Calpol/ Piriton - question about drowsiness

[vannah]

Hi,
Not sure if I'm allowed to ask this sort of question. Next week, DH and I need to go somewhere very important in the evening and my DS (2.5) is extremely clingy (and a bit of a poor sleeper) and will not be babysat/left with a minder/friend/grandparent without mummy or daddy.
For the past 2.5 years I have simply not gone out anywhere with DH but I cant get out of this thing next week.
Need DS to sleep for 3-4 hours. He goes to bed at 7.30 and generally doesnt wake till midnight, but on occasion he has done, and would scream and be totally traumatised (as he was when I was in hospital giving birth) and scratch himself raw etc...

So Im trying to avoid a 10pm wake up. To get to the point, Im thinking of giving him a teaspoon of either calpol or piriton to keep him a bit drowsy and hopefully sleeping till 11 when we return.
Which do you think would be better for the job, or should I speak to a pharmacist?

Giving 1 teaspoon of calpol or piriton is NOT drugging my child.

I can totally understand and sympathise with your situation though. It is totally depressing when they just won't sleep, isn't it? Don't know what to suggest though as I don't recommend medicine but you may find they are okay for a different person. My DD never sleeps through for me but for my mum she's a dream.

how awake is he at 10pm???? If everything is dark can someone immitate your resettling routine?

oh god no!

dont do it.

get a babysitter who knows ds well and keep your mobile close by.

have taken piriton myself and it makes me feel shite.

oh and for some children it actually makes them hyper and not drowsey.

calpol has no sedative effects anyway.

Be positive and remember unlike when you were in hospital you will be home midnight at the latest so at the very most 2 hours. Also he may well have been very unsettled when you were giving birth because they know something big is going on when you are heavily pregnant which makes the more difficult. Also try and relax about the whole thing or he will pick up on your vibes.

many thanks. Have tried his gran (loves her) consoling him but he was so frightened and though sleepy, alert enough to know the differnce (we were listening in on the monitor)
trying to practise a few more times...

I would suggest Piriton because i was warned by the pharmacists that it can make then drowsy however i have to say that both calpol and piriton have no effect on my DD! Good luck and i hope that you do manage to get some valuable time to yourselves !!! xx

can you not have the babysitter there as you do the bedtime routine for the next few nights, so he gets used to them??

or, tape you voice ready so that if he wakes the babysitter can play it while stroking him, or doing whatever you would normaly do, and wearing a top of yours to imitate your smell!!