I used to feel children should be banned, period.
Then I became a dad, a stay-at-home dad.
Now I understand and feel differently.
People who don't like children are just wrong, and usually self centered males.

Gus, Los Angeles, USA / CA

Take one family living in the UK, add grandparents living in, repsectively, Jerusalem and NYC. Stir one child with ADHD and dyspraxia and one intolerant to wheat, dairy & large amounts of egg, eczema & asthama. What to do?

Stop flying? Not possible, unfair to all, impossible to go by car, ship or plane (unless you're a millionaire)

PREPARE: be honest with yourself about your child's personality & current state. Think carefully about clothing, toys & food, likely difficulties you may encounter while travelling (long lines at Heathrow, etc.) Discuss, if poss, with your children what will happen and how to behave. Consider using gentler things than drugs: a drop or two of lavender oil is safe for even very young children, chamomile tea can be prepared with just hot water (& Peter Rabbit drinks it too).

Drugs are the coward's way out and ultimately every parent has to take responsibility for their own and their child's behaviour while travelling.

H Rome, Maidenhead, Berkshire

At the risk upping the level of ire - i find flying first class with my toddler by far the easiest (and not just for the obv reasons). Business class has a load of grumpy, older, middle management and they tend to be arrogant and unfullfilled . First had a far more generous clientlele who smiled and played with my 14 month old daughter, when she wasn't sleeping. It was utterly fine and we flew LHR- SYD!

Elizabeth, sydney,

I am 28 and about 48 hrs away from boarding a flight to Jo'Burg. The thought of screaming babies/kids fills me with terror. Not being a parent myself, I find it hard (and inappropriate) to comment on what other people should do with their kids. I do however remember being probably... 10... maybe 11... and my parents giving me sleeping pills when they took me to Spain! Not the longest haul is it? I do also remember being eternally grateful as flights were always boring. I fell asleep before take-off and when I woke up it was time to play on the beach!! Everyone was happy! I think that parents should be more considerate or others... but travellers should also be more tolerant of kids. Somewhere in the middle it'll work.

M Hooker, Cardiff,

Dr. Ogilvy. Where do we draw the line? Should we drug our children when we have to take on long haul flights? Should we drug them if we need to finish cooking supper, and they are misbehaving? And if we want to go out and have a nice quiet meal, should we give them the right dose of antihistamines? Why not carry around the right medicine to control any unpredictable tantrum that appears at the wrong place or in the wrong time? We live in the time of the rapid and easy solutions…when they are older, why shouldn’t they take some drugs just to rapidly feel better with them self’s? After all, their parents were the first ones to use that logic.

Rick, Faro, Portugal

It is normally other passengers who make parents with young children nervous - they expect the children to sit perfectly still for the entire flight which is unreasonable. They have inevitably forgotten what it is like to fly with young children and should be more considerate - lets face it the parents are normally the last people on the plane who want their children screaming? Should you require complete silence I suggest you take a private jet or take some medication yourselves

Rebecca Clayton, Hong Kong,

Taking young children on long flights is just another example of the selfishness of some parents. An agitated or merely badly-behaved child is a nuisance to all around, and bing couped up with a constantly crying baby can be incredibly distressful - especially to those who find flying difficult at the best of times.

If you make the choice to have children, it is unfair to expect a hundred strangers trying to enjoy their holiday to put up with your inability to keep them quiet.

What's wrong with a caravan holiday - or taking a ferry journey across the channel - when you have children too young to really appreciate the benefits of long-haul travel?

Alex McGregor, Plymouth, UK

What I tend to do is get my children really revved up for a flight before we board. Feed them on a diet of raw sugar and fizzy drinks in the week leading up to it and then 7 espressos in the 1 hour immediately prior to take off. This tends to work best for me. I take the anti-histamines and the "jet lag" tablets and let the children run wild in 1st class while I get a well earned rest in economy.

Anyone complaining about children on flights should get a private jet. If you can afford business class either someone else has paid for you (in which case you have no reason to complain) or you should fly less (saving the planet for the kids you loathe) which would also mean that you could save up for the private flights. Im sure that your flight would be great fun as you sit there tutting away to yourself.

Get a grip of yourselves you whingers. Kids are brilliant. And if you have to stick your fingers in your ears.

Twiz4Eva, London,

Maybe the answer is to have dedicated family cabin sections with extra insulation and more child friendly fittings, then all with young children can be seated in one place. Having said that and having travelled widely with my children (including one who is Autistic) with no problems, from personal observations sometimes it is the parenting skills which have to be questioned and what some parents let their children get away with without any attempt to curtail or improve the behavior. I have no problem if a parent is being seen to be doing everything they can to alleviate the problem, it's when they just sit there swigging drinks and ignoring it that you begin to question their selfishness.

Shaz, Cambridge,

What drives me mad on long flights is the large adult male who not only tilts his seat all the way back, even during meals, but uses his feet to try to push it back even farther. Then, when one must grasp the seat to get up to use the rest room, he behaves as if you are doing him harm. I have no problem with tilting back when the lights are off and everyone is trying to sleep, but I hate trying to eat with someone's dandruff falling onto my plate. Arrogant, inconsiderate males, cut it out!

Judy Shimkus, St Louis, MO, USA

I can't believe this article where people are talking so nonchalantly and openly about drugging healthy little children! How appalling to even consider administering drugs, never mind advocating their use to other parents. I'm in shock! I would never ever even contemplate the idea of administering medication to my three year old son in the hope of keeping him quiet. I'm lucky that he's strong and healthy and capable of being inquisitive - that's how children are.

Jane , Dublin, Ireland

Don`t take young children on long haul flights--they are just as happy playing on an English beach until they are old enough to cope. When you do take them be prepared--books, colouring,games , story c.d.s etc--a good long haul airline will have films to watch. I heard of a mum who had a little gift for her child each hour of the journey!!

Pat, Farnham, UK

Just hang on a minute here! I suffered from travel sickness: always have, You do not "grow out of it!" You are bullied into learning to cope! I never could read in the car. Auntie took us on vast distances by car across the USA. I had my friend, Ella along for company. She was a middle child of 6 - she could read in the car. How I envied her that ability! See, I was only 1 of 1 and the focus of my parent's entire attention - a curse to any independent minded child of whatever age!
My first experience of a long haul flight was with just such a drugged child. I was 18 - 14 years later i had my own child. Mores had changed and I did not drug the daughter. I'd put her in the aisle and let her go when she got restless. Back she'd come, courtesy of the staff and back I'd put her.
We never had any trouble with jet lag. I now travel the world and sometimes i forget why I still do. I have periodic bouts of "sleep deprivation". This can be dangerous for me. I rely on my strangers. I have to.

Carlyle and Len Braden, Croydon, England

isnt it funny how a very serious subject of drugging children has turned into an argument on whether children should go on flights or not!
I sense that not everyone thinks its unacceptable for parents to drug their children, just unacceptable to take them on a plane.

Listen to yourselves, this is the kind of selfish attitude that has parents drugging their children to get some peace and quiet , and putting their lives at risk in the process.

Phenergan, a favorite of tired parents has this warning : "In children less than two it can depress respiration and lead to death ......
...particularly children stimulation may be manifest by restlessness, inability to sleep, heart palpitations or even SEIZURES.

effects on respiratory system:Asthma, nasal stuffiness, respiratory depression (potentially FATAL) and apnea (potentially FATAL).."

It is not okay to knowingly put the life of a child at risk for any other reason other than to save their life. There are NO exceptions.

Amanda, Kent,

I am appalled at people who have drugged their kids. While mine have never flown (9 and 12 now), we've definitely been on several hours long car rides. I do/did the same in the cars as I would with a plane. I made sure all iPods, gameboys, cd players, dvd players, etc. are all charged up and have new batteries. Isn't technology great? My youngest gets car sick, so reading (her favorite) and coloring are out of the picture, but we always made sure we had plenty of things to keep them busy (even as toddlers) to make the trip more sane. The worst was always the sibling squabbling more than anything else. That got better with bigger cars/vans to completely separate the two!

I know I rambled, but my point is when you take enough things for a child to play with, then the majority of the time should be hassle free. There's always going to be something that comes up, but it should be manageable.

April, Leonardtown, US

Yes, Arnold Ward, I was a child, but my parents didn't take me to places where I would be a nuisance until I was old enough to behave myself. Why do parents these days think they have the right to inflict their squawking, screaming brats on everyone else without disapproval or sanction?

Gordon Johnson Houghton, Stansfield, Suffolk

I booked two nights in the Corral del rey hotel in Seville, Spain on 4th and 5th September 2007. The description of the room and service standards as detailed by your travel journalist sold the hotel to us despite the very expensive 350.00 euros per night. We were simply so impressed by the article in the Sunday Times Travel section (sometime in June / July) that we had to book.If there has ever been a case of mis-selling a hotel then this is it!!! When I asked one of the staff how they managed to attract customers he gave a wry smile and replied " the sunday times" . The only thing he omitted was the "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" . A CLEAR inference, if there ever was one, that your writer had received some inducement ( probably financial) to write such a grossly flattering article about the "hotel".We compared two nearby hotels with Corral del Rey. They were vastly superior, had on site car parking, dining room, entertainment etc and only charged 150 to 180 euros per night. Disgusted

Albert, Hoylake, Wirral, U.K.

And I assume that all those commenting here who seem to think that long haul is not for children were never children themselves - how myopic and lacking in empathy - Oh but thats why they didn't have children themselves anyway!

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

Being the father of 8 and grandfather of 14 this issue of sedating very young children to help prolongued travel, but causing in some very rare instances problematic to them, worried me when I heard McKann's Grandfather naming Calpol as possible sedative used to help Madelaine fall asleep more rapidly. Will someone out of the Pfyzer castle elaborate about this?

Charles Diamond, Oporto, Portugal

I have flown frequently and long distance with my kids at very young ages (they are now 8 and 5) partly because half my family and all of my husband's are in the US. I have never drugged them and found that it is tiring but manageable. Tips: very young babies are fine, as they really just want to be cuddled and held. Breast feeding is a miracle for relieving ear pressure on takeoff and landing (a bottle is an OK alternative, but not quite as good). If you can stick to short journeys with actual toddlers it helps (between about 8 months and 2 years all they want to do is walk up and down the aisles for the whole flight which the staff find annoying !) . Pack your own food and snacks And plan: magazines, new toys, games, crayons etc. As they get older airlines which have seat back entertainment (eg Virgin) are great. And explain why they must not kick the seat back in front of them and keep telling them!

Jane, London,

Should we really wonder why our teenagers seem so keen on drugs nowadays? Could there be a link between sedatives administered by well meaning parents to young and very young children and the attractiveness of drugs later when these children turn into teenagers? Perish the thought.

John, London, UK

Simple solution: don't take children on long flights. If you must fly on holiday trips, go short-haul. Take day flights so no-one expects sleep.

Angela, Cwmbran, UK

My husband and I recently completed a long haul trip that involved us taking our two year old on four flights (one way). She was a flower girl at a wedding and so this was not a "boasting about going to Mexico or where ever" type of trip. She was NOT drugged at all and she did very well, to the point that other passengers came up to us and said how well behaved she was. We made sure she had plenty of small toys and books. We also booked three seats together, had her in the middle seat and we entertained her. I won't say it was a breeze because it was not at all, it's very, very tiring and stressful for us parents.

I would consider administering drugs on those types of long haul flights. I think it's very important that parents to rest and relax as well as children and other passengers.

I was a frequent flyer before my daughter was born and saw far, far worse behaviour from adults and have been much more uncomfortable with obese people sitting next to me than crying babies.

Catherine, Atlanta, GA, USA

As a father of 3; twins at 6 and a small child of 3 I am appalled that anyone would want to give drugs to their children just to make their life easier. All drugs cause side effects and most are not actually tested for children but the doses estimated based on adults.

If you really need to take children on a long haul flight then choosing carefully will mean they are sleeping during their normal times.

joseph Kellie, Edinburgh, Scotland

Having taken lots of flights and lots of long train journeys, some parents are fine, and some are not. Some are more than happy to let their children terrorise those around them, which is highly inconsiderate.

As people with children (as all people do) have the right to travel, maybe a solution would be to have a "child" area of the plane or train, where they can all run around to get rid of excess energy, rather than up and down the aisles? The airline could even provide toys, crayons ... a children's club in the sky. You used to have smoking carriages and you now have quiet coaches, why not children coaches?

Lisa, London,

We once medicated my 2 yr on 13hr long haul and he turned into the hyperactive crying monster described by many. Never done so again..as much because I am more confident as a mother and feel no need to place the comfort of other passengers above the health and well being of my son.
We are fortunate enough to always fly business class and have been spolied by very attentive child loving air stewards. I just wish the average businessman would accept that the business class domain is no longer for men alone. As a single woman travelling alone men would walk in front of me in tbe business class queue or presume I was fair game from some chat up...Payback times guys. Dont like children or women in "your space" get a conference phone and stay at home.
PS Also tried medicating cats for ferry trip to new home. Their ensuing incontinence was not pretty so just be glad if a medicated or unmedicated small child doesnt pee on you in the plane

Fiona Agnew, Buenos Aires,

I would rather fly with a hundred toddlers than one more single rude, middle-aged, drinking businessman who dares any contact with those of his own species and who treats flight attendants as mere slaves.

John, London,

It's funny how parents will always take the one side of the argument, and the rest of us the other. I don't object to children being taken on board flights, and occasionally one stumbles across kids who are well behaved and quiet (as we were required to be by my parents when I was small and travelling on an airplane).
The real problem is parents who haven't done a thing to teach their children how to play quietly, don't pay attention to them or admonish them when they are kicking the seat in front of them or pulling the hair of the person in front (yes, it has happened to me). If you can't be bothered to pay attention to your kids or keep them entertained - why have them? These are of course the same people who get self-righteous about having paid for an extra seat and having "rights" - although parents of very small babies frequently don't have to and can play hot potato with the baby, making life hell for everyone around them.

Let's ban poorly behaved parents from flying.

S Madsen, London UK,

I can say from personal experience of having given, with a doctor's permission, phenergan to a three year old in preparation for a night flight to London that YOU SHOULDN"T DO IT!
my normally quietish, cooperative daughter became a jumpy even hyper fiend who, not being satisfied with keeping everyone awake with her noise at 1 am, insisted on stripping naked and running up and down the aisle of the plane. I was incapacitated with babe-in-arms breastfeeding.

I vowed never again to render any sleep medicine to any child on any flight!

lynn chones, jordan valley,

Hurrah Louise, London, a kindred spirit! As for Mike, Berlin, I'll bet he doesn't believe in Christmas either, bah humbug.
The negative comments are indicative of the intolerant and selfish society we have become. Come on people, live and let live.

Toby, London,

This may sound selfish but when I pay a business class fare I do resent the kindergarten atmosphere on some flights. By all means parents, travel by air and bring your children along, but please consider that others who have paid a price for comfort and peace do not wish to share your children's tantrums.

JC, London, UK

I am beyond shocked. How dare a parent or anybody give a drug to a child for any reason other than medical need. I am a single, working mother of an 8 year old. She in herself is full-time job, what with school work, school clubs, out-of-school clubs, sleepovers, trips and on. I have absolutely no time for myself, but expect none, as I am a parent and knew that being a parent would be a major commitment and that her needs would always come before any I might have. I used to feel guilty if I felt less than capable after a late night chatting and drinking wine. No more after reading the above - I can see I'm not as bad as I thought. Maybe because I did the work-hard, play-hard stuff before becoming a parent at 33 I don't feel the need to put myself before the child, but drugging a child to get some peace - let's hope these parents' consciences can find peace when something goes wrong.

Sharon, Oxford, England

I totally agree with A Thorn of London - well said! So many people with children seem to lose all sense of consideration for others and seem to expect everything to revolve round their children - thankfully, there are still parents out there who accept that by having children that previous activities need to be curtailed and that it's selfish to indulge them (eg clothes shopping at weekends, blocking streets/aisles with buggies, etc), or to take children places (eg on flights, to church services) where they could potentially disturb others, but it seems as though it's the minority of parents who have this realisation and instead children behave completely unruly.

F, Scotland, UK

What an intolerant, whinging,selfish bunch of people we Brits have become. People like Mike of Berlin haven't thought where their pension is going to come from - assuming he is not a pensioner already! Children are our future and it is they who one day will have to dig deep in their pockets to look after their elders. The constant criticism by people of parents, especially unfortunate ones like the McCanns,makes me want to weep for my country.

Brian Wildey, Fleurance, France

I'm 10 and frequently get very irrittated by adults behaviour on flights (and elsewhere).
Do we really need to have so many of those over 16 yr olds on long haul flights?expecially when they read their papers and think its ok to use my seat space to stretch their elbows when eating their food.

rikrok, Lodnon, UK

I hate to say this but i think that parents who insist on taking young children on a long haul should realise that not all the other passengers think your children are cute or adorable when they are screaming and throwing tantrums nor am i too impressed when little Timmy or Tabatha suddely realise that it is great fun to jump up and down in the seat in front of me when I'm trying to sleep or eat.

Yes Nic, families have paid for their seats and so has everyone else and they are entitled to peace and quiet and not to be given the usual flannel "well you were a child once as well!" . I am therefore assuming from your logic, Nic, that 30 drunk stag attendees therefore have the right to behave however they like as they have bought more tickets than anyone else? Hmm, good argument, I think not!!!

The chance of having a few pre-flight drinks is no longer available now as the precious darlings can usually be found running around their own private play ground, ie, the departure lounge!

A Thorn, London,

My in laws live in Uganda and work as missionaries. My husband and I will be taking our 3 and 2 year old children to visit them in January. Why should my children be denied the right to know their grandparents just because they live in another country that requires a long haul flight? Instead of sitting tutting and giving disapproving looks at parents trying to travel with young children, why not offer a helping hand. Sometimes a change of face can give already exhausted parents a few minutes to gather their thoughts. I have made many long haul flights before and after having children. I have entertained children sitting round me and have also benefited from having kind passengers distract my own children.

Louise, London,

Its the parents that should be tranquilized, preferably an our before conception. Then we could all get some peace.

Mike, Berlin,

What a bunch of ignorant comments have been posted here. To suggest that others should curb their travelling, whether due to need or choice, is completely intolerable. I am not a parent, but when travelling I would much prefer the discomfort of a toddler in the same cabin than a drunk, or obnoxious adult.
Long haul economy travel is the worst form of hell on earth anyway, what is a little noise to boot?

Chris, London,

I travelled all over the world with my children for years and never felt the need to resort to drugging them. In 20 or so years these same parents will be agonizing about why their kids turned out to be drug addicts.

Lynn Hudson, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Firstly, why the headling "Mothers Who Drug Their Babies..." Why not parents, particularly when the author describes her trip with her husband!

To all those who say don't take children on long haul flights: have you considered that those children may be travelling to visit relatives, perhaps elderly grandparents overseas? Or moving abroad?

Finally, I have had much more unpleasant travel experiences with rude middle-aged businesspeople who take up more than their share of space, drink to excess, harass the airline staff, talk, loudly, on their cellphone whenever possible and push past anyone in their way.

The airlines also could do their part, for instance offering healthy snacks rather than junk which is likely to wind the kids up, maybe even providing milk?

A bit of tolerance can go a long way.

E, Cambridge, UK

Can I suggest that anyone with a problem with young children and babies on a plane take ear plugs. As a frequent long haul flyer myself I have no problem with them and have been stuck many a time in the same cabin as them. The solution is simple ear plugs! People must remember than not all parents have a choice, they may have to take their children on a plane to visit relatives etc The biggest problems i have had on flights is with older passengers, who have become abusive and violent!

Hannah, Jersey,

Why should babies and young children be banned from flying?
As an British expat living in Malta, banning my two young children would deny them the right to visit their grandparents.

Would all the moaning passengers please raise their hands if they never travelled with their parents?

Anthony, B'kara, Malta

As a parent of a toddler I agree that parents who insist on travelling on long haul flights with a child who is likely to be a poor traveller are being incredibly selfish. They are not thinking of their child or other passengers. When considering a journey, your child is a vital factor: the duration and timing of the flight are relevant together with your child's ability to cope. There is too much of sticking a child infront of the tv, drugging them to give you some time to yourself etc these days. However, I am dismayed at the number of people who have zero tolerance of children: they are the future of our society and will only grow up dysfunctional if they are excluded from key aspects of our community life. I have experienced tuts and rolled eyes on the bus, in the supermarket etc and my child is not badly behaved. People are fed up the moment he starts to speak and to point out things through the bus window! Is it really that hard to accept children are part of our society?

S, Yorkshire, England

Its about time the human race got more telerant of its young. If people don't like travelling with other young of their own species then I suggest they ought to stay at home themselves.
As for sedating the young forget it - why do it at the cost of their health and for someone else's pleasure?
"Airlines should prohibit young babies and small children frrom travelling! - John this is the 21st century we are living in - wake up!

Ali Smythe, London, Uk

Quite frankley, people who insist on taking their toddlers on long haul flights just so they (the parent) can enjoy boasting about going to Mexico or where ever, are incredibly ignorant of the other poor travellers who have no escape from the insessent whinning of these little darlings.
Do these selfish people have any idea what it is like to spend a long haul trip in the near vicinity of a poor toddler who has no idea what is happening, why its ears hurt, & why its not allowed to toddle around, and therefore does what any toddler in that situation would do, scream & cry!
So be responsible parents, not just to the children, but to other suffering travellers, and go on holidays which require short haul, or better still journeys that dont involve contact with other members of the public when travelling.
Thank you.

Pete, St Albans, UK

A great many young children would much prefer a week on an English beach to any holiday which begins with a longhaul flight. It is the parents who want these holidays. They should have the patience, and sense, not to take their children on unnecessary flights, especially when they are too young even to enjoy the holiday when they finally arrive!

Hannah Mantle, Paris,

Thank you, Dr Ogilvy, for your sane and sensible suggestions. Testing the medication on the child beforehand is obviously vital. I also just wonder why people who have small children don't stay at home until they have grown up. Why must you always be jetting around the world? I wish airlines would prohibit babies and small children from flying except in emergencies.

John, Cape Town, South Africa

The best way to travel is to ensure you have sufficient entertainment of your own for the child, and to keep them on their normal sleeping routine, using sedatives is the worst thing in the world that you can do.
With very young children ensure that they have something to assist with equalizing pressure in the ears, pay attention to them, do not forget you decided to have children, it is your responsibility to ensure they are safe and happy and stimulated.
If you are not prepared to commit yourself 100% to them then forget the whole idea.

Crooks, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

As a mother-of-twins and a frequent flyer - your article is a touch misleading, in its attempt to be humourous. a) Most doctors would recommend that you test a 'sleeping preparation' on a child before using it - in the air. (You should change your GP if this wasn't the case.)
b) Frequently a child falls asleep on a plane due to the motion. Why drug any child prior to a problem? Board the plane, let the child have something to eat , use the facilities and nine times out of ten they will fall asleep, naturally. (Sleeping aids can be given during the flight, if necessary).
c) Use the airport as a mini exercise field. Don't keep your child strapped into a stroller for three hours at an airport and then expect them to sit strapped in for another 12 on a long -haul flight. (Check out the play areas at airports).
d) Don't give your child a fizzy drink treat on board or before take-off.
e) Teach your children good flight behaviour and they usually rise to the challenge

Kelly Ushpol, Vienna, Austria

I've done a number of trips from Europe to Australia with two young children in tow and friends in Sydney had raved about Phenergan. However, there were some who'd said it had had the opposite effect on their kids (like the writer's here) and they'd run amok all flight. Finally I decided with such a long trip it wasn't worth the risk.

olga, alicante, spain

Drugging your child for a trip is an absolute disgrace there can be no excuse for it.

Dont take children on long haul flights, stop being so selfish as there are plenty of short haul flights available.

If you take children away then plan ahead a couple of early nights on the previous days and dont get to stressed, embrace the exitement of your child (who is doing something new) and enjoy the moment. A less stressed parent will in all likelyhood have a less stressed child who will at some point drift off happily.

The couple above got there just deserts for a cheap kop out, i feel sorry for the young child. I have two small children and i know what it is like to travel with them.

If all you want to do is sleep on a long haul flight then leave the "inconvenient" kids at home with the grandparents!

Matt G, Gillingham, Dorset

Stephen,

I doubt you are a parent, there are moments in life when parents can do nothing to control a childs behaviour, especially around the age of two. Most of us do our best to at least minimize any disruption, but frankly we have just as much right to travel as you do. Just remember you were a child once, and I bet you weren't perfect either.

Pete, London,

As a veteran of many long haul flights, I could not disagree more with Nic Corry. Everybody has paid for the seat, but most do not insist on wailing or kicking the back of the seat in front of them (with the sad exception of many stag parties). If a parent is unable to keep a child quiet for the majority of a flight, they should not fly. Many considerate parents are, in fact, quite capable of keeping their offspring under control.

Stephen Shelley, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

As a GP I have often prescribed antihistamines for children embarking on long haul flights. The aim is to make is easier for the child to sleep, not to induce complete coma. Many children will have had antihistamines previously, to reduce itching with eczema or chicken pox and used appropriately they are not dangerous.However it is important to be specific about the dose to be used and advise parents that some children do become hyperactive so a test dose before travelling is usually a good idea.
Obviously administering such medication on a regular basis is not advisable but personally I see no harm in occasional use which improves the quality of the journey for the child, parents and fellow travellers. Just be honest when talking to your GP, no 'mumbling about jet lag'!

Dr Jenny Ogilvy, Mosgiel, New Zealand

There is not enough empathy for people with children from other passengers. Parents resort to this through pressure from those around them tutting and rolling their eyes over an unsettled child in an unfamiliar environment, who is also sensing their own parents discomfort and stress. Parents should remember that for the one person sitting near them tutting, their family have paid the airline for more seats and should sit there with confidence.

Nic Corry, Hong Kong, China SAR