screamer
 

I know that I'm risking criticism, but I flew home from Boston a couple of days ago seated a couple of rows from a toddler who screamed almost the entire (2 hour) flight.The flight attendant confirmed what I suspected, that the child was suffering from ear pain.<BR><BR>Being a mom myself, I felt for the child. However, I was also irritated by the disturbance this child was causing. <BR><BR>My point parents, is that if you are going to fly with your child, equip him or her to handle it. It is very common for children to experience ear pain in flight, especially when taking off or landing. I think that it is irresponsible not to give your child the appropriate medication to keep them comfortable. I ALWAYS give my children a decongestant when we fly and we always have a pleasurable trip. Strangers often comment on well behaved they are.<BR><BR>And no, this is not "drugging" your child. This is a practice my pediatrician advises. It is good for the child AND your fellow passengers!

From your title I thought for sure this was a post on that obnoxious yellow boat at Clearwater Beach! lol Well here I am, unable to tell anyone what a terrible idea the Screamer is so....<BR><BR>On our first flight with our first born, we were clueless that this might happen. Of course it did and we were all miserable. Our happy child who slept through the night at two weeks and NEVER cried days...turned into a virtual Linda Blair. That was the last time we traveled without a decongestant and she still needs it to this day, but she and her husband are in charge of meds now, 28 years later! <BR><BR>This isn't something every parent is aware of, especially new parents, so a bit of compassion might be in order as well. There is an easily discernable difference between the cry of pain and cry of petulance. A bit of compassion might be in order as well.

About 5 years ago we were waiting to board our plane with our son who was 6 at the time. 30 minutes before we were set to get on, I got out the decongestant his doctor told me to give him when he flew (he was prone to ear infections). He fussed when I told him to take it and I couldn't believe it when this woman (a stranger) sitting across from me started to chastise me for needlesly "drugging" my child, adding "this is why we have a nation of drug addicts". It took all my self control not to scream at her. Of course, this would probably be the same women who would have complained bitterly if my son, with no medication, disturbed her by crying during the flight. People never cease to amaze me.

Why are you posting drivel<BR>on this site? You were annoyed? So what?!!!!<BR>'Today when I was in the grocery store in Boca Raton.....' (Who cares?!!!)<BR>This is a travel site! Not a place to vent your frustrations about common everyday occurrences!<BR>

Huhh? Last time I checked Susan, flying was a popular mode of travel. What do you do that makes flying a "common everyday occurrnce"? I wouldn't want your job.

I'm sorry, but unless your child is ill, I do not see the point of giving them any medication. Ear pain caused by flying is short term. The effects of un-needed medication can be long reaching. And yes, maybe this is the reason drugs have become such a problem in our society. I don;t think you should drug uyour child just so that others can fly without being "irritated" by a crying child. Good grief, a flight is not forever.

OK, Momtoo, I'm putting on my gloves! This is hardly the reason there is a drug problem in our society. Good grief, woman!! <BR><BR>Do you take an asprin when you have a severe headache or toothache? A decongestant is to the earache what asprin is to your headache or toothache, no more, no less. If your child is stuffy before the flight; if your child is prone to frequent ear infections, I can guarantee you'll have a problem in the air. Do you care that this pain is *excrutiating*? Have you seen a child with an ear infection? We're not talking minor discomfort with the eardrum pressure--and what happens in the air is the same pressure experienced in a severe infection. These kids scream not because they are tired and cranky, but because they are in a tremendous amount of pain. You prefer not to treat it?? It's too late once you are up there and yup...that flight sure would feel like "forever" if it were you with the earache!<BR><BR>Further there isn't a parent alive who won't agree 100% that the decongestant is given for the child's benefit, NOT for that of the other passengers. Jeez louise...where's my BP cuff?

Olive Oil, you've got my interest. What is this yellow boat named Screamer at Clearwater Beach? Is it that pirate boat that's been there and shoots faux cannons at certain hours? Or am I thinking of Fort Myers Beach? What time is it? Where is my drink?

Olive Oyl said it well enough without needing to repeat it. Two of my three children had chronic ear trouble as toddlers. Even though they no longer get the ear infections, flying is hard for them because they have ear pain when we land. If I didn't give them a decongestant, they wouldn't be able to fly. I'll continue to trust the words of my pediatrician thank you.

Hey Brian, No, the pirate boat that shoots it's cannons and the Screamer are not one in the same, but yes, they are both here, Clearwater Beach.<BR><BR>The Screamer is built to look like a cigarette boat but takes...30?...passengers. (Don't know how many, but it's alot--my husband guessed 50, but I don't think that many). It must have a huge engine(s) as it's unbelievably loud. Comes out into the Gulf, runs up to about Caladesi Island, then back. The noise is incredible from the beach, and I can't imagine what it must be like onboard!<BR><BR>The only thing I can say to its credit is that it throws up a huge wake which seems to delight the dolphins as they'll occasionally ride the wake giving everyone onboard and onshore a fantastic show, as they leap clear out of the water. But...give me a sail any day over that noise--dolphins come with us too, they just don't get as energetic!!<BR><BR>

Hey Momtoo!! Am I dope freak because I take an antihistimine/decongestant this time of year to keep from suffocating!! I have allergies that flare up every spring when pollen starts flying. And oh yes, I take Lipitor to control my triglycerides. So does that make me a double headed drug freak?<BR>If a child suffers from chronic ear infections, what the duece is wrong with trying to control it so that the child feels better? Had you ever thought that kids get sick, too!? And that carefully prescribed medicine will make them healthier? Am I then to conclude that you oppose healthy children? <BR><BR>

I think it is good to know how to handle kids on airplanes. There are many first-time parent flyers who have know idea and would benefit from knowing the decongenstant trick.<BR><BR>I learned the hard way with my toddler when flying home for a funeral of a close family member. Due to the circumstances, we didn't exactly plan the trip out alot. We paid for it by having our child disrupt 25 travelers for 2 hours.

There's no way Momtoo is really a mom -- or if she is, she's the most heartless I've ever heard of (or else a strict Christian Scientist with another agenda other than considerations of long-term effects of medication or the comfort of child and passengers). <BR><BR>If her child is crying/screaming with pain, I find it unconscionable that she'd rather make a point about the long-range unknown effects of medication and let her child suffer for "only 2 hrs." than help the child out of the pain.

I, too, was irritated by screaming children on the plane until last year I had to fly with a sinus infection. I had my head in my companion's lap the entire flight, sobbing in pain. To make it worst, we were on a cross-country flight on SouthWest, which meant we had to land and take-off again about 18 times. <BR> <BR>I will never ever ever again be irritated with those poor babies.

Hey mom 6, mom too didn't say she would let her kid suffer. She just said why give medication they don't need. And where do you get off bashing someone's religious beliefs.

If anyone has a child whose ears hurt, ask the flight attendant for 2 styrofoam cups with hot, wet paper towels in the bottom. Hold the cups over the child's ears and the pain should subside. It sounds and looks silly, but it works! Oh, and yes, I am one of those bad parents who give my child decongestant prior to flying on our pediatrician's recommendation.

My daughter flew for the first time at 9 months. She had difficulty getting in all of her required booster shots that year because of the frequency of her ear infections. Three hours before she got on the plane for a long weekend with her dad at my in-laws, she started rubbing her ears. Her doctor saw her immediately and subsequently put her on an antibiotic even though she didn't have a full fledged ear infection - yet! When she got on the plane with my husband, she had antibiotics, decongestant, and tylenol in her system and a bottle to help with the pressure equalization. Why be so heartless as to make a child suffer in pain if you can alleviate it with some forethought?!!! <BR><BR>And if you don't think the pressure on the eardrum is that bad, try flying with an ear that won't clear. I've done it. It is an excruciating experience. Not quite as bad as having an eardrum rupture, though - which I've had happen several times too. BTW, I fly on decongestants as well - start taking them 24 hours in advance! It's what I'd recommend to any parent flying with a small child as well!

Christian Scientists do not push their beliefs on others unless you ask. NO I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST but have friends and aquaintences who are. In fact, when I was ill recently one of my CS friends came over and helped to care for me and gave me my medication on time and did not do any praying over me, etc. GET A LIFE and leave others to theirs.<BR><BR> <BR><BR>

Well, Ms. Oyl, if you check this thread April 9, I thought your posting was in fact the most compassionate and humane of all, and sensible. And I liked your fire too ... I bet you don't even need gloves! I wonder why people get so stressed about kids? A childhood thing probably. Anyway, good job, Olive ... and have a good evening. I hoped you studied ... one day soon I'll ask you to sketch the city, its river and each neighborhood. And maybe a multiple choice on restaurants and museums while we're at it too. Ya-ya, Leone