I am glad to know I am not the only person who gets 'opposite' reactions to certain meds! I am afraid to give our kids andy type of NSAID meds (Ibuprofen, Naproxyn) as I am allergic to them and don't know if they might be too. I know a benadryl dose of normal size will wire me for hours and I mean like buzzing in my skin wired so I don't want that to happen to them either. I have given Macy a Children's Claritin once to dry up a perpetually runny nose and she didn't seem to have any adverse reactions. (this was on the advice of Pedi and Pharmacist)

I had my entire scalp get covered with the little black ants we've always called "piss ants" and I won't elaborate there, anyway I got stung hundreds of times on my scalp and while I don't recall what meds I was given (I was maybe 5) I do remember having to have my head/hair/scalp washed with Dial soap 4 times a day when it had some ingredient it no longer has. No wonder I hate bar soaps!

We haven't had to fly anywhere with our kids so far and I hope it continues that way because I know how people will act and I don't think I will keep my mouth shut when the comments are made so driving is best for us right now. I have heard of people giving meds to induce sleep and I knew the connection between the "PM" drugs and benadryl, but I would still not do it for a flight. Now to come completely clean... one of the earliest trips away from home with Macy, we stayed in the Extended Stay hotel right near Target in G'ville and the room was SO awful that she just would not settle down, cried to go home (I almost did too, it was horrible and we ended up going to Target and buying an airbed just for the weekend stay!). We tried driving around to get her to calm down, we played in the tub with the bedtime bath stuff, rocked, sang, you name it. She was screaming to go home.... so we ended up at CVS, explained the situation to the pharmacist and his suggestion was benadryl. He looked up her weight dosage, gave us the syringe to measure it (such a small amount) and I was so upset I did not sleep any, worried that she would surely die from this tiny bit of "drugs". She did finally go to sleep and she is fine, but it made me a wreck and we will never stay there again! Oh yeah, or use that method, it wasn't worth the stress on any of us.

Michelle: HA, "piss ants" I know exactly where that comes from!!

Caryn:
My daughter is also allergic to ants! Strange though, she has to get bit by a lot, well at least 10 or more before any things happens but if she were, which has happened before, which is when we learned she was allergic to them, to fall into an ant bed then we would be in trouble.

I have heard many people joking about giving their child a little Benadryl to get them to sleep on plane rides or car rides, but no one I know would actually do it! Sure kids can try your patience sometimes in situations like that, but that doesn't mean you should medicate them, just be overprepared with snacks and toys and comfort items.

I worked with a girl many moons ago who had a daughter who was severely developmentaly disabled. The mother was single and had 3 other children. SO one day she came into work and you could just tell something was up. So I asked her into the office and asked if there was something that I could help with and she just broke down. Her daughter wouldn't sleep. So mom wouldn't sleep. This had gone on for days so she finally gave the girl a little benedryl and felt horrible because of it. Which is probably a good thing since I knew she felt so bad about it she wouldn't do it again.

As for someone saying something about me on a plane...I'm with Michelle. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to bite my tongue. So we only go within driving distance

Jack has a cold. He has a runny nose and is sneezing a lot. He has a little cough too. It's so sad. He didn't sleep much last night so neither did I. I guess there's just nothing I can do huh?

Poor Jack...other than Tylenol for a fever the only thing is a humidifier to help his nose and using a bulb to suck his nose out if it is really stuffy. If you're anything like me don't plan on sleeping too much. It's horrible when your child is sick...I never get any sleep even if they are sleeping because they are so restless and uncomfortable. I hope he feels better soon...and that you don't get it too!!

hmm I only have the same suggestions as Karen. The cool mist humidifier always seems to work real well for us. I hope he feels better soon!!

Ditto on the humidifier. And as much as they cry when you use the bulb syringe to clean out their little noses, it works. I just do it quickly and hold 'em a few extra minutes. They always breathe so much better afterwards.

I remember my Grandma swearing by Vick's when we had a head cold and I know there is a 'baby' version of it so maybe a nice warm bath (maybe even with the vapor bath stuff?)and some of that on his chest would help? I also used a wedge shaped pillow under the crib mattress when Macy got a cold and it would help keep the post-nasal issues from clogging her up it seemed. Poor little guy, it has to suck to have that happen when you have no idea what it is and Mom has little available to help.

Oh yeah we raised the mattress too. We just put a folded blanket under the head of the mattress where she obviously couldn't get to it. It really did seem to help her. Although, we would find her in all different funny positions in the morning since the mattress was raised a bit on one side. Just make sure not to raise it too much!