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How tempting is Benedryl to make a kid sleep?
OK folks, confess. You've got a long flight and snarky child-free passengers shooting you daggers as you lug a toddler on the plane. Is giving Benadryl for a plane flight or to overcome insomnia really "drugging" your child? It is an approved over-the-counter medication and most people wouldn't think twice to give it to their child if they had hives or allergies, so some don't consider it "drugging" their child. But still, how far would you go if your child had been having trouble sleeping or you really needed him to take that nap? If Benadryl didn't work, would you hit up something stronger like Valium?
Our medical reporer Richard Martin reports in this story about diphenhydramine, and the common, yet controversial practice of parents giving it to their children as a way to help them sleep. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that’s contained in dozens of popular medications including Benadryl, Advil PM, Robitussin Night Time and Sominex. It’s also in the children’s versions of Benadryl and Tylenol.
On one hand, labeling on these products warns against using them to make a child sleepy. Yet doctors do prescribe medications, including antihistamines, to treat childrens’ sleep disorders.
Have any of you given, or have thought about giving your child Benadryl or a similar product to help them fall asleep? If you'd like to weigh in for his story, contact health reporter Richard Martin at rmartin@sptimes.com or at (813) 226-3322.
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Raising children isn't easy. Whoa, Momma! is here to help you with parenting tips and discussion of all parenting issues. We think there's no such thing as TMI, so our blogging moms aren't shy about the hot topics and won't back away from a good debate. Bottle or breastfeed? Public, private or homeschool? And sex -- it's all open for comment. Don't sit on the sidelines -- pull up a bouncy seat and join the chat.
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THE AUTHORS
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
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Freelance writer Courtney Cairns Pastor wasn’t so sure about having kids and how she would balance child-rearing with her journalism career. It turned out that her journalism training went to good use. As the mom to a funny, active toddler, she learned to handle him like she did her sources. Never ask yes or no questions (the answer will always be no), get him to be specific (are you crying because you’re wet or your tooth hurts?) and be prepared for anything because no two days are the same. When she’s not playing trucks, Courtney crams for her book club, trains for races and occasionally bursts into showtunes. E-mail her at 
Suzannah DiMarzio has it bad for the Mouse. Although she grew up outside of Boston, she took her degree in tourism management down to Orlando just to work at Disney and the travel industry. Of course, when she married her high school sweetheart, the reception was at Disney. She’s now a seasoned stay-at-home mom to two tweens and a toddler – and yes, that is as crazy as it sounds. Suzannah has her own blog, Comment Policy
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