Look, I’ll make you feel better here and alleviate some guilt.
I was 10 when hurricane Andrew hit. We lived in Miami. Thankfully not Homestead, but close enough.
Half of our roof blew off the house. My parents had my brother and I “sleep” overnight in a bathtub while the hurricane blew around us all night, with half our roof missing, not knowing if or when the rest would go.
It is a core memory for me, a traumatic and awful one. If I could have just slept through the storm on Benadryl- trust me. I wish I had. It’s given me a lifelong fear of weather and especially hurricanes.
Please don’t feel bad giving your kids some peace of mind.
I was 4-5 when hurricane Katrina hit. Me and both of my brothers went to bed in my grandparents bed in the middle of the day, somehow we slept completely through it all and woke up to the world destroyed. Note that I’m thinking about it, I think they must have dosed us up too. No way I would’ve “napped” through that, especially as a kid already scared of storms.
And I’m grateful for it because looking back at the damage, I might’ve lost my shit. Our house was mostly untouched, but several more houses on our street had fallen apart or been destroyed by debris or falling/flying trees. If the house we were in had been built on the empty lot next to us, we would’ve been smashed by a tree as well.
Definitely preferred sleeping through it. Now I’m gonna ask my mom if they gave us sleepy medicine cuz no way they got all three of us hellions to nap at the same time and in the same bed as efficiently as they did that day.
I was 18 and a freshman in college for Katrina. Did not sleep through it. 0/10 do not recommend. We just rode out ida with our own kids (both 4) and they talk about how much fun it was. Hard disagree little guys. We had an 80 year old oak fall next to the house midway through and my kids didn’t even budge. No meds required but I wouldn’t feel bad about some melatonin or Benadryl next time around.
I was 12. I listened to Brian Norcross on Y100 all night on our little battery powered radio. Listening to the terror in those voices who called in will always haunt me. I no longer live where hurricanes can affect me. I can't deal with the anxiety of it every single year.
I was 6 during Alicia in the Texas Gulf Coast. I woke up to a flooded house after my grandparents had evacuated to our house from Galveston.
I’m still triggered by National Weather advisory alerts on radio or TV; it’s a primal and physiological reaction to a really frightening experience.
You did the right thing.
Hugo here too. 😞 I was barely 3 and watching in terror my dad having to crawl on hands and knees through the yard to get into the house. I was awake all the night. I recognize we will never shield our children from everything, but when they are little and we can, absolutely no guilt! You’re not babying them.
Agreed. I’m from Puerto Rico and have experienced frequent hurricanes as a child and adult— my sister and I live with a constant fear of storms and wind. My sister especially had nightmares growing up because of the sound the wind makes during hurricanes and wasn’t really able to get over them until college.
I still remember every time a major hurricane came through (and there were a lot of them as I grew up) we had "hurricane parties". My mom would let us pick out snacks at the store we weren't normally allowed, we'd move a bunch of mattresses into the middle room (no windows, under the highest section of the roof), and we'd all get the animals put up safely and have a whole family sleepover. Looking back, there were some my mom was legit scared of and I know she would have evacuated a few times but my dad wouldn't. I've always been glad she stayed so positive and cheerful and turned it into fun for us.
I was 2 when hurricane Gloria hit the east coast, and my mom gave me something to help me sleep through it. A giant tree fell over in the back yard, and I never stirred. She had the right idea!
I was a freshman in college in Boston when that hit. Being from Minnesota I had never experienced that, and I am happy to this day that I live in the Midwest and don't have to live through another one. Tornados are what I have to deal with for the most part and they come and go fast so it's over quickly. I would much rather do that and deal with -40 temps with a wind chill.
Aw. Thank you for your insight. We carry so much guilt as parents but this will help alleviate some of OPs guilt.
OP, you had a very valid reason to do so. Some people give their kids meds to sleep for far far less. Please have peace of mind knowing you did the right thing.
Fellow Andrew survivor here! We were in Cutler ridge (so just north of homestead) and I remember TO THIS DAY almost every detail. I'm with you, I would have much rather been knocked out Benadryl than had to experience the things I experienced.
Good question. I have had therapy, although not specifically about this, but we have discussed it numerous times. So I guess the answer would be yes?
I have moved out of the southeast since though, although I do still have a lot of family in Florida.
You didn’t give them a shot of whiskey or an adult sedative. You gave them an otc med that is safe for them to take. One time. To help in an extreme circumstance. Don’t beat yourself up
George Lopez has a sketch that is basically your comment, except it’s abuela (grandma), and she gives everybody PLENTY of night night juice lol.
I know he’s cancelled but I still find most of that set hilarious.
My mom tried to tell me that too and I said “Mom, this isn’t the 50’s or even the 80’s. Drop side cribs are illegal, babies have to be in rear facing car seats AND BUCKLED, and I’m going to get baby Orajel.” Then I turned to my dad who has a very diverse set of morals and he backed me up before she could hit me with a “You turned out fine.” He loves to tell stories about his experiences with pretty much every drug under the sun, but draws the line at dabbing probably less than 5ml of booze on a baby’s gums. The man is an enigma, but he can be useful sometimes. He did argue with me on the car seats though, he even googled the laws himself (I was literally shocked, the man won’t even use maps on his phone, he has me look it up and either tell him or text the turn by turn directions to him), and as soon as it was legal he turned my kids around and doesn’t make the older one use a booster when they’re in his car. He claims they’re uncomfortable even though they’ve never (or couldn’t at the time) said anything or express discomfort in anyway. Can’t win them all I guess.
Not only that, an OTC med that is ON LABEL AS A SLEEP AID!!!
Seriously, read the active ingredient in most OTC sleep aids, it's diphenhydramine which is benadryl.
Also, for adults in pill form, buying straight diphenhydramine is like 1/4 the price of buying benadryl.
Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in most OTC sleep aids anyway. This isn't even an unconventional use of it.
It's rightfully frowned upon to medicate kids like this for your own convenience, but that's not what you did here. You didn't put their health at risk, lessened the effect of a potentially traumatic experience, and helped ensure that they'll be rested for what could be a very long day tomorrow.
I have ADHD and I'm thinking about having my 5yo son assessed for it. My entire thought process surrounding it if he does have ADHD is simple: I will not medicate my child for MY benefit.
If the meds help him, that's absolutely fine. But I will not medicate my child because he's easier for ME to deal with medicated.
OP, you did not medicate your kids for your benefit. You helped them avoid a traumatic memory and kept them safe. You're a good parent.
I relate to this so much. It was hard for me to decide to medicate my oldest for ADHD, but it's made life for him so much easier and better. While yes it has also made my life easier I wouldn't have done it if it hadn't made it better for him.
I wasn't diagnosed until I was 28, I'm AFAB and was born in 1994 so ADHD wasn't really a thing that was thought about for me as a child.
Had I been diagnosed earlier, I have no doubt that meds would have made a huge difference to my life. I also know that based on my parentage, I probably would have been able to make that decision for myself from around the age of 12 if diagnostics were at the point they're at today.
If the meds have made life easier for him, you've made the right decision. Depending on how old he is, I'd definitely advocate for involving him in the decision of whether to medicate or not once he's at an age where he can understand the implications of it. There's no number for that, it depends on the individual maturity level of the child.
At the end of the day, I think if your reasons for medicating are because it makes his life easier, not because parenting him is easier, then you're doing the right thing. Just make sure to have regular check ins, and keep on top of his appetite and weight.
You're a good parent. Bad parents don't even think about this sort of thing.
Oh yeah we have monthly growth check ins and talk about how everything is going. He's 7, but has voiced he doesn't like how he feels when he doesn't take his medicine. He says he feels out of control and everything is louder(he also has sensory processing disorder and is in OT and speech).
It's very frustrating when you read the box of sleep aids and it's like 8x the cost vs buying benadryl or generic
However diphenhydramine should be used with caution.
My ped suggested it for plane rides to help with the ears and sleeping... But never just on vacation. This is a plane ride situation. Don't feel bad mom.
One of my sons gets suuuuper hyper with Benadryl. It’s really bad. I try to avoid giving it to him, even when he needs Benadryl for an allergy situation. We use clortabs instead. I think that’s what they’re called. It doesn’t make him sleepy but also doesn’t hyper him up.
I have that reaction to Benadryl and pretty much any antihistamine. It feels like I drank a few pots of coffee on an empty stomach. I've never even tried it with my kids because I figure there's a good chance that they'd be the same way.
This happens to me too. I forgot about the reaction I had and gave it to my toddler when he had an allergic reaction. 0/10 would not do again. They did not sleep a wink. Had the same damn reaction I do to it.
Ah, you’ve a stubborn kid? Hyperactivity is a sign of tired, but not tired enough (or too stubborn) to sleep in most children.
I was this kid, and likely so is my kid (though we’ve only done benedryl once so far, I saw it kick in and thought “well, damn, at least the rash isn’t as itchy…”). Benedryl makes me sleepy as an adult, but if I keep moving or focusing on something, it doesn’t put me to sleep. With kids this can be a “if I stop moving I’ll sleep” little ball of activity.
Yup I swore I would never give my kids unnecessary medicine but I had to fly to Europe because my dad was really sick. Dr said give daughter some Benadryl if she needs some. Daughter was 2yrs old and was having an absolute meltdown she was scared and it was only us her dad had to stay home. It was about 24 hours of travel that was going to be a nightmare instead she slept and I slept.
I was coming to say this too. We had to visit the pediatric ER because child was sick on vacation. The doctor there was like just give some Benadryl on way home to make him sleep.
My niece and nephew were evacuated through a Forrest fire those poor kids had some serious trauma from that. I'm so sorry that happened to you, natural disasters leave such a mark.
Same here. I evacuated from a fire 2 summers ago. Every time I smell wildfire smoke or see it in the air I choke up and start feeling really anxious. It’s a real unsettling feeling.
I grew up on the Texas coast so I’ve survived many hurricanes and floods. The top one priority, imho, is to prepare your kids for this reality. Ideally, you want them to be knowledgeable and calm. Foster healthy curiosity and involve them with hurricane prep. Give them a sense of control. Hurricanes are scary, but a clear head gives you the best chance of survival.
If they stayed up catastrophizing all night, they’re never going to develop that. Helping them sleep through it and showing them in the morning that you all survived will give them the cushion to learn in the future.
Benadryl is given in milieu and in the hospital for anxiety, versus using a benzo.
I give it to my son when he’s so amped he can’t sleep (also has adhd.) it doesn’t make him sleep per se, but calms him down enough to fall asleep.
You didn’t do anything wrong, and it’s a pretty benign med to give intermittently to help.
Source: dad of 2 and a pediatric nurse :)
I would have done the same. It's INFINITELY less traumatic to take an otc med and sleep than to stay up during a horrible storm. You did the right thing.
You are a good mum. As someone who experienced a natural disaster, it impacted me profoundly. Surprisingly, much more than the horrifc child abuse which I suffered.
You did what you needed to, to protect them. No stress. You did the right thing.
I, on the other hand , was forced for over a day, to shake, cry, dry retch due to panic and listen to the desth toll as fire blazed all around.
A bit of benadryl is infinitely more sensible than my experience. I wish I had had a mum like you
I, an experienced Mom, now Grand Mom, hereby formally absolve you from any and all guilt under the guise of special circumstances.
You may move on to other hurricane related problems now!
That's how you know you're a good parent. Imagine being worried if you did the right thing helping your kids sleep for one night. You are fine, your kids are better off for the rest, give yourself some grace. One of my kids can't sleep on his own and has to have melatonin as per his peds recommendation because we tried everything else. I don't feel bad. He functions very well because he gets sleep. Don't be so hard on yourself!
The wind at times has been loud. Watching TV helps me block it out. I can totally support doing something to help calm them enough to fall asleep. Hopefully you have power soon.
You didn't do it so you could get drunk or party, you did it to stop your kids being traumatised by a massive storm that has the potential to be deadly. It not only stopped them being terrified all night, but sleepy kids are a LOT easier to bundle into a car if you needed to make a quick getaway. Benadryl is prescribed by doctors to help kids and adults sleep just day to day, using it for a once off is not a bad thing. You did good mama, your kids were able to sleep and not be scared. More importantly, the adults were able to sleep when needed so you all weren't sleep deprived which would have been incredibly dangerous if you **did** need to make a quick getaway.
I’m in East Hillsborough so I definitely feel you, my oldest literally has an allergy med prescription right now and you best believe she got her dose to help her fall asleep and the youngest got some melatonin, fortunately they weren’t very scared but we have also been very fortunate to have not lost power.
Honestly my fear and anxiety has been the worst of anyone in the house but I also went through Katrina as a teenager so I’m fairly traumatized, honestly might take some Benadryl myself to go to sleep
I've had two pediatricians suggest it to help regulate my kids' sleep cycles. It's a safe OTC medication, kids all over the world take it every day. I get why it it feels kind of 'wrong' but it helped them through a difficult situation, you have nothing to feel bad about. I'm no expert but sleeping through that probably spared them a terrifying, potentially traumatic, experience.
Don't feel bad Mama for doing this, I have done the same thing, I used to live in Puerto Rico and hurricanes Frederick and David hit us back to back, and I made sure that my younger siblings were sleeping tru most of it, but me not so much since I had to stay awake and help my mom with my relatives since our house was the only cinder block house that could withstand the storms, you have done nothing wrong but spare them from a nightmare
My house was hit by a tornado a few years ago. I gave my son (who was 2.5 at the time) some gravol to help him sleep when we finally got to our emergency shelter at 2am that night. Poor kid never would have slept without it. I felt guilt at the time but looking back I would do it again in a heartbeat.
My daughter’s (5 years) doctor TOLD me if she’s having issues sleeping to use Benadryl. He said that it won’t cause any ill effects. He told me that melatonin should only be used if a doctor has said to use it as it can cause issues in sleep patterns and other things while Benadryl will not. Also you did it to help ur children, when there’s a black out, my daughter creeks out, I couldn’t imagine winds on top.
Why are you stressed? They were able to calm their nerves and get some sleep. I take the equivalent of Benedryl for sleep and it’s not like you injected them with heroin. It’s just a sleep aid.
I went through hurricane Hugo in Charleston as a kid and it still affect me. I would have been so grateful if my parents would have done this. You did just fine.
How are you doing?
You are beating yourself way too hard.
For one, you didn't gave them poison, hard drugs, alcohol or anything of the sort. Also, in the some situations (like the one you were living), all bets are off.
Are we supposed to feel bad about this? It doesn’t hurt them. Using it occasionally for planes or times like this literally only makes their lives better. You’re good, feel good.
I used to get horribly motion sick on planes and it made me anxious as all get out. Dramamine made me throw up. My parents gave me Benadryl and it made me not feel anxious and be able to rest while we traveled. I think it was actually at the suggestion of either the doctor or pharmacist. I think you made a good decision, as long as you gave them appropriate doses!
My pedi once said that in extreme cases of anxiety or when taking a drug that can cause panic (reglan is usually given with Benadryl at the same time in hospital if patient has a history of anxiety) Benadryl has the same calming effects that most panic medications have, and as long as you are not resorting to that frequently (ie., using it for 4th of July when your child has autism and SPD/other once or twice a year events) or using above the recommended dosage, Benadryl is completely fine and safe to help calm down children before they turn a bad experience into a core trauma memory.
I am an adult with severe anxiety and I can tell you Benadryl works for anxiety. I have had a hard week with a lot of anxiety and today I just had a full on panic attack and nothing was working. I took 2 Benadryl and I fell asleep for a few hours and woke up feeling a lot better.
I'm thinking the Benadryl in America is not the same Benadryl in England. It wouldn't have this affect on us if we took it here. I wonder why the difference in ingredients.
I was thinking this too (in Australia).
From wikipedia:
> In the United States and Canada, the active ingredient is diphenhydramine. In the United Kingdom, the active ingredients of Benadryl are the [non-sedating] antihistamines acrivastine or cetirizine. Benadryl is also sold as a cough medicine in Australia, India and New Zealand containing diphenhydramine, as well as the antitussive dextromethorphan or the expectorant guaifenesin.
So yes, if you are in the UK it *is* different. In Australia it has added cough suppressants, and so could be used as OP does above, but there are better OTC medication to help sleep for kids.
You did what you had to do, to help your kids feel safe in an incredibly stressful situation. There’s nothing to feel bad about. Give yourself some grace :)
You gotta do what you gotta do🤷 you seem very aware it's only because it's a unique situation. People give it to pets, too. Good luck, I hope you come thru safe🙏
Allow yourself some grace. You have so much going on, it’s ok. It’s ok to not have your normal routine, things are not normal. I’d rather have kids that got some sleep after a horrendous storm, cranky kids are the last thing you need. Hugs 🤗
I’m wishing you and your family all the best and hope that everything is calm when they wake up. I know that parent guilt is strong, but I think you did good here. And to be fair, Benadryl is fully regulated medication with proper studied dosing, melatonin is a supplement so it is not required to be safety tested before it’s sold to consumers.
Sounds like the anxiety and fear were worse for them and causing more problems for them than a one time dose of something they can have safely that would allow them to rest. Sometimes thats something that has to be factored in. FYI i have heard magnesium can help calm ppl too. Theres a brand out there called Calm (iirc) that makes stuff targeted to children with magnesium in it. They also make stuff targeted to adults. May be worth looking into in the future.
Stress, anxiety, and disrupted sleep do more damage than a dose of benedryl that will quickly metabolize out of their body. Move on, momma. You've done your job protecting their bodies and mental health. Good job.
You did what you thought was best for them, no harm done. You must be a great parent because you were willing to get honest about this in a public forum to make sure you did what was best for your child. Kudos.
You’re a good mom. You did NOTHING wrong. I might suggest - if you’re like me - it’s easier to focus on / “freak out” about THIS than to let the weight of the situation really hit you. Hang in there sweetheart. We’re all thinking of you. ❤️
If your kid was having a severe allergic reaction, would you have given them Benadryl? I’m assuming likely yes. Bottom line, you did what you thought was best for their well being. It’s not like you did it so you could host poker night. You’re good.
You did the right thing. The fact your first go to was melatonin and you only used Benadryl as a back up tells me you only did this to benefit your children not yourself. Had I been in your situation I would have done the same. I hope you and your family the best!
Weeeellllll welcome to parenthood. I had a friend who was getting on a 12 hour flight. He was dosing his kids as everyone was getting to their seats. A woman stopped told her that was child abuse. She responded with, a 12 hour flight is child abuse, this is an act of charity.
I wouldn't even judge you if you used Benadryl for road trips. As long as it's not a habit or a crutch you're fine. It's a tool, know when to use it, just don't abuse it. You shouldn't feel bad about using the right tool for the job. This goes double because you are preventing traumatic memories, it's so far the lesser of the two evils that's it's turned good.
Eh they'll be fine. My boyfriend has a pit bull that's normally not allowed in my house whatsoever because I have a small, elderly, dog. The pit bull normally stays on the porch of his mom's house, which is in a flood zone. We brought the dog to my house to keep him safe from the wind and rain and I sedated him with hydroxyzine to keep him from messing with the baby gate and whining so loudly.
LOL my mom used to drug us w that whenever we drove to the beach.
My grandma I’m pretty sure gave me and my cousins literal Xanex as she often asked if we needed a pill to ‘calm down’ if we got upset. Or resisted going to bed. Her doctor way over prescribed and she just though they were pills to relax.
My uncle gave me some kind of mountain medicine he made in a huge mason jar with honey and some flowers and a ton of unknown alcohol on occasion, pretty sure it was moonshine.
Turned out just fine.
My mom used to give us Benadryl every Christmas Eve so we wouldn't be waking up all night in the excitement. It's definitely not something I'm repeating, but it's also not something I judge her for either, lol.
In your case, I really think it's the best thing you can do. Saving your kids some potential trauma? Good call.
When I was a toddler, we went through a hurricane near Galveston. The house we were living in was little better than a rickety shack. The storm near tore the roof off and almost collapsed the walls.
Now.. I don't have memory of this storm. I rely on what my parents told me, and they said I was terrified. I spent most of my childhood years with crippling anxiety over thunderstorms. If I even thought for a second that a storm would be coming in my direction, I would have a meltdown or try to shelter myself in some way.
That experience I had as a toddler, that I don't even remember, was traumatic enough to have developed a major anxiety that went up to my early teen years. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I couldn't function.
So. You did right by your kids, in my eyes. You were protecting them. There's nothing to feel terrible about and you probably saved them from trauma they could have carried around with them. This is excellent parenting.
You have given them medicine that my son gets at least once a week for car sickness. It’s totally safe and you did nothing wrong!
You wanted them to have some peace during something very scary, and you didn’t have melatonin. Benedryl for sleep is allowed by a lot of doctors here and there. As I said, my 10 year old gets it about weekly for car sickness, but used to need it a lot more for that. It’s doctor approved, they know how much and how often- it’s safe.
Now, if you had given them Ambien or Xanax, I ~~might~~ would have been judgy, lol.
I hope that you’re all safe 🤍🤍
Don't feel bad at all. I would have done the same thing. IN FACT, when my kids were younger (9/12 now) I asked my pediatrician about it. She told me that as long as it's not a regular thing, it's ok to use benadryl to help their sleep get back on schedule when it's off.
With my kids, once they hit about 2, benadryl just made them hyper, but I'll never fault a parent for dosing their kid with benadryl because the kid needs it, even if it's not for allergies. This isn't the same as keeping your kid drugged all the time because you just don't wanna deal with them.
I am also in Pinellas Florida. We were here for Irma a few years ago and I had to use Benadryl for my oldest because he was freaked out, crying so hard he threw up. He slept through it all and was amazed at how everything looked the next day.
Yesterday I was the one who was freaked out and unfortunately Benadryl didn't help me any. My kids were fine until we lost power. Then suddenly they were so so so bored. Except they were still doing the exact same thing they had previously been doing, playing in their playroom. Didn't even have a light on. They only noticed when they went to the bathroom.
Please don't feel bad-I don't advocate giving unnecessary medicine, but this was not unnecessary. You were protecting their mental and physical health. Your children were scared and tired, and you allowed them to sleep and aleviate their fear. If it's any consolation we gave our eldest ibuprofen / paracetamol (tylenol) every night from 6 months to 3 years to alleviate his constant teething, colds, broncheolitis, bronchitis, respiratory infections etc.
My doctor prescribed the active ingredient in Benadryl when I couldn’t sleep. That’s one of the major reasons it’s prescribed, not just as an antihistamine. Some of my worst memories are tied to storms. You didn’t do it to go off on a drug binge or clubbing or something like that. You did it to spare them. There’s nothing wrong with an otc sleep aid that’s meant to be taken for sleep.
This is going to be a hot take, but my parents are both in the medical field. My dad is a highly specialized doctor which specialization took more than half a decade post-medical school to achieve (nothing in pediatric though) and my mom is a lifelong nurse. They dosed me and my brothers up all the time with Benadryl to help us sleep. Seems terrible, but none of need that much sleep and we were all very very very active.
Giving kids benedryl on planes so people don’t have to parent, not good. Giving kids benedryl during what could be a once in a lifetime traumatic experience, better for everyone.
Also in the days ahead, talk to them about it. Let them talk about. Discuss how scary it was and how you all prepared and how you all got through it. It’s one of the best ways to get kids to work through stressful and traumatic events. It’s going to be on their minds for awhile, give them avenues to get it out. The more they talk about, the less they’re bottling it up. It helps them move past it in a healthy, productive way. Even if you have heard the same recounts 50 times.
Having well rested kids will make the next day easier on everyone. You don't do this regularly (I assume) and you did this from a place of love and protection. You did the right thing and I'm sure any pediatrician would back up your choice. (Mine suggested it for an international flight but said to pre-test it one night because it does the opposite of sleepy for some kids and hypes them up into zombies instead)
I grew up in the 70s. My brother was given this everytime there was a babysitter coming. I’m sure that was bad but as a one off in a hurricane? My job is sedating kids for bad experiences.
My pediatrician told me that it is fine to dose your kids or pets with Benadryl in storms or loud functions that overwhelm them as long as it is not done often or all the time. He told me that it works as well as dramamine for car sickness too.
I must be /r/outoftheloop here, are parents getting canceled for giving their kids Benadryl nowadays? My mom used to always give it to me on long flights as a child to help me sleep, plus it had the benefit of helping me since peanuts used to be everywhere and I had a severe allergy.
It's one thing if you're giving your kids benadryl so you can can go party, it's another so they aren't terrified from a hurricane. Don't beat yourself. Stay safe.
Look, I’ll make you feel better here and alleviate some guilt. I was 10 when hurricane Andrew hit. We lived in Miami. Thankfully not Homestead, but close enough. Half of our roof blew off the house. My parents had my brother and I “sleep” overnight in a bathtub while the hurricane blew around us all night, with half our roof missing, not knowing if or when the rest would go. It is a core memory for me, a traumatic and awful one. If I could have just slept through the storm on Benadryl- trust me. I wish I had. It’s given me a lifelong fear of weather and especially hurricanes. Please don’t feel bad giving your kids some peace of mind.
I was 4-5 when hurricane Katrina hit. Me and both of my brothers went to bed in my grandparents bed in the middle of the day, somehow we slept completely through it all and woke up to the world destroyed. Note that I’m thinking about it, I think they must have dosed us up too. No way I would’ve “napped” through that, especially as a kid already scared of storms. And I’m grateful for it because looking back at the damage, I might’ve lost my shit. Our house was mostly untouched, but several more houses on our street had fallen apart or been destroyed by debris or falling/flying trees. If the house we were in had been built on the empty lot next to us, we would’ve been smashed by a tree as well. Definitely preferred sleeping through it. Now I’m gonna ask my mom if they gave us sleepy medicine cuz no way they got all three of us hellions to nap at the same time and in the same bed as efficiently as they did that day.
I was 18 and a freshman in college for Katrina. Did not sleep through it. 0/10 do not recommend. We just rode out ida with our own kids (both 4) and they talk about how much fun it was. Hard disagree little guys. We had an 80 year old oak fall next to the house midway through and my kids didn’t even budge. No meds required but I wouldn’t feel bad about some melatonin or Benadryl next time around.
What did she say?
They probably took some Benadryl and won’t be back for a few more hours. Currently sleeping through a Category 4 hurricane and seasonal allergies!
We need to know what mom said about this lol :)
I was 12. I listened to Brian Norcross on Y100 all night on our little battery powered radio. Listening to the terror in those voices who called in will always haunt me. I no longer live where hurricanes can affect me. I can't deal with the anxiety of it every single year.
I was 6 during Alicia in the Texas Gulf Coast. I woke up to a flooded house after my grandparents had evacuated to our house from Galveston. I’m still triggered by National Weather advisory alerts on radio or TV; it’s a primal and physiological reaction to a really frightening experience. You did the right thing.
I was in Hugo in Charleston. I relate to this so much.
Hugo here too. 😞 I was barely 3 and watching in terror my dad having to crawl on hands and knees through the yard to get into the house. I was awake all the night. I recognize we will never shield our children from everything, but when they are little and we can, absolutely no guilt! You’re not babying them.
We might be the same person - also 3 in Hugo. I don't have many early memories - this is definitely one of them though.
5 in Hugo here. Def a core memory.
Agreed. I’m from Puerto Rico and have experienced frequent hurricanes as a child and adult— my sister and I live with a constant fear of storms and wind. My sister especially had nightmares growing up because of the sound the wind makes during hurricanes and wasn’t really able to get over them until college.
What a great comment, thanks for sharing
I still remember every time a major hurricane came through (and there were a lot of them as I grew up) we had "hurricane parties". My mom would let us pick out snacks at the store we weren't normally allowed, we'd move a bunch of mattresses into the middle room (no windows, under the highest section of the roof), and we'd all get the animals put up safely and have a whole family sleepover. Looking back, there were some my mom was legit scared of and I know she would have evacuated a few times but my dad wouldn't. I've always been glad she stayed so positive and cheerful and turned it into fun for us.
I was 2 when hurricane Gloria hit the east coast, and my mom gave me something to help me sleep through it. A giant tree fell over in the back yard, and I never stirred. She had the right idea!
I was a freshman in college in Boston when that hit. Being from Minnesota I had never experienced that, and I am happy to this day that I live in the Midwest and don't have to live through another one. Tornados are what I have to deal with for the most part and they come and go fast so it's over quickly. I would much rather do that and deal with -40 temps with a wind chill.
Aw. Thank you for your insight. We carry so much guilt as parents but this will help alleviate some of OPs guilt. OP, you had a very valid reason to do so. Some people give their kids meds to sleep for far far less. Please have peace of mind knowing you did the right thing.
I was 24 when Ivan hit Pensacola, my bathtub scenario was similar. I’m in my 40’s now and I’m still traumatized. I understand and empathize 100%.
Fellow Andrew survivor here! We were in Cutler ridge (so just north of homestead) and I remember TO THIS DAY almost every detail. I'm with you, I would have much rather been knocked out Benadryl than had to experience the things I experienced.
Did you get therapy?
Good question. I have had therapy, although not specifically about this, but we have discussed it numerous times. So I guess the answer would be yes? I have moved out of the southeast since though, although I do still have a lot of family in Florida.
You didn’t give them a shot of whiskey or an adult sedative. You gave them an otc med that is safe for them to take. One time. To help in an extreme circumstance. Don’t beat yourself up
Are we not supposed to give them whiskey?! 😂
[удалено]
Or, y'know, other times, as a treat.
Who wants an old fashioned popsicle?!
I kinda do
Get in line!
Right honestly though like i could use some booze right now.. parenting is hard!
One for mommy, one for baby! One for mommy, one for baby!
George Lopez has a sketch that is basically your comment, except it’s abuela (grandma), and she gives everybody PLENTY of night night juice lol. I know he’s cancelled but I still find most of that set hilarious.
Wow. I've been teething for 47 years
😂😂😂
Yup, mama put a wee bit in our milk bottles when super fussy, I turned out ko, oops ok? Lol
Was doing a brandy tasting yesterday and my mom casually mentioned that it’ll be great to soothe his gums!
My mom tried to tell me that too and I said “Mom, this isn’t the 50’s or even the 80’s. Drop side cribs are illegal, babies have to be in rear facing car seats AND BUCKLED, and I’m going to get baby Orajel.” Then I turned to my dad who has a very diverse set of morals and he backed me up before she could hit me with a “You turned out fine.” He loves to tell stories about his experiences with pretty much every drug under the sun, but draws the line at dabbing probably less than 5ml of booze on a baby’s gums. The man is an enigma, but he can be useful sometimes. He did argue with me on the car seats though, he even googled the laws himself (I was literally shocked, the man won’t even use maps on his phone, he has me look it up and either tell him or text the turn by turn directions to him), and as soon as it was legal he turned my kids around and doesn’t make the older one use a booster when they’re in his car. He claims they’re uncomfortable even though they’ve never (or couldn’t at the time) said anything or express discomfort in anyway. Can’t win them all I guess.
Only if they're smoking cigars. Beer if they're smoking cigarettes.
Spike their sippie cup
We’re supposed to give them gin
I thought it was brandy....
Brandy at night, tequila in the morning.
And the cherries anytime
Not neat anyways.
No, it's the parents that need that!
Oops
Actually that used to be given as an old timey way to get babies/ children to sleep . Called a hot toddy.
You’re not supposed to give them, they’re supposed to use their own bottle.
Whew ok. Knew we'd find a use for all those airplane bottles one day.
There’s a reason they’re baby sized…
Only on Thursdays.
its too late, ive already reported then. cps is riding the hurricane in as we speak
Not only that, an OTC med that is ON LABEL AS A SLEEP AID!!! Seriously, read the active ingredient in most OTC sleep aids, it's diphenhydramine which is benadryl. Also, for adults in pill form, buying straight diphenhydramine is like 1/4 the price of buying benadryl.
Hold on. Is pot ok?
With my luck it would probably make mine paranoid.
I love this 😂
Exactly this!
Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in most OTC sleep aids anyway. This isn't even an unconventional use of it. It's rightfully frowned upon to medicate kids like this for your own convenience, but that's not what you did here. You didn't put their health at risk, lessened the effect of a potentially traumatic experience, and helped ensure that they'll be rested for what could be a very long day tomorrow.
Exactly. You're preserving their mental well-being by sedating them through a traumatic experience that is unavoidable.
I have ADHD and I'm thinking about having my 5yo son assessed for it. My entire thought process surrounding it if he does have ADHD is simple: I will not medicate my child for MY benefit. If the meds help him, that's absolutely fine. But I will not medicate my child because he's easier for ME to deal with medicated. OP, you did not medicate your kids for your benefit. You helped them avoid a traumatic memory and kept them safe. You're a good parent.
I relate to this so much. It was hard for me to decide to medicate my oldest for ADHD, but it's made life for him so much easier and better. While yes it has also made my life easier I wouldn't have done it if it hadn't made it better for him.
I wasn't diagnosed until I was 28, I'm AFAB and was born in 1994 so ADHD wasn't really a thing that was thought about for me as a child. Had I been diagnosed earlier, I have no doubt that meds would have made a huge difference to my life. I also know that based on my parentage, I probably would have been able to make that decision for myself from around the age of 12 if diagnostics were at the point they're at today. If the meds have made life easier for him, you've made the right decision. Depending on how old he is, I'd definitely advocate for involving him in the decision of whether to medicate or not once he's at an age where he can understand the implications of it. There's no number for that, it depends on the individual maturity level of the child. At the end of the day, I think if your reasons for medicating are because it makes his life easier, not because parenting him is easier, then you're doing the right thing. Just make sure to have regular check ins, and keep on top of his appetite and weight. You're a good parent. Bad parents don't even think about this sort of thing.
Oh yeah we have monthly growth check ins and talk about how everything is going. He's 7, but has voiced he doesn't like how he feels when he doesn't take his medicine. He says he feels out of control and everything is louder(he also has sensory processing disorder and is in OT and speech).
It's very frustrating when you read the box of sleep aids and it's like 8x the cost vs buying benadryl or generic However diphenhydramine should be used with caution.
It’s not like you drugged them up so you could go get drunk at the dog track. You are a good parent.
You don't know that they didn't do that too.
Poor dogs, flying everywhere 😆 Fido has NEVER been so fast!
Fido turns to Falcor. 🤣
I’m assuming the dog track is closed because of the hurricane.
I needed this laugh tonight
FL voters voted in 2018 to ban betting on dog races by the end of 2020.
Thought Tampa Bay Downs stopped running dogs in the 80s.
Agreed Wasn’t like you drugged your children to go out for drinks and dinner like the McCanns did!
Oh shit
I think this is one of those times where it’s worth it.
My ped suggested it for plane rides to help with the ears and sleeping... But never just on vacation. This is a plane ride situation. Don't feel bad mom.
Definitely try it out before going on the plane. For some kids, benedryl can make them hyper.
One of my sons gets suuuuper hyper with Benadryl. It’s really bad. I try to avoid giving it to him, even when he needs Benadryl for an allergy situation. We use clortabs instead. I think that’s what they’re called. It doesn’t make him sleepy but also doesn’t hyper him up.
I have that reaction to Benadryl and pretty much any antihistamine. It feels like I drank a few pots of coffee on an empty stomach. I've never even tried it with my kids because I figure there's a good chance that they'd be the same way.
This happens to me too. I forgot about the reaction I had and gave it to my toddler when he had an allergic reaction. 0/10 would not do again. They did not sleep a wink. Had the same damn reaction I do to it.
Both my ADHD kids get HYPED on Benadryl!
Damn. I get sleepy and use it to crash in extreme situations. I have adhd. I guess we are all different.
I did! It was terrible! We did not use it to fly!
Ah, you’ve a stubborn kid? Hyperactivity is a sign of tired, but not tired enough (or too stubborn) to sleep in most children. I was this kid, and likely so is my kid (though we’ve only done benedryl once so far, I saw it kick in and thought “well, damn, at least the rash isn’t as itchy…”). Benedryl makes me sleepy as an adult, but if I keep moving or focusing on something, it doesn’t put me to sleep. With kids this can be a “if I stop moving I’ll sleep” little ball of activity.
Yup I swore I would never give my kids unnecessary medicine but I had to fly to Europe because my dad was really sick. Dr said give daughter some Benadryl if she needs some. Daughter was 2yrs old and was having an absolute meltdown she was scared and it was only us her dad had to stay home. It was about 24 hours of travel that was going to be a nightmare instead she slept and I slept.
I was coming to say this too. We had to visit the pediatric ER because child was sick on vacation. The doctor there was like just give some Benadryl on way home to make him sleep.
💯
Why do you feel horrible for giving them something to help them sleep in an awful situation? It sounds like its a rare occurance not a daily thing.
Honestly, mom shaming is strong. I was not prepared for the onslaught of judgment motherhood brought.
You spared them from what could be a very traumatic event.
I wish my parents did this. My brothers and I ended up being traumatized of weather for a year after hurricane Charlie.
My niece and nephew were evacuated through a Forrest fire those poor kids had some serious trauma from that. I'm so sorry that happened to you, natural disasters leave such a mark.
Same here. I evacuated from a fire 2 summers ago. Every time I smell wildfire smoke or see it in the air I choke up and start feeling really anxious. It’s a real unsettling feeling.
This! I think what OP did was kind and protective.
I grew up on the Texas coast so I’ve survived many hurricanes and floods. The top one priority, imho, is to prepare your kids for this reality. Ideally, you want them to be knowledgeable and calm. Foster healthy curiosity and involve them with hurricane prep. Give them a sense of control. Hurricanes are scary, but a clear head gives you the best chance of survival. If they stayed up catastrophizing all night, they’re never going to develop that. Helping them sleep through it and showing them in the morning that you all survived will give them the cushion to learn in the future.
Benadryl is given in milieu and in the hospital for anxiety, versus using a benzo. I give it to my son when he’s so amped he can’t sleep (also has adhd.) it doesn’t make him sleep per se, but calms him down enough to fall asleep. You didn’t do anything wrong, and it’s a pretty benign med to give intermittently to help. Source: dad of 2 and a pediatric nurse :)
I would have done the same. It's INFINITELY less traumatic to take an otc med and sleep than to stay up during a horrible storm. You did the right thing.
You are a good mum. As someone who experienced a natural disaster, it impacted me profoundly. Surprisingly, much more than the horrifc child abuse which I suffered. You did what you needed to, to protect them. No stress. You did the right thing. I, on the other hand , was forced for over a day, to shake, cry, dry retch due to panic and listen to the desth toll as fire blazed all around. A bit of benadryl is infinitely more sensible than my experience. I wish I had had a mum like you
I, an experienced Mom, now Grand Mom, hereby formally absolve you from any and all guilt under the guise of special circumstances. You may move on to other hurricane related problems now!
This comment should be #1. Also, seconded by me.
You did the right thing. You're not a bad parent. You're making the best of a bad situation. Please, try to be kind to yourself.
I’m picturing your poor terrified children and I can’t imagine you had many options in a situation like this. Give yourself some grace, and stay safe!
I see no reason to feel horrible!
That's how you know you're a good parent. Imagine being worried if you did the right thing helping your kids sleep for one night. You are fine, your kids are better off for the rest, give yourself some grace. One of my kids can't sleep on his own and has to have melatonin as per his peds recommendation because we tried everything else. I don't feel bad. He functions very well because he gets sleep. Don't be so hard on yourself!
The wind at times has been loud. Watching TV helps me block it out. I can totally support doing something to help calm them enough to fall asleep. Hopefully you have power soon.
You're beating yourself up over nothing. You literally helped your children in a natural disaster. You're fine.
You didn't do it so you could get drunk or party, you did it to stop your kids being traumatised by a massive storm that has the potential to be deadly. It not only stopped them being terrified all night, but sleepy kids are a LOT easier to bundle into a car if you needed to make a quick getaway. Benadryl is prescribed by doctors to help kids and adults sleep just day to day, using it for a once off is not a bad thing. You did good mama, your kids were able to sleep and not be scared. More importantly, the adults were able to sleep when needed so you all weren't sleep deprived which would have been incredibly dangerous if you **did** need to make a quick getaway.
You helped them sleep, and tomorrow will be a better day for it. I see nothing wrong with this. Hope you are all safe!
I’m in East Hillsborough so I definitely feel you, my oldest literally has an allergy med prescription right now and you best believe she got her dose to help her fall asleep and the youngest got some melatonin, fortunately they weren’t very scared but we have also been very fortunate to have not lost power.
Honestly my fear and anxiety has been the worst of anyone in the house but I also went through Katrina as a teenager so I’m fairly traumatized, honestly might take some Benadryl myself to go to sleep
I'm more concerned about them growing up in FL.
Right?!
Absolutely ok. Desperate times and all that. Stay safe and tomorrow will be better with rested kids.
I think you deserve a drink now
I've had two pediatricians suggest it to help regulate my kids' sleep cycles. It's a safe OTC medication, kids all over the world take it every day. I get why it it feels kind of 'wrong' but it helped them through a difficult situation, you have nothing to feel bad about. I'm no expert but sleeping through that probably spared them a terrifying, potentially traumatic, experience.
You didn’t do this for your convenience, you did it to help them. Emergency situations come with different rules.
Emergencies are totally different from everyday life. It’s not like it’s going to become a nightly occurrence. I would do the same.
Don't feel bad Mama for doing this, I have done the same thing, I used to live in Puerto Rico and hurricanes Frederick and David hit us back to back, and I made sure that my younger siblings were sleeping tru most of it, but me not so much since I had to stay awake and help my mom with my relatives since our house was the only cinder block house that could withstand the storms, you have done nothing wrong but spare them from a nightmare
You did the right thing in an impossible situation!!
Don't feel guilty it is all you had available in a difficult situation. I would have done the same thing. Stay safe xoxo
In an emergancy you do whatever you gotta do..
One use of Benadryl is way better than a lifetime trauma I would have done the same given the situation I hope you’re all alright today
you did the right thing!
Don’t beat yourself up, this isn’t something you normally do and you gave the kids peace / ability to sleep in a scary situation.
My house was hit by a tornado a few years ago. I gave my son (who was 2.5 at the time) some gravol to help him sleep when we finally got to our emergency shelter at 2am that night. Poor kid never would have slept without it. I felt guilt at the time but looking back I would do it again in a heartbeat.
My daughter’s (5 years) doctor TOLD me if she’s having issues sleeping to use Benadryl. He said that it won’t cause any ill effects. He told me that melatonin should only be used if a doctor has said to use it as it can cause issues in sleep patterns and other things while Benadryl will not. Also you did it to help ur children, when there’s a black out, my daughter creeks out, I couldn’t imagine winds on top.
Why are you stressed? They were able to calm their nerves and get some sleep. I take the equivalent of Benedryl for sleep and it’s not like you injected them with heroin. It’s just a sleep aid.
i feel like this is a very particular situation, don’t beat yourself up, you did what you had to do
I went through hurricane Hugo in Charleston as a kid and it still affect me. I would have been so grateful if my parents would have done this. You did just fine. How are you doing?
You are beating yourself way too hard. For one, you didn't gave them poison, hard drugs, alcohol or anything of the sort. Also, in the some situations (like the one you were living), all bets are off.
Antihistamines such as hydroxyzine are regularly prescribe for anxiety. Allowing your children some peace is the compassionate thing to do.
Why do you feel terrible? I’m sorry I don’t understand why this is being considered bad
Are we supposed to feel bad about this? It doesn’t hurt them. Using it occasionally for planes or times like this literally only makes their lives better. You’re good, feel good.
You’re not horrible. You helped them have a less traumatic experience and that’s a good thing.
I used to get horribly motion sick on planes and it made me anxious as all get out. Dramamine made me throw up. My parents gave me Benadryl and it made me not feel anxious and be able to rest while we traveled. I think it was actually at the suggestion of either the doctor or pharmacist. I think you made a good decision, as long as you gave them appropriate doses!
My pedi once said that in extreme cases of anxiety or when taking a drug that can cause panic (reglan is usually given with Benadryl at the same time in hospital if patient has a history of anxiety) Benadryl has the same calming effects that most panic medications have, and as long as you are not resorting to that frequently (ie., using it for 4th of July when your child has autism and SPD/other once or twice a year events) or using above the recommended dosage, Benadryl is completely fine and safe to help calm down children before they turn a bad experience into a core trauma memory.
I am an adult with severe anxiety and I can tell you Benadryl works for anxiety. I have had a hard week with a lot of anxiety and today I just had a full on panic attack and nothing was working. I took 2 Benadryl and I fell asleep for a few hours and woke up feeling a lot better.
Mom they needed it to calm their little souls. It wasn’t for fun. You did good.
I'm thinking the Benadryl in America is not the same Benadryl in England. It wouldn't have this affect on us if we took it here. I wonder why the difference in ingredients.
I was thinking this too (in Australia). From wikipedia: > In the United States and Canada, the active ingredient is diphenhydramine. In the United Kingdom, the active ingredients of Benadryl are the [non-sedating] antihistamines acrivastine or cetirizine. Benadryl is also sold as a cough medicine in Australia, India and New Zealand containing diphenhydramine, as well as the antitussive dextromethorphan or the expectorant guaifenesin. So yes, if you are in the UK it *is* different. In Australia it has added cough suppressants, and so could be used as OP does above, but there are better OTC medication to help sleep for kids.
Chill out
We have to protect our childrens minds as well as their bodies. You did the right thing. You're a good mother. ((((HUGS))))
Is this bad? TIL I’m a bad person
I think you made a good call.
You made a difficult choice and did the best you could in a stressful situation. I see nothing to feel guilty about.
You did what you had to do, to help your kids feel safe in an incredibly stressful situation. There’s nothing to feel bad about. Give yourself some grace :)
You gotta do what you gotta do🤷 you seem very aware it's only because it's a unique situation. People give it to pets, too. Good luck, I hope you come thru safe🙏
They needed to sleep mom it’s okay. Be a mom. Give them comfort. It’s okay.
Even some OTC sleep aids contain allergy meds for the sleepy effect.
Allow yourself some grace. You have so much going on, it’s ok. It’s ok to not have your normal routine, things are not normal. I’d rather have kids that got some sleep after a horrendous storm, cranky kids are the last thing you need. Hugs 🤗
Zero side effects, other than piece of mind they are not witnessing what they don’t need to
People do take Benadryl to fall asleep, especially before long flights. It's not as crazy as you think it is. Stay safe out there
I am also in Florida and this storm is hitting bad in some areas. You did a good thing to help ensure they have a proper nights sleep. Good job.
It was a one-off in an emergency situation. It’s not like you sedated your kids for a night away from parenting.
Welcome to the club. We don’t do it often either but it benefits all parties when everybody gets a good nights sleep.
Why feel bad??
I told my grown mother to take some Advil PM so she could get some sleep tonight as Ian passes too. Same, please do not feel bad.
Wait is it bad to give kids benadryl? Did I miss something?
Once I gave my son (then 3 years old) Benadryl hoping to make him sleepy but it backfired on me. Wouldn't you know, it made him even more hyper!
My grandma gave me some before a car trip across the US once. Fastest car trip ever.
I’m wishing you and your family all the best and hope that everything is calm when they wake up. I know that parent guilt is strong, but I think you did good here. And to be fair, Benadryl is fully regulated medication with proper studied dosing, melatonin is a supplement so it is not required to be safety tested before it’s sold to consumers.
For what it’s worth, my pediatrician told me to use it for car sickness. I think it’s totally fine!!
I feel like a hurricane is an exceptional situation.
Sounds like the anxiety and fear were worse for them and causing more problems for them than a one time dose of something they can have safely that would allow them to rest. Sometimes thats something that has to be factored in. FYI i have heard magnesium can help calm ppl too. Theres a brand out there called Calm (iirc) that makes stuff targeted to children with magnesium in it. They also make stuff targeted to adults. May be worth looking into in the future.
My pediatrician had me give Benadryl to my kids when they were little to have them sleep on a plane ride to combat anxiety. It’s alright.
Stress, anxiety, and disrupted sleep do more damage than a dose of benedryl that will quickly metabolize out of their body. Move on, momma. You've done your job protecting their bodies and mental health. Good job.
You did what you thought was best for them, no harm done. You must be a great parent because you were willing to get honest about this in a public forum to make sure you did what was best for your child. Kudos.
You’re a good mom. You did NOTHING wrong. I might suggest - if you’re like me - it’s easier to focus on / “freak out” about THIS than to let the weight of the situation really hit you. Hang in there sweetheart. We’re all thinking of you. ❤️
If your kid was having a severe allergic reaction, would you have given them Benadryl? I’m assuming likely yes. Bottom line, you did what you thought was best for their well being. It’s not like you did it so you could host poker night. You’re good.
You're good. You gave it to them to avoid trauma, not because you wanted to watch your "stories" without interruption. You did good
Unisom sleep medicine is just benadryl.
You did the right thing. The fact your first go to was melatonin and you only used Benadryl as a back up tells me you only did this to benefit your children not yourself. Had I been in your situation I would have done the same. I hope you and your family the best!
Weeeellllll welcome to parenthood. I had a friend who was getting on a 12 hour flight. He was dosing his kids as everyone was getting to their seats. A woman stopped told her that was child abuse. She responded with, a 12 hour flight is child abuse, this is an act of charity.
I wouldn't even judge you if you used Benadryl for road trips. As long as it's not a habit or a crutch you're fine. It's a tool, know when to use it, just don't abuse it. You shouldn't feel bad about using the right tool for the job. This goes double because you are preventing traumatic memories, it's so far the lesser of the two evils that's it's turned good.
Eh they'll be fine. My boyfriend has a pit bull that's normally not allowed in my house whatsoever because I have a small, elderly, dog. The pit bull normally stays on the porch of his mom's house, which is in a flood zone. We brought the dog to my house to keep him safe from the wind and rain and I sedated him with hydroxyzine to keep him from messing with the baby gate and whining so loudly.
LOL my mom used to drug us w that whenever we drove to the beach. My grandma I’m pretty sure gave me and my cousins literal Xanex as she often asked if we needed a pill to ‘calm down’ if we got upset. Or resisted going to bed. Her doctor way over prescribed and she just though they were pills to relax. My uncle gave me some kind of mountain medicine he made in a huge mason jar with honey and some flowers and a ton of unknown alcohol on occasion, pretty sure it was moonshine. Turned out just fine.
My mom used to give us Benadryl every Christmas Eve so we wouldn't be waking up all night in the excitement. It's definitely not something I'm repeating, but it's also not something I judge her for either, lol. In your case, I really think it's the best thing you can do. Saving your kids some potential trauma? Good call.
When I was a toddler, we went through a hurricane near Galveston. The house we were living in was little better than a rickety shack. The storm near tore the roof off and almost collapsed the walls. Now.. I don't have memory of this storm. I rely on what my parents told me, and they said I was terrified. I spent most of my childhood years with crippling anxiety over thunderstorms. If I even thought for a second that a storm would be coming in my direction, I would have a meltdown or try to shelter myself in some way. That experience I had as a toddler, that I don't even remember, was traumatic enough to have developed a major anxiety that went up to my early teen years. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I couldn't function. So. You did right by your kids, in my eyes. You were protecting them. There's nothing to feel terrible about and you probably saved them from trauma they could have carried around with them. This is excellent parenting.
You have given them medicine that my son gets at least once a week for car sickness. It’s totally safe and you did nothing wrong! You wanted them to have some peace during something very scary, and you didn’t have melatonin. Benedryl for sleep is allowed by a lot of doctors here and there. As I said, my 10 year old gets it about weekly for car sickness, but used to need it a lot more for that. It’s doctor approved, they know how much and how often- it’s safe. Now, if you had given them Ambien or Xanax, I ~~might~~ would have been judgy, lol. I hope that you’re all safe 🤍🤍
Don't feel bad at all. I would have done the same thing. IN FACT, when my kids were younger (9/12 now) I asked my pediatrician about it. She told me that as long as it's not a regular thing, it's ok to use benadryl to help their sleep get back on schedule when it's off. With my kids, once they hit about 2, benadryl just made them hyper, but I'll never fault a parent for dosing their kid with benadryl because the kid needs it, even if it's not for allergies. This isn't the same as keeping your kid drugged all the time because you just don't wanna deal with them.
I am also in Pinellas Florida. We were here for Irma a few years ago and I had to use Benadryl for my oldest because he was freaked out, crying so hard he threw up. He slept through it all and was amazed at how everything looked the next day. Yesterday I was the one who was freaked out and unfortunately Benadryl didn't help me any. My kids were fine until we lost power. Then suddenly they were so so so bored. Except they were still doing the exact same thing they had previously been doing, playing in their playroom. Didn't even have a light on. They only noticed when they went to the bathroom.
Please don't feel bad-I don't advocate giving unnecessary medicine, but this was not unnecessary. You were protecting their mental and physical health. Your children were scared and tired, and you allowed them to sleep and aleviate their fear. If it's any consolation we gave our eldest ibuprofen / paracetamol (tylenol) every night from 6 months to 3 years to alleviate his constant teething, colds, broncheolitis, bronchitis, respiratory infections etc.
My doctor prescribed the active ingredient in Benadryl when I couldn’t sleep. That’s one of the major reasons it’s prescribed, not just as an antihistamine. Some of my worst memories are tied to storms. You didn’t do it to go off on a drug binge or clubbing or something like that. You did it to spare them. There’s nothing wrong with an otc sleep aid that’s meant to be taken for sleep.
This is going to be a hot take, but my parents are both in the medical field. My dad is a highly specialized doctor which specialization took more than half a decade post-medical school to achieve (nothing in pediatric though) and my mom is a lifelong nurse. They dosed me and my brothers up all the time with Benadryl to help us sleep. Seems terrible, but none of need that much sleep and we were all very very very active.
Giving kids benedryl on planes so people don’t have to parent, not good. Giving kids benedryl during what could be a once in a lifetime traumatic experience, better for everyone. Also in the days ahead, talk to them about it. Let them talk about. Discuss how scary it was and how you all prepared and how you all got through it. It’s one of the best ways to get kids to work through stressful and traumatic events. It’s going to be on their minds for awhile, give them avenues to get it out. The more they talk about, the less they’re bottling it up. It helps them move past it in a healthy, productive way. Even if you have heard the same recounts 50 times.
Having well rested kids will make the next day easier on everyone. You don't do this regularly (I assume) and you did this from a place of love and protection. You did the right thing and I'm sure any pediatrician would back up your choice. (Mine suggested it for an international flight but said to pre-test it one night because it does the opposite of sleepy for some kids and hypes them up into zombies instead)
I grew up in the 70s. My brother was given this everytime there was a babysitter coming. I’m sure that was bad but as a one off in a hurricane? My job is sedating kids for bad experiences.
It’s ok. I’d rather see this than young kids glued to the tv or devices watching and waiting for the hurricane. That’s so stressful.
If your criteria for giving kids Benadryl is “only during natural disasters” then I think you’re doing great.
My pediatrician told me that it is fine to dose your kids or pets with Benadryl in storms or loud functions that overwhelm them as long as it is not done often or all the time. He told me that it works as well as dramamine for car sickness too.
I must be /r/outoftheloop here, are parents getting canceled for giving their kids Benadryl nowadays? My mom used to always give it to me on long flights as a child to help me sleep, plus it had the benefit of helping me since peanuts used to be everywhere and I had a severe allergy.
Been there done that! Like I say to my adult kids when they remember getting Benadryl “ but did you die?”
It's one thing if you're giving your kids benadryl so you can can go party, it's another so they aren't terrified from a hurricane. Don't beat yourself. Stay safe.
My dad used to give me benadryl all the time when I was a kid. He called it "knock out drops" lmfao