for a couple of hours so by the time he woke up, we were just about there! I find the drowsiness factor wears off pretty quickly once you've taken a nap. Also, you or the child can worry less about "losing their lunch" if they've taken Dramamine - My DH and I even take a Bonine or Dramamine before every flight, just so we don't get stressed thinking about the possibility of a bumpy flight which makes us nauseous at times.

 

[MamaQuack]

Our ds13 has flown since age 8 months. We travelled abroad and often within the U.S. However, after 9/11 he started having panic attacks about flying and said the same thing the op's child - that he would rather stay home. We discussed it with him often and it did not help. Even took him for several counseling sessions. At the therapist suggestion we talked to the family doctor who prescribed Xanax. He takes a very small dose the minute he awakens on travel day and then another when we arrive at the airport. It has made a huge difference and he does not get all sleepy.

MamaQuack

 

[Aisling]

I just feel a little guilty about drugging him to get him on the plane. LOL

Don't feel guilty; let's be happy and grateful that these drugs exist to help us! have a great trip!

 

[SuBeat]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and making me feel MUCH better about drugging DS. He seems to have accepted the fact that he will be getting on a plane this summer, and believes the medicine will help him (though he still isn't all that happy about it).

 

[MamaQuack]

Amen Aisling!!! The motto in this household is "better living thru prescribed pharmaceticals". If the child had no Xanax, if the dad had no Prozac & lipitor. . . . We'd never fly anywhere!!!