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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think sedating kids for a quiet life is not on?!

174 replies

glitterazi · 19/12/2016 01:08

Really don't want to link to this but going to have to for context as too hard to explain otherwise.
On what planet is it reasonable to drug your kids for a plane ride for a quiet life?
Read the blog post and then the comments.
Seems there are actually people out there that would do this, and not just the blogger. Which is kind of depressing.
I just don't get why you'd drug your kid to sleep when there was no medical reason to and you say yourself it's "because people may look at you with stares" - (look in the comments themselves for that beaut)
AIBU?)

www.jetlagandmayhem.com/destinations/planning-tips/sedating-kids-on-the-plane-with-phenergan/

OP posts:
Manumission · 19/12/2016 01:14

It's not, no.

No sensible person would think it is.

Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 01:35

The comments are bloody depressing. Basically agreeing with it. Making it all seem normal! Glad there's another viewpoint out there as was starting to think I was the only one out there.

OP posts:
QueenLizIII · 19/12/2016 01:43

If the children cant manage a plane ride that long, dont take them long haul. It really is that simple.

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 19/12/2016 01:44

A few years ago this was always being recommended here on MN!

RoseGoldHippie · 19/12/2016 01:45

Can you get it for adults? Would love to be able to sleep on a plane!!!

For children it is horrific!

Daisyfrumps · 19/12/2016 01:48

Crazy - plus you wouldn't want to be faced with any of the scary possible side effects whilst up in the air - seizures etc

Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 01:48

A few years ago this was always being recommended here on MN!

Agreed, GoodyGumdrops. I've also seen posts on here saying how drugging children to sleep was normal, and have been shouted down in the past for saying it's not!
Glad to see there's others out there who now feel the same, or at least feel more able to come out and say it without getting shouted down!

OP posts:
Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 01:50

I've been prescribed Phenergan as a child for severe eczema and allergies. I'll have been about 9. I know from experience that stuff knocks you out.
Why the FUCK would you do that to a completely healthy child that you just want to go to sleep on a long flight for a bit of peace and quiet?! Sad

OP posts:
NovemberInDailyFailLand · 19/12/2016 01:52

No, no, no!

chitofftheshovel · 19/12/2016 01:54

Playing devils advocate here.
It could be argued that a child, unable to sleep, in a strange environment and with possible negative side effects of being on a plane is in distress. And whilst in distress can not be made to see reason, much like you can't reason with an animal being transported long distances. Animals are sedated to lessen their distress, so why not children?

notangelinajolie · 19/12/2016 01:55

Sedating children for a quiet plane journey is a horrible thing to do. I think not feeding the little darlings with sweeties and sugary drinks would go a long way towards keeping them calm.

Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 01:59

It could be argued that a child, unable to sleep, in a strange environment and with possible negative side effects of being on a plane is in distress.
Is a child unable to sleep in an unfamiliar environment any more prone to distress than an adult who is also unable to sleep in those circumstances?
Would it be acceptable to decide to drug the adult without consent if you deemed them not able to stay awake happily on a plane?

OP posts:
RoseGoldHippie · 19/12/2016 02:01

Would it be acceptable to decide to drug the adult without consent if you deemed them not able to stay awake happily on a plane?

Totally agree about the children, but if anyone is offering to sedate me on a plane, I would be very happy!

Grin
Manumission · 19/12/2016 02:14

It's "just" an antihistamine I think rose so of an adult wanted some for themselves it should be arrangeable.

OP i didn't click the link, but if the comments are all pro the drugging of DC then the domain name is a bit of a clue really.

Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 02:15

Totally agree about the children, but if anyone is offering to sedate me on a plane, I would be very happy!

Totally acceptable as a consenting adult, just give a drug drip if requested, lol. Grin
To give to toddler sized children to keep asleep/quiet? No. Disturbed at how many think this is normal. Sad

OP posts:
chitofftheshovel · 19/12/2016 02:17

glitter I wasn't just talking about the inability to sleep as causing distress but also other factors of being on a plane, having to stay in your seat, ears popping, strange people around you etc. And yes, a child would be under more distress than an adult because they don't have the cognitive ability to rationalise their surroundings.

identityhidden · 19/12/2016 02:18

I'd be reluctant to give that to anyone on a flight - sister used to take that for years and years due to allergy related eczema. They stopped it when she was 12 or so then restarted when she was 14. Woke up one day to her having a tonic clonic seizure in her sleep. They decided phernegan was the cause, she's now not allowed it at all.

Hospital have told me I'm completely intolerant to similar drug, Vallergan, was given it as a toddler apparently for allergies and had some sort of serious reaction (Mum thinks hallucinations and agitation) so also not allowed it or anything similar.

Probably best not to give to anyone, once you're on a plane you're on it until they can safely land and if you end up poorly or your child does the help you can get would be very limited. Just not worth the risk at all.

Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 02:22

I wasn't just talking about the inability to sleep as causing distress but also other factors of being on a plane, having to stay in your seat, ears popping, strange people around you etc.
I appreciate they can all be factors that can upset children. They can also come into contact with people they don't know or having to stay in their seats in other circumstances though. Would you (general you) drug them on a long traffic jammed bus ride into town if they were surrounded by strangers, and having to stay seated, and maybe with a bit of earache?
Same principle.

OP posts:
Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 02:26

Vallergan, was given it as a toddler apparently for allergies
Vallergan! God, had completely forgotten about that one. That's another one I used to have for my allergies and eczema that I had completely forgotten about.
Also knock out stuff. Still at a loss as to why anyone would give that stuff to non poorly or prescribed for a reason children and just for a nice journey.

OP posts:
chitofftheshovel · 19/12/2016 02:31

glitter general me has used about 1.5 bottles of calpol total in the combined 20 years of my two. There is no way "general me" would give this, or similar drug to my child. But that's me. I was, and am, playing devils advocate.

RiverTamFan · 19/12/2016 02:39

As someone who actually has no choice but to sedate their child (SEN and it's that or no dental treatment), this is cracked. You don't play with these things especially with no medical supervision!

RhodaBorrocks · 19/12/2016 02:40

I knew what this would be about before I even opened it. My local mums group rave about phenergan.

For my family, it's a bit of a joke - when I was a baby my DM was friends with another mum* who basically admitted she and DH gave their baby a dose Every. Single. Night. Just so they could sleep.

We have a family member visiting for Christmas who has flown long haul and is dreading the return. We joked 'get some phenergan and drug the baby!' only the other day.

Obviously we make these jokes because we don't believe in drugging babies, but also because we couldn't believe that 30+ years on its still a thing.

*They are no longer in contact. My DM ssys she still wonders what the long term effects were on the child.

Motherfuckers · 19/12/2016 02:42

Medical professionals often used to recommend phenergen for long plane journeys. It was recommended to try it out first before flying in case of adverse reactions. I never did it because my children are part-cat and slept absolutely anywhere, but I can't get that worked up about using antihistamines for sleep.

DeepanKrispanEven · 19/12/2016 02:42

I've been prescribed Phenergan as a child for severe eczema and allergies. I'll have been about 9. I know from experience that stuff knocks you out.

If only. DS was prescribed this for other reasons, and I'll admit we looked forward eagerly to our first decent night's sleep in a year, Zero effect. We were seriously disappointed.

RhodaBorrocks · 19/12/2016 02:43

Yes RiverTam I sedate my SEN child too and completely agree. You don't muck about with drugs! DS gets melatonin from a paediatrician and we stick to the dose. He said the other day he wants to take a double dose on Christmas Eve and was very quickly shot down by me. So much nope!