8 Year Old with Anxiety About Flying

I don't know how long the flight is but:
Benadryl and a game boy. Magic.
Safe travels.

Hello Kari,I use to take my son a small toy or a teddy.Or try and take a book for her to read.

Hey there.
I didn't even realize that it was you that I was responding to. I have a very compact DVD player that will be easy to carry on the plane if you would like to borrow it.
Coli

Hi!
Happy Saturday! A few years ago when we flew with my son for the first time my older daughter made him a "vacation fun" book for the plane. She got coloring pages, found things online about disney,got a bunch of pamphlets,burnt cd's, put in family photos, made up trivia questions, word searches and even put in a pack of gum for ear popping while landing. She made little pockets to put things like crayons, his cd player the gum etc. inside. It really helped! Whenever he got anxious we just took the book out. Perhaps she can help you make it which might help to get her excited for the flight...we also showed him on the map where the plane would be flying over and counted how many states we would pass over, which got him excited. Hope this helps with the distraction. Have a great day!
H.

I was also going to say give your child some Benadryl to make him sleepy! Also I would also give him Dramamine or maybe just Dramamine because the 2 combined may not be the best idea (check with a pharmacist or your doctor). Dramamine helps with air sickness but also makes you drowsy.
Just explain to him/her that flying is perfectly safe & actually fun. Tell him/her that it is the safest way to travel and the pilot has everything under control.
Good luck & I hope all these great suggestions you have recieved will help & you have a pleasant flight. Enjoy or vacation.

I am in full agreement with Everymom. Benadryl and a little Dramamine will keep you and your child from being the two most hated people on the plane. The worst thing you can do is to combine his anxiety with air sickness -- it is a recipe for disaster and he will never get over it. You will have a struggle every flight you try to take again -- especially the trip back home!! Pack a backpack with activities, the DVD player, drugs, and above all DO NOT feed your son the Denny's Grand Slam breakfast. A light snack before the flight is fine, he does not need a full meal. Even if your child has never been motion/car sick, his anxiety could make him so. Also, the slightest sinus congestion that you may not even notice becomes 10 times worse in the air and can cause air sickness. The meds might just set his mind at ease knowing he will not get sick also. This method has worked for years with my two girls -- one of whom is a complete psycho about air travel.

We will be flying with our 4 yr/9 mo old daughter and 20 mo old daughter for the first time in a month. When I have asked around, I have been told that bringing a portable DVD player is worth everything it costs and more. Depending on how long the flight is--we are going to FL--you can get by with either one movie, or several episodes of a favorite show. Simply bring a few favorite DVD's and you should be set. :-)