In these days of limited liquids in airline travel, a mom with the need to feel prepared should start considering tablet medications.

Most aren’t as cost-effective as the bottles of liquid meds, but for the comfort of having them on your person, it works for me.

They’ll even work for your kids under-two:

Just call your local pharmacy and ask for the proper dosage of your product. They’ll ask how much of each active ingredient and let you know what you can do.

For my almost 2-year-old, the dose has been half of big-sisters’ dose for more than a year. This has reduced the amount I need to carry by letting one product serve for all three kids.

The List of what we found to bring in the carry-on for the latest trip (NOTE: these are only safe if your child knows how to chew. Our boy gets 1/2 a child’s vitamin most days, so he’s had the practice).

• Children’s Sudafed Nasal Decongestant chewables
  • I always give these to my kids before we board a plane, because I always take the adult version myself. (Seems to help with the pressure-changes)
• Children’s Benadryl allergy chewables
  • Useful in case of a surprise reaction to something. We rarely need it, but when we do, we’re really glad to have it.
  • Some people give this product to their kids before boarding because they hope it will settle them down.
    • I don’t. I feel it falls into the unnecessary meds catigory and avoid it. (Some parents insist it is necessary for their kid. I’m not even trying to make that call.)
    • People hoping to use this method should be sure to check its affect before flight-day: some kids get *wired* by it instead of mellowed. You’ve been warned.
• Triaminic Softchews: Cough and runny nose
  • This wouldn’t have made the list except we had just been through a bout of *yucks* and all my kids responded well to cough medicine.
  • Studies lately have insisted cough remedies are mostly snake-oil (medically ineffective). Just know-your-kid and what works.
• Infants’ ibuprophen oral suspention
  • Normally I insist this is unnecessary after 6-months (assuming you child will swallow), but when liquid-space is at a premium, double-strong meds are worth it.
  • I always buy the store-brand. Significantly cheaper.

Happy traveling, here’s to hoping all your med-prep proves unnecessary. :D