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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:
NeedsAsockamnesty · 19/12/2016 02:47

I didn't even realise you could still get it without a perscription.

One of mine got prescribed it because of allergies it made her bounce off the walls and not sleep for hours. It was very strange indeed I begged them to find her something else that would stop her scratching and being uncomfortable but not make her behave like she was on speed.

SpareASquare · 19/12/2016 02:48

Meh. I would have used it if I felt it was necessary. See no probs with a one off if I knew my child tolerated it.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I never needed to as there were no long haul flights when mine were little but to whoever said if they can't manage, don't take them... I can think of a number of scenarios where the situation cannot be avoided. Pretty crappy thing to say.

Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 02:50

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.
Must affect people differently then, just like medicine would affect grown ups differently.
I just remember feeling seriously sleepy after taking it! As a parent I can't fathom doing that when you don't need to even if they are prone to being little gits
drugging for a quiet plane ride? I don't see how that can sit comfortably with any caring parent.

OP posts:
CheshireChat · 19/12/2016 02:51

Oooh, can I have some? My crazy toddler is currently laughing hysterically at something in his bedroom and refusing to sleep. I mean it's either that or alcohol and I resent buying it just for him as i don't drink Wink.

Jokes aside, I agree it's wrong and for the vast, vast majority of kids there's other better and harmless options. Maybe different if there's SN involved or a highly anxious child and a necessary flight, but that's hardly the same.

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 19/12/2016 03:02

I used to be friends with a woman who have all for If he chosen a spoonful of Mediated every night to put them to sleep. I didn't approve of that. However, as a one off, I don't think this is too alarming.

GnomeDePlume · 19/12/2016 03:17

I was recommended phenergans for DD1 who got severely travel sick. I remember the dosage instructions included a dosage for sedating elderly people. It did make me wonder if sedating elderly people was also routine in some situations.

RobotCulture · 19/12/2016 03:18

Don't see the issue tbh. You can test it.out beforehand.
I had to make a long haul flight (27hrs) with my ds and was just lucky to be breastfeeding which kept him milk sedated. If he'd been a toddler bouncing off the walls and it was available then I'd perhaps have used it.

It's not black and white and just saying 'don't do the flights' or 'don't feed them sweets' isn't helpful.

Atenco · 19/12/2016 03:34

People can be very cavalier with non-prescription drugs.

Original poster
glitterazi · 19/12/2016 03:35

So is it acceptable to drug adults then against their knowledge if it makes for an easy life for you? How is it any different?

OP posts:
PenelopeFlintstone · 19/12/2016 03:48

Wouldn't worry me.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/12/2016 03:49

They're high in the sky in a plane miles away from anywhere. Drugging your child in an environment, where emergency medical help cannot be sought is madness.

Medised was in the news when dd was a baby and shortly after, withdrawn. I'd never heard of it but I remember the outcry parents, who could no longer drug their children. My journalist friend explained this was commonplace.

Sleep deprivation is a used form of torture so I do understand the desperation of some parents. However to follow through and drug your child is so wrong.

claraschu · 19/12/2016 03:53

I don't find the argument about consent very compelling. I would never drug a child unnecessarily, but people do loads of things to children without their consent (that they wouldn't do to adults). Adults make decisions for children all the time, and often do things for the sake of convenience.

GnomeDePlume · 19/12/2016 04:11

I think the issue is with doing it for a quiet life rather than for a specific reason where the sedating is more of a side effect. It is a grey area.

If you give a child medication to alleviate something which is a problem for them but there is a beneficial side effect for you then I dont see the problem. If you are giving them medication solely for your own benefit then you are on very shaky ground.

Rulerruler · 19/12/2016 04:19

We gave it to DD1 (11) on a long haul flight - DD2 (9) didn't get given any. We'd had it prescribed for DD1 from the doctor for her as she was suffering from quite bad anxiety over flying. The doctor was happy to prescribe it and gave us enough for both flights. Dd1 was aware it would help her sleep. It really helped her and she was much calmer. So much so that while away she said she wasn't scared of flying anymore and didn't want it for the return flight. Since then she's loved flying!

Monkeymarbles · 19/12/2016 04:35

I've done this for me. 12 hour night flight, popped some piriton just before departure and slept 10.5 hours. Was fabulous.

I couldn't do it to the kids, just in case something did go wrong. However flying is boring and it is much nicer to sleep. Next holidays I might pop a pill and duck tape the kids in their seats.

Wifflewaffles · 19/12/2016 04:57

We have to do some long haul flights with dc next year to visit family. Ds 1 will be 9 and has possible SN, ds2 is 5 and does have SN. I am dreading the flights, but I wouldn't drug them unless they medically needed it.

waitingforsomething · 19/12/2016 05:30

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

I don't agree with the drugging thing at all but I'm afraid it's not that simple. For example, we are living abroad at the moment. I had no intention of taking my children back while the youngest was still a toddler, but my FIL died very unexpectedly and we needed to go. So I took him on a 13 hour flight, which was horrendous, he couldn't really manage it but I didn't have a lot of choice. So not really that simple.

NiceFalafels · 19/12/2016 05:36

Some children with autism or ADHD take menalin, which is appropriate for the circumstances.

Haven't read your article. I think NT children shouldn't usually take anything unless there are issues and even then it should be GP led

SoupDragon · 19/12/2016 05:46

Meh. I've done it using an antihistamine (not phernergen). One single dose of antihistamine before a once-a-year flight is perfectly fine in my book. It was a long time ago now but I'm reasonably sure we told the DC it was to help them sleep or make them drowsy or something.

The people who use it every night, not so much.

My parents once flew on the same flight as an anaesthetist (not from the UK). He gave his DC a pre-med!

SoupDragon · 19/12/2016 05:49

I don't see how that can sit comfortably with any caring parent.

Quite easily thanks.

BoomBoomsCousin · 19/12/2016 06:38

I think it's fine to do this to alleviate the child's discomfort, assuming it works for the child, there are no contra-indications and it is a rare occurance. Using consent as an excuse to have your young child in more distress strikes me as self-righteousness dressed up as care. You will do many, many things to your child that require consent when they are able to do so but which, while they are very young, you use your best judgement. I don't think this is any different. That doesn't mean I think every parent should do this, just that the choice is not a bad one if the purpose is to alleviate suffering.

corythatwas · 19/12/2016 06:42

Surely as a parent (and barring any SN), you will already have developed ways of soothing your own child by the time they get to the age of 2?

Never flown long-haul, but have done train journeys across Europe with this age group. As I remember it, it was constant work as a parent and required a fair bit of planning- particularly as this was in the days before tablets and other electronic entertainment. Still, I'd rather do that all over again than medicate them, particularly in a situation where there was nothing I could do if they reacted badly to the medicine.

Ditsy4 · 19/12/2016 06:43

I once asked a new dad how the new baby was sleeping to discover that new baby of six weeks was sleeping through the night every night! Turned out mum was giving him a dose of Phenegan every night. Dad appeared shocked when I told him it was a drug and not to be recommended.

I don't agree with it at all. What is wrong with teaching kids to behave? Yes they will be excited but no need to allow them to be obnoxious to others. Once sat diagonally opposite an Indian lady with four children 5 and under on a long ( 24 hr)haul flight. They were impeccably behaved.
In fact I have been lucky as all the children have been reasonable on long haul. I have looked after toddlers so mums on their own can have a couple of hours kip. Looked after a little boy (7)flying on his own from Vietnam to Australia once as Air Steward were busy because someone took ill. As my daughter says " they seem to find me."

Scooby20 · 19/12/2016 07:02

When we were flying in 2004 the in flight magazine had an article written by some celeb, can't remember her name she used to be on the right stuff alot. She gave her top tips for flying with kids. The last one was to dose them up with this stuff and enjoy a gin and tonic while they slept.

I thought it was appalling.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 19/12/2016 07:04

Meh - if it's a 1 off
For a long haul

That's said I probably
Would not