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

[glitterazi]

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/

[ARumWithAView]

Animals are sedated to lessen their distress, so why not children?

But you're not allowed to sedate animal when they're on a flight. Sedation limits the animal's ability to regulate body temperature and respiration, or may cause other unexpected reactions mid-flight. No reputable vet would give you anything for this purpose, and most airlines will refuse boarding.

Everyone saying 'oh, it's only the once' -- surely you'd need to give it to your child at least a couple of times pre-travel, just to check they reacted well? Especially something like Phenergan, which can be fatal to small children, causing breathing difficulties or inducing coma.

I don't know what's worse: giving your child several doses of a completely unnecessary anti-histamine/anti-emetic, or giving them just the one as they board a long-haul flight, potentially hours away from medical help.

[Branleuse]

ding dong is one of those people. The general public that have ALL the answers about disabled children and how they should be parented.

[WorraLiberty]

I think it's probably ok as a one-off.

But a friend of mine is a Pharmacist near Marble Arch station in London and regularly refuses to sell sedatives to the street/public transport beggars, who sit there all day with sedated babies.

God knows what the long term effects might be.

It's not like she can even report to SS as she doesn't know their details.

[MarjorieSimpson]

Hmm I'm in two minds about it.
We have no idea why people are travelling. It might well be that there is no other choices.
It is also possible that the trip itself will be of great benefit for the child, far outweighing the issue of giving them some antihistamines.
It is also possible that said child will find it almost impossible to keep still for 8 hours and that imposing to that child to stay still like this will be extremely painful for them.
And then there are parents who just don't want to make the fort involved with taking a child on a plane.
The ones who want an easy ride.
The ones who are worried about what other people will think (and if you read MN and the number of very angry people at children (and their parents) who are crying, moving too much etc... you can see WHY they would be worried about that)

I fully disagree that it's just a holiday so isn't necessary too.
Going away on holidays and discovering new places, new foods, new ways of doing things, new environments is part of growing up and having these experiences are important. They will also be even more important for some children than others (dc2 would be one of them. If we hadn't made a point of taking him to places when he was little and very surely overwhelmed etc..., he would rally struggled now as a teenager. He wouldn't want to go away with school trips etc etc and will be missing a hell of a lot)

So is it ok? Well in some cases, I think it's the way out and the parents should have made more effort or found another way to spend their hols.
But in other cases, nope, sorry. I think the advantages of going away like this far outweighs the risk of taking some antihistamines that are not prescription medicine.

[MyschoolMyrules]

I have done it before when my two were babies, with something that was called 'medised' (not sure it's the correct spelling). It's paracetamol and diphenhydramine hydrochloride and it used to be available over the counter, we could give it from the age of 6 months old I think. Back then - that was 12 years ago, it was available everywhere. paracetamol helped with ear pain (which I still get when flying) and it helped them fall asleep and stay asleep, on night flights, never regretted it or thought it was the wrong thing to do! There are some pretty strong arguments here, but I would do it again, no hesitation.

[MarjorieSimpson]

Also, if you aren't happy for a once in the year (or twice for the return journey) use of antihistamines because The child doesn't need it as such, i suggest that you look at your use of paracetamol.
Paracetamol is used A LOT in young children. Usually when it's not needed, just after a small knock, because they are teething, you don't know why they are grumpy etc etc.
Is that always needed? Or is it more about the fact it's easier for the parent (they don't have to get during the night) or it makes them feel they have done something (e.g. A small knock)?

The use of medications for other reasons that the ones that is intended (or the overusage) isn't restricted to antihistamines (where you can ask in the first place if they are really needed in a lot of cases). It's just that it is seen as socially appropriate.

[coldcanary]

I was a travel sick child and I was prescribed Phenergan years ago because at one point I could barely get into a car without feeling sick within the first 5 miles. The DC's have inherited it to an extent but travel sickness medication must have improved a lot over the years because it only takes a small dose of Kwells to sort them out!
It was vile stuff and would knock me out for the whole journey and beyond - no way would I give it to mine just for some peace and quiet, YANBU.

[BillSykesDog]

I don't think that Phernagan is available over the counter even for adults anymore. I know it was cleared completely from pharmacies completely in 2014 with the intention it would return as a prescription only medication but I didn't follow the story up after that to see what happened. That was because it was being abused by adults.

If it's being prescribed and supervised by a doctor then yes I can't see a problem with that.

But the circumstances in the blog: the friend seems to have brought it into the country in full knowledge that it is banned here for the purpose she is using it for without medical supervision, as does the writer. A man was convicted last week of illegally importing Temazapan in very similar circumstances related to the death of 4 year old Poppy Widdison. In the case of the blogger it goes way beyond borderline abuse into actual abuse. She is administering an illegally imported drug in a way which she is aware is not legal in this country (all the tee, heeing about a 'present' shows she knows she is being 'naughty'.

The fact is, God forbid the worst had happened to her child when given this medicine, but if it had that blog would almost certainly have meant she and her friend would have been convicted and probably seen a prison sentence for their actions.

It's a really strong drug and can be dangerous and administering it like this when you know it's not legal without medical supervision is abuse. No borderline about it. Doing stuff like this whilst in possession of middle class credentials doesn't make it okay. Go and get a fucking prescription and if your doctor says no that's for a reason.

[Aeroflotgirl]

No Phenegran is not available over the counter, it has to be prescribed by a Dr. For those who don't believe in medicating for anxiety on a flight, even if its prescribed by a Dr or a Paeditrician, what do you feel about children mainly who have SN such as ASD or ADHD being prescribed medication to lessen their anxiety, and so that they are calmer at school and home, and are able to access an education and to be happier and calmer when learning. I haven't mentioned Melatonin, that a lot of children with ASD are prescribed to help them go off to sleep at night. Bet you disagree with that right! There are are lots of incidences where medication is used to calm and a child and lessen their distress so that they can function day to day.

[smEGGnogg]

My friend buys hers otc sometimes when she can't get into the gp. She uses it for travel anxiety and sickness and has to fly at short notice with the company she works for.

[corythatwas]

If you have an autistic child or a child with high anxiety or a child with any other special reasons, then you might reasonably come to the conclusion that the trip outweighs the risk.

If it is so you don't have to spend the flight telling them stories and talking to them and playing (quiet) games with them, then I have less sympathy- to me, that is just what a parent does.

And Marjorie, there is no evidence that those particular posters who disapprove of sedating the child approve of giving it paracetamol unless medically indicated either. Mine had paracetamol very rarely, and only if they had a fever or I had a definite reason for believing they were in pain.

[Aeroflotgirl]

My friend has a boy who is 9 who has ASD, chromosome disorder, as a result has a bowl disorder that is worsen by high anxiety. As a result of a low dose of anti anxiety medication prescribed by CAHMS Dr, he is calmer, and has full days at school, he is making progress and is able to enjoy life more.

[Aeroflotgirl]

cory all those won't make a difference if the child is having a full blown meltdown on the flight, lashing out and hitting and biting, and screaming full throttle.

[corythatwas]

No, Aeroflot, which is why I made an exception for children with SN. Ime, if you work full throttle and keep an eye on them all the time for warning signs (and if they are already used to you telling them stories etc when travelling), then it is usually possible to keep an NT child reasonably calm.

My dd was a very full-on tantrummer when she was little. But we managed to get her through a number of long journeys because I worked flat out to ensure at those times there would be no confrontations and no boredom. Little things like starting to tell a particularly interesting story or starting a game just before take-off. Dh had a particularly fine line in cliffhangers.

[RhodaBorrocks]

I'm with you Aero, overseen by a qualified professional I have no problems with medicating a child for a specific need. DS takes melatonin but we haven't yet flown for more than 4 hours, so no need to sedate him.

He is highly anxious, but refuses to take anything that leaves him feeling out of control (yay PDA!). It's taken years to get him to stop fighting through his melatonin so I doubt he'd take anything that really knocked him out. Last time we flew his anxiety manifested by him plugging himself into the entertainment console and refusing to interact with anyone unless it concerned food. I was more anxious making sure he was coping tbh!

However, I do disagree with people setting their kids regularly, or without a specific need, just or the sake of a quiet life/relaxing flight.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Oh I see corey. We do what we think is right as parents, not everyone may agree.

[BillSykesDog]

But the whole point of that blog is that it's being done totally without medical supervision. Stupid bitch should be reported to SS.

[Minivaperviper]

I wouldn't drug my child to sleep ever, but have given her calpol or such likes in attempt to help with the pain of air pressure as when she was young it caused her great pain and distress.
I always get horrible migraines on descent so keep painkillers with me for that also.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

My dm was given phenergan to give to me as a baby as I was such a little terror but that was over 30 years ago.
I don't know if anyone has seen Michael Mcintyre's latest show from last year? He does a very long sketch about giving Calpol and nurofen at the same time and having some alone time with mummy. I normally like MM but this didn't sit right with me at all and makes one wonder just how many parents really do do this. I bet it's far more than would admit to it, or find some little excuse for a dose to justify it.

[dingdongthewitchishere]

makes one wonder just how many parents really do do this.

If you read advice on various internet forum, there are plenty! I have even seen people advising to give calpol to babies just before they have a jab, "just in case". I am on several parenting groups on facebook, where posters are not so anonymous and calpol is given like a sweet.

[BillSykesDog]

Actually I have just come back from immunisations and that's medical advice. Calpol just before and after then twice again at four hour intervals. I'm sitting looking at the NHS slip giving this advice. You're completely in the wrong there ding and they are right!

[BillSykesDog]

Just before or just after that should have read. It's for the Men B vaccine.

[dingdongthewitchishere]

BillSykesDog the medical advice given at my surgery when my kids got the jabs was to give Calpol IF NEEDED after the injections. Advice repeated by the nurse who did the injections. One of mine got a bit hot and fretful and obviously a bit unwell for the 2nd visit, so got a dose, the others were fine so didn't get any.

Feel free to call my GP and tell him he's wrong.

[dingdongthewitchishere]

• I didn't mean for the Men B, my kids are just too old (the last one by not much) and don't qualify on the NHS. I meant for the other rounds of immunisation on the NHS.

[Girlwhowearsglasses]

I remember parents of very slightly older babies lamenting the discontinuation of Medised when DS1 was a baby ten years ago.

I think we need to see our lives a tiny bit more in the round. Drugs shouldn't be given unsupervised or willy nilly, but sometimes a timely use of something can make something stressful a lot easier, and on balance its worth doing. My DS1 has ADHD and takes melatonin (prescribed) every night. He simply wouldn't sleep until midnight if he didn't have it. Melatonin isn't a sedative as its a synthesised version of the hormone melatonin that triggers our body clock to know it's bedtime.

You can buy melatonin over the counter in a preparation made for children in the whole of Europe, and in health food stores in the US. There are many many people who use it for themselves and their children when they need some sleep - or to reset their body clock and aid jetlag.

I for one wish I'd bought a shed load in the US and used it long ago for DS, but I was chicken as it's prescription-only here (and often GPs won't prescribe it until you've gone through a whole load of sleep hygiene stuff or your child has a diagnosis of ADHD or ASD) . It's changed our lives, and no side effects.

I also could kick myself for being some kind of PFB purist masochist and refusing to give DS1 infacol when he was tiny. God only knows why not - he had terrible colic and wind; we'd all have been happier if something had worked. Having twins sorted the PFB in me but I do think sometimes a one-off helping hand has a disproportionate benefit.