Is It Okay to Drug Kids for Airplane Rides?

November 16, 2007

Holiday travel entails a lot of lugging when you've got kids and suitcases. Add long lines and late flights to the list, and the last thing you need is your child having a mid-air meltdown. To prevent this, some parents give their lil darling a dose of medication like Benadryl or Dimetapp. What's your opinion?

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91 Comments

mommytoasdboy3 1 year 49 weeks

okay im okay with medicating the child IF there is something wrong with them that they cannot handle the flight. As a mother with a son with autisim who is flying this week to see grandparents i am medicating my child so he doesnt have a freak panic attack not for other people but for my child who has issues with tight cramped places and loud noise

2 years 34 weeks

allyd, your choice not to medicate your children is healthy, pure, and beautiful. IF you have trained them well in good manners and monitor them very closely to make sure they are not disturbing anyone. If they are annoying everyone and you choose to overlook this because you "truly believe" you children "are more important than other people", you are guilty of great selfishness and abysmally poor citizenship. We all share this world. Take responsibility for the havoc your children wreak.

3 years 1 week

i am flying my 5 month old from Cairo to Amsterdam(5 hours) then having a lay over for 8 hours in Amsterdam airport. then flying again to miami for 8 to 9 hours. here is a thing. he has some heart problems and not supposed to cry much, and ive never flew him before. i must go for his surgery, I FEEL BAD BUT I THINK I MUST GIVE HIM SOMTHING TO MAKE HIM SLEEP THE WHOLE WAY. OR ELSE HE WILL CRY NON STOP AND THERE IS NO WAY TO COMFORT HIM.... DRUGING BABYS FOR THE BABYS IS NOT A BAD THING IN MY OPINION.... for other reasons to calm them down and have a nice flight and all , i agree in doing that with babys up to 12 month, until they can talk and tell u whats wrong.and they could be entertained,

3 years 9 weeks

Here is what I think, I had flown last summer to Europe with my 18 month old on 9 hour long flight and she screamed bloody murder for the last 3 h of flight. And no matter what I tried to do to calm her down wasn't working. It was a night flight and I was counting on her to sleep it trough just like her older sister , we run around waiting room before boarding, I had kept them occupied with coloring,reading stories, rhymes. But when the sleeping time came, she just couldn't fall asleep.Planes are busy,noisy and not comfortable. And she lost it. and no, that is not my child's typical behavior, it was a 3 h long screaming fit , I had never experienced anything like it with her before or after. So for this summer trip to Europe I am definitely drugging her. For other people on board, for myself and mostly for her.I had talked to our pediatrician and he is OK with a single dose of benadryl or gravol.

3 years 12 weeks

When I flew from Colorado to Japan it was a 24 hour deal. My son was one at the time. Getting a one year old to sit in a car seat for 13 hours straight is not an easy task. I kept him up all day and only let him sleep for about 3 hours before we left for the aiport in the morning. The only time he was awake was in between planes. I gave him some meds to help him fall asleep n be comfortable in a strange and stressful situation. Not to mention the time difference. It's not about the meds, it's about your kids n making the transition as easy as possible on them. I leave for Hawaii from japan in a few hours n I'll do the same thing. He is one n a half, he don't understand what's going on. So if I can make it easier for him, me and the other travelers on the same 9 hour flight as I am on I will.

3 years 13 weeks

I dont like the term drugging your kid! But im flying with an 18 month old to Aruba in Dec and you better believe that he will be taking something so endure the 4 hour flight! People who dont have children should not judge until they are in a crowded plane with their kid screaming and in your head you know ALLL the other passengers are thinking " Shut that kid up" before i had children i was one of them! Plus traveling is stressful enough! A little tylenol wont kill the kid as long as it isnt used all the time to give the parent peace and quiet! BTW they also make childrens dramamine for motion sickness and it knocks them out! Technically you arent drugging the kid. Your preventing air sickness!

3 years 40 weeks

My two sons and I fly a lot. They are 4 and 2 now and benadryl isn't really needed we take a 15 hour flight to Hawaii and back tjat includes 2 lay overs that are two hours each so that they can run and play and get tired between flights. Then they fall asleep immediately following take off. However, when they were babies they both had problems with their ears during take off and yes I gave them benadryl... Our pediatrician reccomended it and I was glad he did. Not because I care if they cried but because I cannot imagine not being able to pop my ears that hurt. Now when I fly alone I prefer few layovers but with the kids and by myself I want as Many as possible..: we play Simon says and race each other through the airports. That may bother some people on the airport but everyone is happy on the plane.. It's not easy flying with two active boys alone but I am not going to let that stop me from exposing the boys to the world, and if they didn't love to fly or had never been on a trip that long I would definately give them some. They should not be expected to sit still for that amount of time it's not fair to them.

3 years 49 weeks

To the person who said don't travel until your kid knows how to behave properly.....Could you say anything more selfish or inconsiderate?! You know some people don't have a choice to travel....like going to a parents funeral halfway across the united states! So, let me just miss the funeral so I don't have to bother anybody with my 2 year old who is behaving just like a 2year old should! They do not fully understand some things and are NOT supposed to be perfect at age 2. I am all for discipline but, you are a joke if you think kids are supposed to be perfect and that if they aren't, that means that the parents don't have the same rights as everyone else. It is a good thing this is being said over a computer!!!

3 years 52 weeks

Amen Turbo 18 I am military as well and sometimes you have no choice! My oldest son flew 3 times before his 1st birthday! Im all about giving my boys something to relax!

Turbo18 4 years 7 weeks

Gosh some of these comments are so darn naive! Don't travel until your kid knows how to behave?? Please! I am an Army spouse living in Germany..that was not my choice but my husbands orders...when I have to fly ALONE (because my husband is fighting for YOUR freedom!) with my 3 children for 10 hour flights--you bet your dollar I may give them some benedryl--otherwise it is complete misery for everyone. Sure you can entertain a child with snacks, toys and movies for a few hours...its not gonna last the whole 10!! Don't be so judgemental people...do you curse people for giving children Tylenol? We are talking OTC here and the CORRECT dosages! No one is talking about illegal drugs here... Just crazy...relax and take a deep breath everyone!

riahncurt 4 years 22 weeks

I am a mother of two. One 2-year-old, & another 1-year-old. I just recently flew for 20 hrs! Not a non-stop flight, but a total. my kids were good without any meds. but I wouldn't mind giving them a little if it's supposed to relax them. I know how restless they get just sitting there & even with a bunch of snacks & toys, what kid would eat & keep themselves busy for 20 hrs!

NiniSoph 5 years 6 days

I always first try to find ways to amuse my kids with games, conversation, toys, puzzles and whatever else I can fit in their backpack. My kids are 5 and 3 and have started to pack their own "bags" for trips with some of their favorites (and some new ones I pack to surprise them). I recently found a great one-stop shop for kids travel products called Little Jet Set (www.littlejetset.com). Along with luggage, activity books, games, etc., they have some great links for travel information.

princessangry 5 years 18 weeks

I flew trans-atlantic last week. The most badly behaved and annoying person on the flight was the grown woman in front of me... I've been reading this thread with interest, would it be considered "wrong" to give the child something to calm them down if they were terrfied of flying? Or if flying made them so nervous that they get upset? I don't have children, I should point out. I'm undecided about this topic.

artsyvixen 5 years 21 weeks

"this thread is beginning to feel like a trans-atlantic flight with a dozen kids throwing tantrums. i think i'll get the stewardess to bring me another one of those little bottles of wine..." Hmmm, isn't that pretty much "taking the edge off"? So you will take drugs (and yes alcohol is considered a drug) to calm yourself on a flight or an internet argument with strangers?!? Seems kind of double sided to me. Without taking sides on this argument I can say that I think that it is no less wrong than "drugging" your child to teach them that they are the most important person in the world and to always do what is best for them without consequence to others. Yes, we should always teach our children self worth and to make decisions for themselves without falling prey to the opinions of others when it goes against what they know is right. But we should also teach our children that they are not to be selfish and inconsiderate. The world is full of people like this and it accounts for many of society's problems today.

arienne 5 years 21 weeks

Wow - I'm surprised how horrible some people think this is. Long plane flights make me grouchy so I often drug myself. Eight hour flight? I’ll take a Tylenol PM, sleep through it, and be rested and ready to go when I arrive. Is that absolutely horrible? I don't think so. I don't think it is any worse for your kids. As long as you clear it with a doctor, give them something safe and mild that will make the flight more bearable for them and a happier trip for the whole family (and, of course, I would never take something myself when I'm traveling with children - only when I'm the only I need to be responsible for). Plane flights are relatively rare - and particularly uncomfortable. If people were talking about something more common, like drugging your kids because you are going shopping or out to dinner so they are well behaved, that is very clearly a very different situation and without a doubt unacceptable (and abusive). But some Benadryl for a plane flight? I just don't think it is that big a deal.

Manduh 5 years 26 weeks

this is a very useful question for me because In march /08 I will be taking my daughter (who will be 3yrs come time for the trip)on a flight to Cancun Mexico.... It has been interesting to see everyones comments. Although still not sure what I am going to do

Muirnea 5 years 26 weeks

Everyone deserves respect!!! The kids AND the other people!!!!!!! Not just the kids!!!!!!!!!!

Muirnea 5 years 26 weeks

Thank you snowbunny11!!!!!! I completely agree with you!!!!!

allyd 5 years 26 weeks

this thread is beginning to feel like a trans-atlantic flight with a dozen kids throwing tantrums. i think i'll get the stewardess to bring me another one of those little bottles of wine...

snowbunny11 5 years 26 weeks

allyd, your view is just truly disturbing. Your children, while important to you are not any more important than the 100 other people on your flight, and how you could even think that really boggles my mind. Don't forget these other people are parents too, with valuable kids too and quite possibly they deserve some of your respect as well. As a former preschool and kindergarten teacher I can tell you that children will be more likely to misbehave when they are tired, sick or bored. Even if your children are perfect angels, many otherwise angelic children are prone to fussing on flights because it is not a good experience for them. If your kids have no problem flying, fine, obviously no parent should be forced to drug their kids! But your lack of respect for other people, and for the fact that some parents might need to give their kids a little help to calm down is really ridiculous.

chatnoir 5 years 26 weeks

If you are using OTC medications for something other than it was intended and your child is NOT ill.. why is that any differrent than kids drinking cold medicine to get a buzz. I would never do that to my children. My children know how to behave.

PinkUnicorn 5 years 26 weeks

Ugh. Personally I have absolutely NO patience for children on planes who scream and misbehave (not including little babies who can't help it). I would most definitely drug my children for long flights because I would remember what it's like to be trapped on a plane for eight hours with a screaming, fussy child. It's not because I would be "embarrassed" about their behaviour; it would be because I am considerate of the people around me. My dream world would just include airlines that run flights with no children under 10 on them.....although I doubt that is going to happen anytime soon.

allyd 5 years 26 weeks

how am i not being clear here? snowbunny, i am completely, unabashedly unashamed of putting my kids' interests ahead or yours, mine, or anyone else in the world's. you can do that without spoiling a child, you know. my point, which i have reiterated ad nauseum, is that when determining how to best care for my children, my own values trump the opinions of the strangers around me every single time. ...but i think it's nice how you assume my kids are hitting people's seats or screaming at them. they've never done that, in dozens of flights. but even if they did, i wouldn't drug them. i'd correct them and teach them.

snowbunny11 5 years 26 weeks

Omg, I read back through here...allyd, you really think your kids are so important to the extent that you don't care about anything else? Like my $500 plane flight and the fact that I could have had an important presentation in work the next day? I so hope that when I have kids I am not like that! "It's okay Junior if you want to hit her seat and scream at her, she's just another person, we don't have to care about other people at all!"

snowbunny11 5 years 26 weeks

Oh, and in supermarkets, honestly that is so incredibly different. I think grouchy people on planes really love kids other places! Even in restaurants (unless it is somewhere really fancy) kids' antics are fun to watch. A society of drugged up kids would not be good, but on planes, I guess I feel kind of passionately about this! lol

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