flying with kids--motion sickness, ear problems?

[goofygas]

Okay, first flight with DS's 5, 8, and 9. Not sure how they are going to react, two get sick in the mountains. . and they also have ear problems. I am going to start giving them ginger pills to help with the motion sickness, I have bought earplanes for their ears, what about sudafed??? Is that too much and what kind, how much do you give kids? I was at wal-mart last night and didn't see any kids sudafed--do they make it?

 

[jenseib]

I never heard of ginger pills. Does it really help? I tend to get motion sickness (but not on planes usually) and I amy try it.
I'm not sure what the sudafed is for? Isn't that a cold medicine?
I have heard that Benedryl helps with the ears and also makes the child relaxed. But some kids get hyper from Benedryl as well. So need to test it before hand. it is controversal here though. Some don't like "drugging" there children before a flight. I don't consider it drugging. We all have alleriges as well and ear problems, so I feel if it helps, then we will try it and see. I wil lbe taking some too, as I always start sneezing when I get off a plane. Not sure if it's alelrgies or what, but I do it every time. LOL!

 

[MEM]

For all types of motion sickness prevention I have used Benadryl successfully on myself, DD10 since she was a baby and her best friend age 11 on our trip last summer. Our pediatrician recommends it over Dramamine. It also works well if taken about 20 minutes prior to Expedition Everest and ToT!!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

My ped recommends Benadryl if the child has cold symptoms (i.e. runny nose) to help dry out the nasal passages and ear.. fluid will cause more pain.

We've tried it all. Drinking, sucking on lollypops, chewing on starbursts and the Benadryl, those Earplanes thingys you put in your ears. Unfortunately DD still has pain on decent.

The poor thing actually puts her blanky over her head because she thinks it has magic powers when something hurts. I've always had difficulty with the decent/landings as well (still do)...so I'm not sure there is anything else to do.

Although I have to say, there are some pilots who really handle the decent well..slowly drop altitude over a long period of time. Actually experienced this on Jetblue just recently landing in Boston. Very slow decent neither of us felt a thing.

Anyways sorry for my rambling. I'd love to hear if anyone has any other suggestions

 

[wrighter]

Just a cautionary tale, here: I did a Benadryl "trial run" on my DD when I was flying husbandless with two children under 3. At home it worked like a charm. On the plane, not so much. She was UNHAPPY!!!! So, just because it works at home doesn't guarantee it will work elsewhere. Although I have heard the older the children are, the more likely it will have the desired "sedative" effect.

That said, drinking out a straw has always worked for both of my children upon take-off and landing. I try to make sure they have dry food in their stomach (think bagel, pretzels, etc) in order to help stave off motion sickness. The one time my husband was in charge of "plane snacks" my DS puked. And he puked BIG. I've also heard that ginger snaps (there's that ginger thing again) are helpful in this department.

Good luck - I'm sure your kids will do fine. Make sure you take care of yourself on the flight also!

 

[NotUrsula]

Avoid cheese-flavored snacks and any kind of dairy for about 2 hours before the flight; if they have them in their stomachs and get airsick it will be nastier than it has to be.

Benedryl and Dramamine are both antihistamines and will help prevent airsickness. Sudafed is a decongestant and will help prevent ear pain; a combination of pseudoephedrine and guaifenesin (Robitussin) will be even more effective. If your ped. will give it to you, ask for a scrip for Auralgan (or generic) for the pain; those are topical analgesic eardrops containing benzocaine, which will kill ear pain after it happens.

The best brand of gingersnaps is Stauffers; bring some from home.

 

[jenseib]

Avoid cheese-flavored snacks and any kind of dairy for about 2 hours before the flight; if they have them in their stomachs and get airsick it will be nastier than it has to be.

Benedryl and Dramamine are both antihistamines and will help prevent airsickness. Sudafed is a decongestant and will help prevent ear pain; a combination of pseudoephedrine and guaifenesin (Robitussin) will be even more effective. If your ped. will give it to you, ask for a scrip for Auralgan (or generic) for the pain; those are topical analgesic eardrops containing benzocaine, which will kill ear pain after it happens.

The best brand of gingersnaps is Stauffers; bring some from home.

This is all great info! Thanks!

 

[AllesonWonderland]

subscribing as we are going on our first plane trip with the kids next month. DS6 has been carsick before, so I'm slightly worried. I'm hoping DD9 will be just fine. I see that there's Children's Bonine available now, but I've heard more and more recommendations for Benadryl.

Looking forward to reading everyone's advice!

 

[jcw2]

Sudafed must be purchased behind the counter at any phamacy due to the new Meth laws. It may be helpful if your child has any congestion to help prevent the pressure from building in the ears. Hope you have a good flight.

 

[cfknight]

My son had ear pain on our last trip, the flight attendant gave him some chewing gum, it didn't cure the problem but it helped a WHOLE lot!

 

[Daytona99]

I give my DS7 the chewable Dramamine. I take it too sometimes. My mom used to give me the liquid Dramamine when I was a child because I always got car sick. It works very well for us.

 

[epcotfan]

Ginger capsules are not reliable in preventing motion sickness. I find them useless for dizziness or any kind of motion/nausea sickness. Use Dramamine or Gravol instead. Make sure they take it at least 45 minutes before take off. Also do not feed them a big or rich breakfast/snack/meal before the departure.

 

[jenseib]

I'm not so worried of my DD2 getting motion sickness as the pressure of the ears. So which do you guys thinks the best for that. Benedryl is what I was always told before too. Sudafed can be bought over the coutner now, but it doesn't have the same "ingredients" Do they make it with the pseudoephedrine for kids though? I suppose the Robotussin is behind the counter too. I hate that, becuase I am one who likes to pick up each bottle/box and read it and take my time deciding. Maybe I will take a trip to Walmart today and check things out!

 

[NotUrsula]

Sudafed can be bought over the counter now, but it doesn't have the same "ingredients" Do they make it with the pseudoephedrine for kids though? I suppose the Robotussin is behind the counter too.

Time to get the terminology straight here. "Sudafed" is a brand name now, so it's pretty useless as a recommendation. The medicine we are talking about is pseudoephedrine, which must be sold from behind the counter. It *is* available in pediatric formulations. The other medicine now sold under the brand name "Sudafed" on open shelving is phenylephrine, which is not NEARLY as effective as pseudoephedrine. Personally I wouldn't bother using it unless you have blood pressure or other medical problems that mean that you cannot use pseudoephedrine.

"Robitussin" is also a brand name, originally used only for the drug guaifenesin. Straight Robitussin (no letters after the name) is still just guaifenesin, the other formulas have other meds added. You can buy other brands of guaifenesin as well as generics, and it is NOT restricted to sale behind the counter. The strongest OTC dose of guaifenesin is sold under the name Mucinex now, and Walmart sells a generic version, which is not quite as strong.

I have not had much luck lately with finding OTC pre-mixed liquid formulas containing pseudoephedrine and guaifenesin. I buy them separately and mix it myself for DS, dose-by-dose, using dosage info from my ped that is calculated based on the child's weight.

"Benadryl" and "Dramamine" are also brand names and come in several different formulas. The active antihistamine in Benadryl formulas is diphenhydramine, while Dramamine and Gravol contain dimenhydrinate. The drugs are very similar in chemical composition, though diphenhydramine is generally a bit stronger. Both are sold on the open shelves, though you should ask at the pharmacy if you cannot find the pediatric formulas; many drugstores don't routinely stock them, and may have to order them from their warehouse. Non-drowsy formulas of Dramamine II are made with meclizine, as is Bonine (and also the Rx version, called Antivert.)

 

[Daytona99]

I'm not so worried of my DD2 getting motion sickness as the pressure of the ears. So which do you guys thinks the best for that. Benedryl is what I was always told before too. Sudafed can be bought over the coutner now, but it doesn't have the same "ingredients" Do they make it with the pseudoephedrine for kids though? I suppose the Robotussin is behind the counter too. I hate that, becuase I am one who likes to pick up each bottle/box and read it and take my time deciding. Maybe I will take a trip to Walmart today and check things out!

I've never tried these, but I know people who've used them for their kids and say they work. I believe they come in small children's sizes also.

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp12445_333181_sespider/earplanes/earplugs_flight_ear_protection.htm

 

[Rachie0507]

Our pediatrician suggested pseudaphedrine (sp?) to help with the ear pain. Guess what stupid Mom forgot to buy it, though My DD has had horrible ear pain every time she has flown. Strangely, though, she has never had any other ear problems. DS, on the other hand, has had chronic ear fluid/infections for a couple years. He has never complained of pain when flying He just got tubes, so I will be asking the ENT for suggestions before our next flights. We always bring lots of lollipops and gum for the kids for take-off and landing. Last time, I encouraged DD6 to keep yawning when nothing else worked. After we landed, she announced, "Wow Mommy, yawning really sucked the hurt right out of my ears!"

As for the motion sickness, I am interested in finding a solution for that also. Both kids were sick through the whole 2 1/2 flight on our way home in December. They had never had a problem before. I think it was because we were still rocking from the cruise ship. But I am very nervous about flying with them again. I was assuming that Dramamine was the only way to go. I'll have to remember some of these tips!!

 

[jenseib]

OK, I have benedryl in liquid form. (I didn't find child kind of the pseudaphedrine ) The bottle is 4 oz! I don't want to give it to her 3 hours before we fly. It wil lbe wearing off before the flight is over. Can that OTC med be taken in your carry on? She is only 2. She doesn't do pills or chewables.

 

[egoldber]

My DD5 has flown more times than I can even remember. She's never had an ear problem on a flight. As a younger child she usually slept during take off and landing. I wouldn't assume that there will be any problems. Having a sippy cup with water available to help her relieve ear pressure is a good idea. In fact, I'd be cautious about communicating verbally or non-verbally that you expect issues. Sometimes those wee little ones are sooo perceptive and pick up on our stress and react to it. Not to say that some kids don't have real problems, but I wouldn't assume that they will have problems.

 

[jenseib]

MY DD is only 2 and she has no clue what it means when I tell her we are going on a plane. She's never been on a vacation yet either, so she really doesn't get teh whole thing that we are going away somewhere. I am just trying to be cuastious so I can make the flight enjoyable for her and me and all around us. LOL! I am hoping that she may doze a bit on the plane too. But if she finds it exciting, I doubt she will. But we leave at 2:30 for our flight down, so that is prime nap time!! So I'm hoping.

 

[kennyfan]

The earplanes work wonders! Also if they have problems with allergies then they need to be on a decongestant at least 2 weeks before flying. I learned that one the hard way. You can go to you Dr. and he can give a prescription for Antivert for the motion sickness, works great! Another suggestion is the motion sickness bands that go on the wrist.