to think that if you are considering giving your children over th counter cough medicine to drug them on a flight...

[Greythorne]

...you should seriously think again?

Two friends both about to fly home (longish flights) had a detailed debate about which cough medicines to dose their children with in the departure lounge. Yes, they were apparently very serious.

Toplexil and Benadryl were both debated.

Their children range from 3-8.

AIBU in thinking this is very poor parenting?

kelly there are plenty of things you can take without paracetamol.

merry I don't think they should either but there are other reasons, as I said earlier.

TBH I'm far more wary of natural products as 'artificial' meds have very nearly always had much more rigorous testing.

I dont think I would do it, even if DS wasnt the kind of kid that falls asleep as soon as he's eaten and has to be roused to get off the plane.... he sleeps through the plane landing.

If the child is going to be as unhappy from being hyper on the flight as they would be if they had a sore throat or an earache, then I would consider medicating against all these as morally very similar

and I am someone who used to have fillings done without an injection: it really isn't medically necessary, you know; the dentist can see the tooth just as well while you are feeling every twinge

but would most people?

I have only taken DS on one flight unmedicated. He threw up all over the plane because he was screaming so much. He gets a dose of calpol 30 minute before takeoff every time (except that one!) and will continue to do so until he's old enough to actually tell us what's wrong. flights can really hurt children's ears - DH takes paracetamol pre-flight because he still gets horrendous ear pain from flying, so we do the same for DS. don't see an issue with it tbh.

I have never done a long haul flight with him though, and hopefully won't until he's old enough to appreciate the inflight entertainment!! a screaming child on a long haul flight is absolute hell for everyone, especially the parents I think. anything that prevents that distress is a good thing.

so I think YABU

they are not talking about paracetamol though, they mean medicines with anti-histamines in them that cause drowsiness (which are not licensed for under 6's now). They have side effects such as sleep disturbances and hallucinations which is why the age limit was changed.

Those anti histamines have been shown to be harmful
in the long run

nobody is suggesting drugging a child on a regular basis, but even though it is known to cause problems it will still be advised under some circumstances (piriton for allergies)

Do you mean those anti histamines that doctors prescribe for children all day ever day during the summer months for hay fever?

I was given Phenergan by the GP for a long haul flight. With the warning to try it out on DD2 first. Good thing I did, I had to scrape her off the ceiling.

But the GP had no issues with giving it.

I mean the ones which cause drowsiness e.g. those contained in Piriton and Medised. It is because it affects the quality of sleep over extended periods.

AFAIK non-drowsy ones have not been shown to be harmful, e.g. cetirizine, but have not been around for as long, so are prescribed less often. And they'd be no good for use as sleep aids anyway.

Piriton causes drowsiness and is prescribed for hay fever.

They ABU - they should re-think and use Piriton!!

Seriously, YABU - its medicine, its for kids, cant understand why some are shocked!

Why on earth would you need to for 3-8 year olds. They can be easily entertained at these ages. My 8 year old watched films & TV this year on a long haul flight - he barely moved.

I have done long haul at every stage, from 6 months upwards - it's really not the big deal people make it out to be. For toddlers I found taking a bag of really interesting, new toys and books was the trick.

Anti-histamines can help with motion sickness too, so might be useful for that reason, as well as helping them settle/sleep a bit better.

I don't see the harm in it for occasional use, no one is suggesting 'drugging' children every day!

I give mine antihistamine because they are always sick on plane/train. It makes them drowsy which is fine too.

I really son't think it's much to get het up about TBH. I use antihistamine to help me sleep during the day.

If I have trouble sleeping I have been known to have the odd swig or two or piriton. It def helps but the best one for that is nightnurse!!! For adults though :)

With the christmas holidays looming I may just pop me out and buy a few bottles. Sounds like an excellent idea.

Painkillers given to prevent ear pain are completely different to drugging your child to give yourself an easy flight. If I couldn't control/entertain/put up with my children on a long haul flight then I wouldn't be taking them on a long haul flight. Although some journeys are essential most flights are for holidays.

Also to all those parents considering drugging their children or who would themselves take sleeping tablets or something to help with sleep on the plane - have you considered what would happen if the plane had to make an emergency landing? Are you confident that your response times would be sufficient to get your family out of the plane as quickly as possible? Or would you be last down the chute?

I have never done this myself, but years ago when DD was a baby I did a flight to Sydney with her. Over the aisle from me were a couple with a 2 year old boy and they had something either prescribed or recommended (can't remember which) by their GP to help their son sleep on the flight.

I use Phernagan for long distance travel, but my children get motion sickness, so it's not actually to drug them to sleep, more to stop the vomiting.

I have had to fly long haul with both of my children on quite a few occasions. I normally fly on my own because my husband is often away with work. I have never ever used any form of drug to keep my children quiet. If I am on a night flight I will get them in their pj's before we go (well the youngest anyway) and add a little lavender oil to the collar. However I also do that to her pillow. It helps her relax, which in turn induces her into sleep without the need for any drug.

I can't see the problem myself. It's an over the counter remedy - it's not going to cause any harm, and it might make the flight more enjoyable for the parents, the child and the surrounding passengers.

I wish people wouldn't use the "well you shouldn't be flying if they can't cope with the flight" argument. We live in a global world, people have families / grandparents scattered everywhere. It is not practical for many people to never fly with a small child.

frankly is the plane was making an emergency landing, it's pretty much Goodnight Vienna for everyone, anyway. And yu would be very foolish indeed to take anothing stronger than an antihistamine if in charge of kids. Just as you would not take too much alcoho while in charge of children.

coolascucumber, that's a bit of an odd argument. If you took a sleeping tablet at home and your house was set on fire in the night, would your responses be good enough? Neither is particularly likely. I don't think it's practical for people to never take sleeping tablets, based on the most minute chance that something awful is going to happen while you sleep.

hmmm appear to have lost ability to spell. To much Nytol, perhaps