Helping your children "relax" on a long flight aka drugging them.

[PoppyAnna]

At swimming lessons a couple of weeks ago a Mum I speak to occasionally was saying if she was going on a long flight like us she would take Medised with her and if the kids need calming or help napping she would give them some.
I have given my two girls (19mo and 4) Medised in the past to dry up their noses when they have bad colds and cannot breathe at night. I have also given it to my eldest as a last measure when she had a temp and hadn't slept for almost 24hrs, I have found however that she is in a terrible mood the next day and can be quite naughty and unpredictable. I don't seem to get this with Calpol or Neurofen.
I have "polled" my friends that are Mum's and it's come back about 50/50 some would some wouldn't. I know given infrequently these drugs will do no harm, it just doesn't seem right, on the other hand if the flight is being disrupted for others it could be a saviour. Youngest has never flown and eldest doesnt remember the times before she's been on a plane.
What do you all think?
Does anybody have a "natural" alternative? I've heard Bach's rescue remedy mentioned before which I have used before but not sure if it's suitable for children.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

Hi,

I have 2 kids, aged 11 and 6, and we did our first long haul trip when they were 6 and 2. No I didn't give any meds to them - just had it in case of a high temperature more than anything else. Never had to use it though - luckily they are both brilliant flyers

I found that our 2 yr old didn't go to sleep until we were nearly at the Florida coast - not that he slept well anyway. He just kept going......and going.....and going - I was knackered occupying him! Just make sure you have plenty for them to do - also are you flying with Virgin - the cartoon channel is great for young kids too.

Resue remedy is only something I have come across over the last couple of years - my DD gymnastic coach uses it on the girls (with parents permission )prior to big competitions - just to ease the nerves. Seems to be ok for kids but not sure how young.

The bottom line is you know your own kids and what you need to occupy them on the flight. Personally I wouldn't give meds if you don't need to - but that is just my opinion

Tracey

 

[Graeme]

If you and your kids are sat behind me please feel free to apply drugs liberally!! I'll be taking large amounts of Stella to aid my sleep.

Only kidding Do most travel sickness remedies not have a mild sedative in them anyway?

 

[PoppyAnna]

If you and your kids are sat behind me please feel free to apply drugs liberally!! I'll be taking large amounts of Stella to aid my sleep.

Only kidding Do most travel sickness remedies not have a mild sedative in them anyway?

This is it. I remember what it was like to be on a long flight and not have kids. I remember wanting to throttle the little angel behind taking their frustrations and cabin fever out on the back of my seat.
I think my girls are pretty well behaved but a nine hour flight is unknown teritory. I have spent a small fortune on activities to take along with me to keep them occupied and pray that they don't mind wearing headphones to hear the tv/movies.
Fingers crossed, I guess.
Travel sickness???? Urgh I never thought of that! I'm off to worry about something else now, cheers!!!!

 

[CustardTart]

My youngest DS was always a handful on flights so I made sure he sat behind us and kicked our seats rather than annoying anyone else. One time, when he was aged about 2, he seemed particularly fractious so I gave him the mild sedative prescribed by our French GP as we were travelling from Paris to LHR and onto JFK. However, when we arrived in New York, I discovered he had Chicken Pox and his fractiousness was perfectly natural. Not a great situation as, once my DH's business was done, we'd planned to fly down to WDW for a week. We ended up flying back to Paris at short notice, poor sweetie, and I felt sooo guilty as the drugs had disguised something I would probably have picked up on. I never sedated the little guy again - actually he's nearly 14 now and way taller than me...

Also he used to regularly vomit as the plane landed so we learnt to be ready with the paper bags and a change of top - we just got used to it and he grew out of it some years ago...

 

[wifey]

We take Calpol (4 sachets) just in case Ds gets a headache or earache not to knock him out for the flight although we've seen and experienced some awful kids accompanied with clueless or ignorant parents over the years.
We tell DS to try NOT to fidget and give him hard lollies or boiled sweets to suck during take off. We'll give him his games console and games plus earphones and a couple of snacks. There's always the onboard entertainment to occupy him if all else fails. We're lucky he's not too badly behaved, I would be mortified if he kicked seats etc.

 

[juliebro]

Also he used to regularly vomit as the plane landed so we learnt to be ready with the paper bags and a change of top - we just got used to it and he grew out of it some years ago...

DS used to be exactly the same. Fine until we we were coming in to land. Fortunately, he's outgrown it too.

Julie

 

[wicket2005]

Personally I would not give my kids anything like that but, fortunately, my kids have always been well behaved. To be honest if they had been a problem when they were younger I would probably have not taken them on a flight in any case.

The first time we went to Florida they were 7 and 5 and were old enough to be occupied with the games/books, etc I had packed for them, plus they were excited. The journey was not a problem for them. However, this was the earliest time they had flown. I do feel for parents, like yourself, who have to keep younger children entertained and who cannot be reasoned with so please do not think if your child is disruptive on the plane every single adult will be annoyed.

The key for the 4 year old is having things for her to do and there are plenty of little things you can buy as surprises to keep her entertained. The younger child would be harder to keep amused. I know my 23 month old niece loves Noddy so perhaps a little dvd player with her favourite programmes may help.

I am glad my days of having to keep the kids entertained have gone by. My lads are now 18 and 16 so are well able to occupy themselves.

 

[irongirlof12]

my friend has suggested a great idea for travelling - she is a bad traveller. Her mate provided her with a pack during their euro star journey to euro disney ... so every hour something new and relativley inexpensive is produced.

I think this is great and can suit any age! i.e. colouring and pens, top trumps, tin of fuzzy felts, stretchy dino, happy families ( my personal favorite!), a party bag....

I do think you should take some medicine on board in case they feel ill during journey. ( I could open a mini chemists when I travel ! )

By the way my friend is 27!

 

[Graeme]

my friend has suggested a great idea for travelling - she is a bad traveller. Her mate provided her with a pack during their euro star journey to euro disney ... so every hour something new and relativley inexpensive is produced.

I think this is great and can suit any age! i.e. colouring and pens, top trumps, tin of fuzzy felts, stretchy dino, happy families ( my personal favorite!), a party bag....

By the way my friend is 27!

So is my wife. I might try this and get a bit of peace on the flight

 

[jen_uk]

On our flight to WDW last year we had the children from hell behind us, the one behind me kicked my seat all the way there, we turned round and asked the parents to stop it but it only stopped for about 63 seconds before resuming! In between all the delightful kicking the child fought with his sister sat next to him and they kept screaming at each other, by the end of the flight I was ready to kill them! So from this point of view if children are like this then I think drugging them is a great idea!

 

[Nubbedy]

I always give DS a dose of Nurofen (children's!) before a flight for his ears. He suffers with them like I do, but this seems to stop the problem before it starts. He also seems more settled and calm during a flight.

I do it for myself too!

Sara.

 

[OscarsMum]

Agree with all the suggestions about lots of little suprises to keep them occupied. However, be positive, you may be pleasantly suprised! We have flown with our girls since they were tiny and I find that for the first couple of hours they are happy to just take in what is going on around them. Playing with the seat back entertainment controls! Doing their 'shopping' from the magazines etc. Then the food tray arrives and there is more to explore! When they were very little I always asked for their food before mine so that I could help them more easily. Nothing worse than trying to clear up juice whilst balancing 3 food trays!! I always give mine some Sudofed before flying as we all experience the blocked ear problems and this also has a relaxing effect! Best of luck - i'm sure you will be fine!

 

[Racey]

If you and your kids are sat behind me please feel free to apply drugs liberally!!

100% agree

I know kids are hard to handle and keep occupied whilst on a plane, but what I dont get (and you parents could probably help me understand this) is why do some parents just sit there whilst their kid takes their boredom out on the seat infront continually. OK once or twice your kid can start, and you can stop them, but i've never come across a kid who has been stopped.

I really dont like kids on a plane for this exact reason (god knows why i'm going florida where its certain i'll get an annoying child behind me) and am worried about the 3 yr old which is coming along on this holiday as she's not mine and I wont be able to say anything if I think she's being annoying to others. Perhaps i'll take a bottle of medised along and feed her that

 

[stevechase]

Our girls, Beth and Ellie will be 10 and 8 this year and will be flying long haul for the second time. We flew into Cuba 18 months back and they were golden, Josh was 18 months old and we had him on our lap for the whole 9+ hours, now that was hard work.

But this year, we have bought one of those pet carriers that will go in with the luggage in the hold for Josh. It has got a water bottle and a dish for some smarties so he should be ok.



Steve

 

[london75]

Josh was 18 months old and we had him on our lap for the whole 9+ hours, now that was hard work.

Hmm, our Daisy is that age and ever since she found her feet, she resents being sat down. Still it's nine hours pain for 15 days gain! Sorry if any of you are on my flight

 

[carolfoy]

I'd go with the way of the travel sickness tablets. either that or Steves idea of a travel case! on a serious note an airline can stop you all from flying if one ofthe party looks or acts severely drugged up - its against CAA rules (and common sense) not to be able to act accordingly if theres an emergency.

 

[stevechase]

Hmm, our Daisy is that age and ever since she found her feet, she resents being sat down. Still it's nine hours pain for 15 days gain! Sorry if any of you are on my flight

Thats the way I look at it to be honest, I hate flying with a passion, it scares me witless, but the fear is out weighed easily by the look on the kids faces when we look up at the castle for the first time, and it also it will be amazng to see there images at the entrance to Epcot, 5 years after they were taken!

And if Josh is a bit 'active' it at least keeps me a bit more occupied.


Steve

 

[PoppyAnna]

I always give DS a dose of Nurofen (children's!) before a flight for his ears. He suffers with them like I do, but this seems to stop the problem before it starts. He also seems more settled and calm during a flight.

I do it for myself too!

Sara.

I think I will be doing this anyway as eldest suffers with ear infections (I'm taking her to the GP's tomorrow to get her checked out as a pre-flight caution) and ear ache.
I have history of dodgy ears too.....

 

[PoppyAnna]

When I online check in (that's another worry altogether!) and I'm given a choice of seats, I guess it's a bonus to have nobody in front of you (but those bulkhead seats are reserved for skycots, right?) if that's not possible does anybody have any tips on choosing seating position (no jokes mile high jokes pls) on aircraft?
I'm on the VS027 on 28 april don't go giving me any dud info if you're in competition with me for the good seats!!!!