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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Drugging toddlers for a long airplane flight? Advice please!
I am taking my twin girls from Philly to Hong Kong and Seoul next month. They will be 16 months old at that time. I am absolutely dreading the flights (6 hours to San Francisco, 15 hours to Hong Kong, then 3.5 hours to Seoul). But my grandmother was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma and has less than 6 months left. I want to see her again, and I want her to meet my girls before she passes.
I will be taking the girls by myself because my husband could not get the time off from work. The girls will have their own seats, and I will be sure to bring a bag of new games, books, snacks, etc. to keep them entertained on the flight. I will also be borrowing a friend's DVD player.
I have thought long and hard about whether to give the girls Benadryl to help them sleep. On the one hand, I am reluctant to give them a drug that is not medically necessary. On the other hand, I am concerned not just about the flight experience, but also about their ability to function with a 13-hour time difference. We will be in Asia for less than two weeks, so I want them to adjust to the time difference as quickly as possible.
I talked to a pediatrician today and she was firmly against it. She was pretty judgmental about the whole thing (she actually told me that "having children is difficult"), but I know that there are other pediatricians out there who are more flexible and understanding.
I have not made a final decision, but I would like to hear some experiences from people who have used Benadryl to encourage your toddlers to sleep. How much did you give, and when? How did it work? I know that some children have the opposite reaction and get more hyper, so I would definitely try it out at home first.
Any other feedback or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks so much!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Drugging toddlers for a long airplane flight? Advice please!
I am sorry you are making this flight, and know it will be difficult with two children. Are you taking their car seats? Maybe being belted in will make it feel like a car ride?
I am strongly opposed to giving them medication. They may surprise you on the sleep cycle...going to Asia, I think when you get there You arrive relatively the same time just a day later (so if you leave in the afternoon Monday, you sleep on the plane, eat breakfast and lunch, and when you get there it IS Tuesday afternoon Asia time)... So the real jet lag issue is coming back.
IMHO, don't go with your LO's.
You go. By yourself.
I'm so glad you posted this. My DD is nuts on benadryl, drowsy isn't even close to a side effect we experience.
I gave my son bynadryl once after an allergic reaction, and he was super hyper. Like others have said.
I have known many people who did this and I don't think its so horrible as others seem to. So although I wouldnt choose to do it, (even if I knew it would make my son tired) I don't think it will cause harm.
I work for an airline and I fly for free so I fly all the time, i have to take my son because DH works all the time to afford my fancy lifestyle. (haha, kidding) I have gone as far as 5 hours and well, it was a total nightmare to be honest. With one baby.
The best advice to give you is to not worry about the other people. They are not going to be understanding. They are not going to like you. They are going to talk about this awful flight later. They will call the airline and say they shouldn't allow babies! They will give you the evil eye. Might even talk about you on the flight within earshot. BUT, you are not going to notice or care because you are going to be busy. The kids will hopefully sleep on their own because they will be tired.
Good luck, I admire your bravery.
I realize I'm going against the herd here, but... I don't think it's that bad if you feel you need to. Seriously- you are going on a helluva long trek with TWO 16month olds by yourself. I don't think it's fair for anyone to judge your decisions if they aren't walking in your shoes.
Part of why I don't think it's so bad is because my pedi has had me give benadryl to my 3yo since she was younger than age 2 whenever she has a cold, since that aggravates her asthma. The asthma makes her cough & she can't sleep, the benadryl relaxes her enough to get the rest she needs. Last winter (with my pedi's blessing) I used one dose nightly for weeks at a time because she was getting sick over & over. She feels it is a very safe med that can be used for long periods of time.
I realize that in this case, your children won't be sick. However, if it is a med that relaxes them instead of makes them hyper, I don't see the harm in using it if you seriously need them to sleep & they won't. I am so sorry for your situation, and please don't feel like a bad parent if you think this is something that could help you during your travels.
Exactly. She is not talking about shots of whiskey here, it's Children's Benedryl!
And OP, here is the dosage chart for Benedryl:
Dose every 4-6 hours:
I wouldn't do it, but I also don't judge those who do.
We have flown with DD on four 30+ hour flights (I was by myself on two of them) and while I was effing exhausted upon arrival, it wasn't that horrible. I just tell myself that it's only 30 hours. Even if it is torture the entire time, it's not THAT long in the grand scheme of things.
In saying that, DD wasn't 16 months (and there is only one of her), so that's a whole new ball of wax. However, we just last week booked a trip from Sydney to Honduras, up to Wisconsin, and back to Sydney when she is 18 months. The return trip, I'll be alone with her. I'm anticipating quite the exhausting and hellish journey, but I still won't 'drug' her.
Is there anyone else in your family who can travel with you? Maybe a cousin, friend etc so you will have extra help?
I would focus more on keeping the twins occupied with different activities on the trip (which it sounds like you're doing) rather than go the Benadryl route.
Also, call the airline to see if they have anything special for little kids...a lot of those super long flights may be more accomodating.
Good luck...most of our family is overseas so I totally, totally understand your need to travel at this time. Hugs to you...you're dealing with a lot with your grandmother.
I'm really sorry about your grandma.
I've flown with Jake to Germany, and will fly again in a month, I didn't give Benadryl and I don't plan on it. Jake is a pretty good traveler. The hum of the plane was enough to put him to sleep.
Plus, they both have their own seats, I would just brace myself for a long flight, bring toys, books and lots of snack.
Good luck
I don't think it's that big a deal either. "drugging" your kid is a bit dramatic, is it "drugging" them every time i give my son Tylenol?? i don't think so!
but, count me in as another mom who's son was nuttty on Benadryl. do a trial run before hand to see how they react. you also might not need it, they might sleep and keep themselves busy. who knows.
personally, i would never do that trip with two toddlers by myslef. the cost alone of the two extra tickets would be enough! I know you really want your grandmother to meet them but it just might be too much for toddlers to handle. can you Skype with her so she can see them in action??
Wow, 20 responses and only one or two people who have actually done it!
I've flown with LOs before, to and from the Caribbean (4 hours) and to and from San Francisco (6 hours). The trip to the Caribbean was fine because they were little and just stayed in their carseats. The San Francisco trip was hellish because they did not want to stay confined in their seats, and they did not nap at all. It will be even worse now that they are walking. Unfortunately no one else can come with me, my sister is 7 months pregnant and my mom is already there.
Thanks for the responses!
It's an OTC antihistamine, for heaven's sake, not Xanax. The posters who are most shocked about this are probably the ones who have never had a really bad flight with their kids. I mean the kind of flight where you are seriously considering begging the flight attendant to get on the intercom and ask if there is an anesthesiologist or a drug dealer on board who could be of assistance.
OP, I've never done it myself, but I would definitely give it a test run at home. If it seems to work the way you want it to, I'd just keep it in my purse and give it to one or both girls if you are at your wit's end. You never know, they may deal with the whole thing really well and surprise you.
Have you confirmed that you are permitted to fly with 2 LOs by yourself? I was under the impression that you had to have one parent/adult per child.
You are brave for even considering that long a flight. I would hate to do that by myself, let alone with two 16 month olds.
wth are you talking about? I've flown with my two kids and no one said anything to me that I couldn't.
this is stupid.
OP, you are going to do what you want to do anyway, regardless of what strangers on the internet say. Drug them, don't drug them ... it's still going to be a nightmare managing two children on three connecting flights to a foreign country with passports, customs, baggage, etc. I understand your motivation, but skype was invented for a reason.
If it were a vacation or a friend's wedding, I would say this also.
But to see a grandmother that does not have much longer to live? I would be taking my DD with me.
It's unfortunate that your DH can't go with you. Is there anyone else that can go? Perhaps your MIL/FIL or a very good friend?
In your situation, I would do the benadryl if I'm being honest. As long as you know that it does in fact help them sleep. I would also try to get overnight trips so that there chances of sleep increases.
Good luck. I'm very sorry to hear about your grandmother.
I haven't done it, but I have brought Tylenol and Motrin with me as insurance. I've never had to use it.
I know people that have given their kids Benadryl and their kids have lived to tell. I wouldn't do it for the first time on a plane, I'd test it beforehand.
It seems like a long trip with two kids! Good luck. You will be busy. But travelling with DD at 15 months was easier than 18 months. Remember to take deep breaths and realize that the journey will eventually end. Also, if they are sleeping, you need to try and rest too. And be prepared for delays.
Worry about the time change after you get there - just focus on the travel for now.
My advice? Drugging is not a good option at all. In fact, it could backfire (this happened to my mom when I was a toddler on the way to France). It ended up hyping me up and it was a nightmare.
ETA: On the way back to the US my mom made sure to keep me walking in the airports (in layovers). She packed extra snacks, water and lots of entertainment for me. I think that having my father there helped a lot. Could you get anyone to come with you?
Don't get your knickers in so much of a twist there Jenerally, would hate to cut any more circulation off from your brain...
What's stupid is flapping your gums without knowing what you are talking about. https://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/youngtravellers/infant-child.html
I'm guessing the people who are all gasp! about this never had a very young child on a very long flight.
It can be all kinds of horrible to be trapped in a small seat with a child who is not happy at all and doesn't understand they need to stay still for that long of a period of time. We flew to the Middle East when ds was 10 months old. It was a 14 hour total flight and was pure hell. I didn't do benedryl, but I don't see it as such a horrible thing to aid in their relaxation.
However, it most likely won't work. We tried it once when ds was sick and not getting any sleep and it did not make him sleepy at all. GL to you.
Flame away, but hell yes I would "drug" them for the 13 hour flight. They'll be able to sleep and it will be a much more comfortable ride for everyone. Your kids, you, and everyone flying with you.
I'd probably do a little trial run before the flight though, just to make sure they don't react with hyperactivity. My friend's son goes absolutely bonkers when he has to take benedryl (when he's sick). He literally bounces off the walls. You don't want that on a flight!
If I was flying alone with two 16 month old children I would give them benadryl. It is a simple over the counter antihistamine. I would try it out once before the flight. Here is a link so you can calculate the exact dosage per body weight. https://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T088800.asp None of my three children are hyper from benadryl.
I would strongly consider taking multiple videos and make lots of phone/skype calls before I would bring my children on a hellish trip like that. I know the reason is very compelling and emotional so it must be a tough decision.
Yes, truly. The last flight I took with Clay, if a frat boy had come over and offered me a rufie to put in his bottle, I'd have taken it and kissed him. And that was only four hours.
I know it must be hard for you to realize that Canada is different than the United States. She lives in Philly, not Canada. At no point will she fly anywhere IN Canada on this flight.
United Airlines policy
Delta policy
And I meant that the debate was stupid, not you. Of course, coming back to call me names makes me wonder why you would be so sensitive in the first place.
This exactly. I especially like the responses from people who have one baby telling a mom of twins to "suck it up." Ridiculous.
OP I haven't done it because I had to give my oldest Benadryl once for an allergic reaction and he got so hyper it was insane.
Allow me to clarify my initial comment then. I said "have you confirmed" not "YOU CAN'T FLY BY YOURSELF".
To be honest, I am not new to the bump, and I have seen the tenor of many of your posts, and I don't think that it was unreasonable of me to think that you would call a poster stupid.
I will concede however, that was my mistake.