.jpg)
4.13.2006
Discuss Among Yourselves
From the Dallas Morning News today:
My 4-year-old son has two settings: on and off. When he's on, he's nonstop, full of energy, 100 percent devoted to his task, a constant whirl of motion. When he's off, which isn't often, he's either falling asleep, sleeping or waking up.
My husband and I love that he's so invested in his life. But to be honest, we're sometimes exhausted. Our lives would be easier if he mellowed out when we wanted him to – at restaurants, during worship services, on plane trips. A surefire way to calm him would be with a teaspoon of Benadryl. We've given him the appropriate dose of the antihistamine to battle allergies probably a dozen times in his life. The pink liquid not only stops his runny nose; it knocks him out and gives his body a chance to rest and recover from what ails him.
We've never given Benadryl to him when he doesn't have a runny nose, watery eyes or isn't sneezing. But would there be any harm if we occasionally gave him a dose just to calm him?
Full story here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
Just passing through...I liked your blog, good content.
Conservatives...
Soccer moms have used Valium for years. Now they want the same for their kids.
epdctwMy doc said a few years ago that it's okay to give benedryl (in my daughter's case) because it dries out the nasal passages which helps with pressue during a plane flight. He jokingly said how it would help us by making her sleep.
Most responsible parents would use common sense in administering Benadryl.
Somebody told me the other day we'd be surprised how many teachers are on prozac.
Not sure bout that one.
Kid sounds like mine. I thought he was fine school decided he was ADD.
I am often surprised at posts on this blog, and these are no exception. Great idea! Let's abdicate all responsibility and discipline of our children and drug them because we can't or won't discipline them. What a great example for them. And as long as we use over the counter medications then it's legal. The surprise is not that someone thought of this idea, it is that no one post yet seems particularly concerned about it.
I just give my kids beer or the occasional shot of Jack.
Being a parent isn't always easy, but you are the adult. As a parent , you have to lead by example. Discipline your kids and endforce rules. Medicating your child for the purpose of calming them down, or giving the parent a break is wrong. Parents have a responsibility to their children to make decisions in the best interest of their children. I don't think any part of this story is funny, and we all should be concerned.
I think this practice is very irresponsible. No doubt some kids are more difficult and high strung than others, but a tighter leash (so to speak)on those kids compared to others should be used. Sedating them is a copout. These are drugs and everyones body reacts to drugs differently. As the article mentioned, sometimes makes them more hyper. Served those parents right.
I've only given benadryl to my kid a few times, and won't give it to him before bedtime anymore. Gave it to him a couple nights in a row when he had bad congestion, and he woke up wired both nights after a couple hours of sleep. It makes him very hyper after a short nap. Parents should never give kids any drug that isn't needed, and being hyper isn't a reason. Sickness is the only reason for any drug, and then only when absolutely necessary.
You would be surprised at how many psychiatrists prescribe Benadryl for children who are aggressive, can't sleep or who wake up several times during the night.
It surprised me!
I have a 4 year old that goes non-stop from sun-up to sun-down. Occassionally she gets very hyper. When my child becomes too hyper (family functions, where she can show off, etc.), she gets a small piece of chocolate candy (a Hershey kiss). She tends to calm down. It reverses the hyperness. This only happens every once in a while & our pediatrician is the one that made the suggestion.
Post a Comment