Because i need advice
I'm afraid of flying. With Crabtot, I mean.
Usually I make fun of advice here. But this time I'm asking for it, nay begging for it. Because we're soon jetting off to see Crabgrandma in Africa, and I want to know how I might survive a tot in transit for 2 days. Frankly, I'm looking to knock Crabtot out. Because from the Rocky Mountains to Table Mountain (Cape Town) is not a journey, it's an odyssey. It's the Great Trek.
Given today's wussiness toward meds, I didn't expect my pediatrician to be sympathetic to my desire to submerge the 3-year-old in a sea of Benadryl. But in fact Doc suggested half a teaspoon of Beny, tried in advance to check that it didn't have the reverse effect. Sadly, even a full 5mls just had plum sweet-Fanny-Adams NO effect. To my disappointment, Crabtot seemed utterly herself after Benadryl, entirely undiminished in wakefulness and cheekiness. I was longing to call the doc and ask if a double-dose (that would be 4 x her half-tsp suggestion) could be sanctioned under drastic circumstances. But you can't ask them that because you know they can't answer you.
So next on the test-run agenda is Dimetapp, then something I didn't think was still on the shelves called PediaCare, which I descended on at the pharmacy last week as if spotting a nugget of gold in the sand. In choosing my poisons I'm picking those containing the heartening side effects message "marked drowsiness may occur" as opposed to just plain old "drowsiness may occur." I was also thrilled to see a lovely moon and star on the PediaCare bottle—definitely a promising sign!
Any other suggestions? Anyone heard of Gravol? Any PediaValium out there? Judge away, but how far do you think you'd get with lavender oil on the temples and an Etch-a-Sketch if you were going from Wyoming to South Africa with your crabby tot?
I really do beseech you for advice on how to obliterate wakefulness on a 35-hour trip. Scanning online message-boards hasn't helped. If it's not some Berkeley mom admonishing me for even thinking of doping tots, then it's someone asking how to safely settle her rascal for that dreaded Seattle to Minneapolis marathon. But I want to hear from folks who've taken triplets from Tulsa to Tripoli. I want medical tips from Manitoba-Mumbai or Flagstaff-Fiji tot-toting travelers. Don't hold back. I want your drugs, people, and believe me Crabtot wants them too.
I guess if all else fails I can always hit the mini-bottles of brandy on board. A few shots in tot's bottle (and mine) and it's goodnight. Or at least, a mom can dare to dream.
Do they have kiddy Sudafed? That stuff that is "non drowsy" has always knocked MY BUTT out.
While I haven't done cross-globe, I have gone 18 hrs roundtrip in a car with a 1 and 3-year-old, sans DVD player.
Try a metal pan with magnets. Non-sticky candy and cookies. New toys. Slowly drag out when Crabtot becomes Crabbeast.
I travel between Mexico City and Michigan 8 times a year with a 2 year old and a whiney French Bulldog. There is no magical medical solution to international travel with a toddler (sorry). Here are some tricks I use to make travel days more bearable:
1. Avoid early airport arrival and boarding - The 2 hour early arrival guideline means a lot of waiting (allow just enough time to get through ticketing and security). Do not board early. It only equals an extra 20/30 minutes in those little seats. Use any waiting time at the airport to tire out your child. Make them walk the entire terminal - use the stroller for the carry-on bags.
2. Use a Kids Fly Safe FAA approved safety belt - You can buy them online. These safety belts attach to the seat, giving your child the security of a car seat. They fit in your purse and allow you to avoid carrying a gigantic car seat around the airport.
3. Ingratiate your family with the flight crew and your neighbors - Be friendly, kind, and super adorable. The more they like you, the more helpful they will be.
4. Cartoons - We bring our computer with the itunes loaded with all our daughter's favorite cartoons (remember to bring an extra battery for long trips). This can give you hours of quiet time.
5. Smorgasbord of Snacks - I bring a big bag full of different snacks. There are no rules for snack on the plane. If she wants to eat popcorn all day or cookies for lunch - its OK.
6. Goodie Bag - Bring a bag of little wrapped prizes your child can open along the way. Each good behavior is rewarded with a prize.
But - no matter how much you prepare - traveling internationally will be a frustrating experience for you and your child. Just expect there will be bumps in the road and try to smooth them out as best you can.
mrs.B and jat, thank you. the magnet in metal pan won't fit into my overstuffed carry-on and might set off some alarms but that's a good one for car trips, which we also take. Jat, a mill thanks for your list. Very sensible stuff there -- especially the bit about letting her walk rather than stroller thru the airport which I hadn't really thought about. I have already bought so many wrapped prizes to give her it is OUT OF CONTROL. Also had a genius notion --remember Pez? This way she gets candy but not in great abundance and thus won't get overly sugared up (is the hope). I will let her nod the Pez head whenever she does something obedient. Good idea too re. being super-friendly to those ghastly airline peeps. Who can resist a friendly crabmom and her Pezzed up little poppet? xo
Nitrous Oxide?
Dramamine...
half a tab mixed with some juice given right before take off ... worked for my high energy 'angel' on a cross country flight. He turns into something similar to a super ball on crack when he takes benadryl.