Posted on 07/13/2007 2:03:55 PM PDT by Cagey
NEW YORK -- The Gwinnett County mother kicked off an airplane with her 19-month old son tried to tell her side of the story Friday morning, but her son's crying drowned out part of the interview.
Garren Penland, 19-months old, got so unruly during his mom's chat with 'Good Morning America' anchor Diane Sawyer, co-anchor Chris Cuomo had to take the toddler off the set.
While Kate Penland explained her child was well-behaved on the Continental Express flight, little Garren kicked, wiggled and squirmed out of his mother's arms.
At one point he climbed up on a coffee table and rifled through Sawyer's scripts.
When Sawyer handed him a model Space Shuttle to distract him, Garren rolled it off the table and onto the floor.
Kate Penland said she and Garren were booted from the flight last month by a flight attendant who suggested she use benadryl to calm her son down.
“I’m saying I would have found something different. I would have asked the pediatrician what would be safe but would calm him. Happily for us, Benadryl worked for us. You’ll have to find something else. Ask your pediatrician”
So what you are saying is that I should experimentally drug my kid with various different syrups and sit back and take note of his reaction.
Or....I experiment by bringing it with me on a flight and only give it to him when he fusses and pray to God he doesn’t have an adverse reaction, because then - somebody “helpful” like you will ask me to give him Benadryl which might make me glare at you.
I don’t know of a pediatrician who would suggest medicine for sedation when the child is not ill.
Good luck with your son.
“The reports I am hearing are saying he kept repeating the words, Bye-bye plane. annoying yes, but it wasn’t a tantrum or whining.”
And that isn’t even why the plane got turned around.
The pilot turned around because the stewardess claimed she was threatened.
If she had told me to drug my child I would have had some rather harsh words for her too.
Fussy babies IMO do better when they cry themselves out. I avoided medications. My kids go the benadryl route though.
“Good luck with your son.”
LOL!!
Thanks...I need it!!
I figured...if I was in a situation where I was forced to take him on a flight...I would be well armed with his favorite snacks (do they allow you to bring food on now)
I wouldn’t be allowed to bring his favorite drinks..right?
(I haven’t flown since 1999)
I would bring good chewy snacks...licorice (last longer)...or sugar free lollipops.
I’d invest in the DVD player with headphones.
I think the DVDs would probably do the trick...but he is unpredictable.
Once you’re in the air, there’s no turning back.
“If she had told me to drug my child I would have had some rather harsh words for her too.”
Too bad this stewardess didn’t have to deal with my son when I made the mistake of giving him Benadryl.
That woulda taught her!
I drove from Detroit to Philly and back with 5 kids, while I was 7 months pregnant. That 7-month-old fetus is 25 years old now and has 2 kids.
“Fussy babies IMO do better when they cry themselves out.”
Definitely! Now they’re saying some of this stuff has killed some babies - too much sedation for their systems.
“My kids go the benadryl route though.”
Is my son the only one who gets psychotic on this stuff?
Believe me if I had known what was in store for me, with that train ride I would have driven there myself.
The back of the package warns of side effects that you mentioned.
Ok. I get it. Some kids get wired on Benadryl. Then don’t give it to them. But please don’t go the ‘drugging the kid’ route with 1/2-1 teaspoon of Benadryl for those who do well on it. It is relatively innocuous (for those who don’t have a reaction) and it helps the child. The term ‘drugging’ used to apply to DRUGS. Benadryl worked for my kid when he got fussy and he was much happier on long flights. And crying himself out only dehydrated him and that came with it’s own set of problems.
Seriously Scotswife, I do wish you luck. Nobody enjoys a fussy kid (including Mom) especially with all the restrictions now in place for flying. Bring lots of toys and you can get snacks, drinks and food after you pass through security. My last word. I’m out of here.
Good Seinfeld ref there Mr. Lucido! :)
You make me laugh more than anyone on FR!
The parents should either teach the child to behave or take another mode of transportation. Making hundreds of others suffer because you can not or will not control your child is rude. And yes I do have children and grandchildren. They were raised to behave.
Awww (blushing)
“One time he started grabbing pews and screaming “help me. She’s gonna spank me” as I hauled him to the bathroom. “
One of my friends had a daughter whose kindergarten had an Officer Friendly out to speak with the kids. He told them that if someone tried to snatch them, they needed to start yellng, “This is not my mother! I don’t know this person!”
Well, little princess acted up when she was at the mall with her mom, and her mom started to take her out to the car for a little attitude adjustment.
Guess what little princess started yelling.
> Really? My 4 year old used to act up in church. He knew he was going to get a spanking but I guess he figured it was worth it.
He’d turned the occasion into a transaction. And it sounds like he played brinkmanship, beautifully.
Now........how to deal with kids who play their portable DVD players loudly and without headphones???
I have yet to enjoy that.
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