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Long haul flights with children
We are taking our children, aged five and seven, on a long haul flight to Australia. We want them to be able to sleep but do not want to use drugs to “sedate” them. Have you any suggestions?
Passionflower is a mild relaxant herb that is safe to give to children over the age of four. If you cannot persuade them to take it as a tea that you can make up in advance and keep in a flask, use an organic tincture instead. Skullcap is another very effective relaxant which also works quickly in tincture form but which should only be given to children aged six and over.
A glass of warm milk can also help an overexcited child sleep. Firstly, it provides calcium which not many people realise is a potent sleep inducer and secondly, it is an excellent source of a calming amino acid called tryptophan which helps stablise mood and which will also help alleviate some of the stress of travelling.
It goes without saying (almost) that you need to avoid giving your children any of the dietary stimulants that will keep them awake on the flight. These include any foods or drinks that contain caffeine, refined sugars and chocolate. Foods that will help a child to sleep, despite the disruption to their routine, include bananas, fish, dates, milk and turkey all of which are again rich in tryptophan. You could then choose to pack your own picnic for the children, instead of relying on the meals provided mid-flight.
Children respond fantastically well to homeopathic remedies and while you will always get the best results by consulting a qualified homeopath who can make what is called a constitutional diagnosis before prescribing for specific circumstances, if you are looking for an over-the-counter remedy, Coffea cruda (homeopathic coffee) can help relieve both the nerves and excitement that may be interfering with normal sleep patterns. This may sound unlikely but remember the basic tenet with homeopathy is that like cures like.
*You may have problems finding an alcohol-free passionflower tincture on the high street. If so, call Revital (0800-252875). 30 ml costs £9.95. For mail order homeopathic supplies, call Ainsworths on 0207-935 5330.