To drug or not to drug...

[Shortninbread]

We are about to make the 24 hour flight to Australia with our two year old. Last time it was a complete nightmare with almost no sleep whatever for DD. Has anyone used over the counter or prescribed sleeping tablets for children? Any thoughts or ideas gratefully received.

I don't think you get over the counter sleeping tablets for children, might be wrong though. I go to the GP and get sleeping tablets when I fly long haul but whether they'd write a prescription for a child I have no idea. It's perhaps worth a try.

Speak to your GP, my friend did this for her youngest DC for Aus flight, failing that can use Mediced. You need to find out from the plane staff what time they are serving meals and dose up afterwards otherwise they will miss food and wake up hungry. Have a great time am very

medised isnt suitable for children under 6 and I wouldnt use it in the absence of an illness. I dont think you get sleeping tablets for children. Something like piriton may cause drowsiness but can also have the opposite effect. I personally wouldnt give anything but that is just my opinion

I, after a very long time soul searching , did just that for the return flight from Miami overnight (9 hours). I spoke to the local (in UK) pharmacist who recommended something suitable. DS was 3 1/2. The mostly recommended product (I think medi sed) has "too" much in it of something (sorry cant remember what) so he recommended a product without. It was pretty horrible watching my DS zonk out but the alternative on the flight going out where the child got more and more hyper was also pretty awful in the confined space of an aircraft.

Your child is too young for any type of sleeping tablet. I am actually horrified that you are considering it.

Graciescotland, candr, Seona1973 and veryconfused - many thanks for your constructive comments here. Very useful to hear your experiences, as we put the welfare of our DC at the forefront of our decision-making process.

Someone told me that Calpol used to have a drowsy component, but they took this out. Another one I've heard about is an antihistamine/motion sickness drug called Phenergan, but I suspect 2 years is too young for this.

More research to do, until we make our decision. Thanks again.

OP I do understand having just done a long haul flight with a non sleeping 2 year old! Afaik the only thing that you could get OTC is piriton (the drowsy antihistamine) which was suggested to me before I left. Melatonin is prescribed for some children for sleep and I know people who've used it but I don't know if you'd get a GP to prescribe it for you for flying?

If you do decide to try something, try a trial run at home first. All drugs with a sedative effect can have the opposite effect in some children and make them totally hyper.

I decided not to because I'm twitchy about these things but I did invest in a portable DVD player and a lot of peppa pig instead which eased the pain slightly .

Calcold it's called. Or calnight. It's calpol but with an added ingredient that makes children drowsy. it's like medised, not for under 6 years old.

I second the portable DVD player. And an overhead bag full of toys!

I do give normal calpol to my children when flying, they do get ear aches, and it helps them just fell less pain. I travelled on my own with two boys to and back from Canada and they were fine, but only because they had the dvd player and could watch their favorite shows/movies over and over again.

Someone once told me she's used the Bach Flower remedy and it calmed her kids down. Can't guarantee it will work, though.
I've used antihistamines on DS once, when he was a toddler, and it had the opposite effect, so I've never used anything since.

I think all the people who are horrified at the thought of drugging a child has never been on a long haul flight with an overtired child.

Before children Dh and I were on a night flight back from America so only about 9 hours but the poor woman behind me had a child who did not sleep. The toddler went from bouts of crying to bouts of screaming to total tantrums in the seat. I felt awful for the mother who was doing her utmost to calm her completely exhausted child.

We have actually avoided ever travelling on a plane because my youngest DS really struggled to sit still or be quiet. Hence never camping with him either (earlier riser incapable of whispering)

OP - go and talk your options over with your GP, I totally understand why you want to do this. It isn't just the flight and the tutting you hear, but the days after that when they are still exhausted.