My 3 year old daughter is scared to fly..

[mommy22pumpkins]

hi all! I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to how to calm a 3..almost 4 year old who does not want to fly. Ironically we have been to Disney the last three years..twice we have flown and once driven. She never cried and did great on the plane the last two times so I am surprised she is now saying she doesn't want to go to Disneyworld because she does not want to fly

Any hints on how to calm her anxieties? I don't want to traumatize the poor thing. She will be four next month. I was thinking a tiny half dose of Benadryl might help but would like to stay away from medication if at all possible.

thanks for any suggestions.

Danielle

 

[edk35]

Why is she so scared? Did she have a bad experience? Maybe you can take her shopping for some fun activities to have on the plane. My friend made her young sons some neat snack mix with marshmellos, goldfish crackers, raisins and goldfish pretzels. She could help you make it to take on the plane. Maybe make her more involved in the trip planning to help her get excited. Maybe the flight attendants can be told she is scared and they might give her something special.

 

[noahdove]

Well, benadryl would help for sure..has she said why she doesn't want to fly? Maybe if she can voice why she doesn't want to then, maybe you can find a solution...besides meds. good luck

 

[nessz79]

I was going to say Dramamine...puts my kids right out AND it helps with motion sickness at the same time. We used it for a long trip in an RV.

 

[POOHDRMR]

We leave on Monday and my dd doesn't want to fly either.She has gone to Disney 4 times before and flown each time.Never had a problem untill Sept after becoming afraid of vomiting following a stomach virus over the summer.She got afraid on the plane and was so scared she was going to throw up she was dry heaving into the barf bag(my appologies to anyone on the plane with us!!)Well after going to therapy all year and trying to really overcome her fear she is doing better and for her birthday we are going with the grandparents.She is very excited except she doesn't want to fly.She is trying to be brave and keeps telling me there is nothing to worry about(she does this when she is nervous to do something)I am hoping that she will be okay and that it won't set her back.I am thinking of trying dramamine for her because I think she has a touch of motion sickness and that started the fear last time.I get sick from everything so I think she takes after me.Good luck and I hope it goes well.We will be bringing lots of things to try to keep busy and our mind off the plane.

 

[PollyannaMom]

.....Never had a problem untill Sept after becoming afraid of vomiting following a stomach virus over the summer. She got afraid on the plane and was so scared she was going to throw up she was dry heaving into the barf bag....

I would definitely do Dramamine in this case, as it's throwing up specifically that's scaring her. Explain to her that your doctor has found something that prevents exactly what she's afraid of.


To the OP - At almost 4, your DD may have just realized that big heavy things in the air doesn't exactly make sense without a physics degree. Reading some books from the library about planes and airports, particularily if they mention all the safety people who work there, might be all it takes.

I also second some really cool activities that are only for the plane.


Good luck to you both!

 

[chloe770]

We went to the Disney store and got my DS his own carry on bag to hold his DVDs and toys. He was enjoying the responsiblity so much he did not think about flying. Then when we got on the plane we petended we were flying on Rocket from the Litlle Einstiens. We did the pat pat pat etc.
Hope that helps.Good luck.

 

[Wendybird55]

Did she tell you why she doesn't want to fly? I would try and find out the reason (without suggesting ones yourself) so you can maybe address it and calm her fears. It could be something as simple as a friend of hers said something aobut not liking to fly or seh saw something in TV.

Somtimes having a security item - toy, blanket, etc. can help. Also, if you weren't planning to do so, maybe you should take her carseat with you. It will give her the same feeling of security as if she was riding in the car and it might help her fears to have her familiar carset.

Yes, there are medications that will help ease her physical anxiety, but in her mind she will still know she is flying and that's the fear you want to try to ease.

Good luck.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

I would ABSOLUTELY do Benadryl or Dramamine. Personally, I've had more success with the active ingredient in Benadryl: diphenhydramine.

Diphenhydramine is an antihistimine and a sleep agent, which is why it's used in many sleep medicines such as "Tylenol Simply Sleep" and "Exedrin PM".

 

[soccerEAGLE09]

I would definitely bring a sleep medicine like the ones suggested above. Or depending on how early your flight is, she may just doze off on her own. I would also bring back up plans, something to get her mind off the flight. I had a bad experience flying when I was 12, super bad turbulance on my way down to Disney. So coming home I really didn't want to get on the plane (for that reason and just because I am a disney freak. ha) Anyway, i remember a portable dvd player helping me out. With that, I concentrated on the movie rather than every little bump.

 

[mommyceratops]

We flew a couple years ago. My boys were 2 and 5 then.

I got a couple books about flying a Calliou (sp) Lisa flys and Kenny something....off of Amazon. They were great in talking through the steps, maybe one on being scared and facing fears?

I got my DS5 a gameboy and a leapster and he played the whole time and loved it. DS2 cried the whole time.....nothing helped. He wasn't freaking out crying but sulked the whole ride a nice woman gave me some m&m's and he loved it we made it through the plane. He was fine on the ride home. So snacks especially if they are special. Big Mickey lolli pops stuff like that.

I would talk to your doctor, she maybe able to perscribe you something that will help her rest. If you have not done benadryl before try it first, it makes my friends son hyper.

 

[dreamn_Disney]

My ds is terrified of planes. He became this way on the way home from WDW last year. We are going to drive this year. That is the only advice I have. If she is truly afraid you may want to drive this year. I flew back last year and it just seemed to make him even more adamant about not ever getting on a plane. I now wish I would have not forced him to fly.

 

[VanessasMom]

My dd has a little air sickness too. We have never given her medication for it because she is already on Prevacid and Nasonex. What we do is discuss it ahead of time ALOT. We pack her own little rolling suitcase full of snacks, toys, color wonder stuff and we bring along the laptop with dvd movies. We always bring her carseat/booster seat and that really does calm her. She is familiar and comfortable with sitting in her own seat. We tell her that her seat will keep her safe and protect her from sickness and accidents. She believes us and hasn't gotten sick since we told her that!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Well, benadryl would help for sure..has she said why she doesn't want to fly? Maybe if she can voice why she doesn't want to then, maybe you can find a solution...besides meds. good luck

This is a very good suggestion. I would do the beneadryl.