LilSugar

Is It Okay to Drug Kids for Airplane Rides?

LilSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:40:17 PST

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?

Source

Do You Drug Your Kids For Airplane Travel?

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:37:23 PST

The holiday travel season has officially begun, with many schools beginning their Winter breaks at the end of this week. The bags are packed and boarding passes are printed, but is Mama going to throw in one extra item to help ensure a smooth journey?

For some, giving lil ones a single dose of medication like Benadryl or Dimetapp is like buying trip insurance - it's a lil safeguard against a midtrip disaster. The sleep-inducing elixirs can be just the ticket to a peaceful - meltdown-free - flight across the country or to grandma's house. What do you think?

Don't Medicate Yourself With Kitchen Spoons

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:50:05 PST

I have ~~traumatic~~ fond memories of my mom running after me with a spoonful of grape Dimetapp. It looks like I was right to fear the spoon, because it's not an accurate way to measure medication. When prescribed to take two tablespoons, the average household spoon you use for soup may not be an exact tablespoon. It may be more or less, which means you could be under- or over-medicating yourself. One teaspoon equals five milliliters, and if you take too little, your body won't be reaping the benefits of the medicine. If you take too much, the side effects associated with the medicine can be more severe.

The solution? Use the little measuring cup or dosage spoon that came with the medicine, or pick one up at your pharmacy. Measure liquids at eye level, and note whether the prescription calls for teaspoons or tablespoons. It's a simple way to ensure you're taking the correct amount of medicine.