Moms Admit To Medicating Kids For Peace And Quiet

Forget the time outs, more and more Moms are turning to meds for some quiet time. According to a survey done by the Today Show,one in five moms admit to giving their kids a dose of something strong before long trips or to ensure a good nights sleep.

Ok, I have to admit I've been on an 8 hour flight with toddler TWINS that screamed and cried the entire trip , and at some point I think the whole plane would have applauded that Mommy for slipping a little something into their bottles. But according to the survey, some moms are using this little trick on a normal basis just to ensure some "me time" for themselves. It's like motherhood sponsored by Benadryl. But what are the dangers involved ?

“The biggest risk is overdose or an adverse reaction,” Snyderman said.

Of course, there are other dangers: “Not all kids get drowsy on Benadryl,” Snyderman noted. “My kids used to get hyper on it. So it can backfire.”

But turning to medication just to get your kid to sleep indicates a deeper problem. “Every day is not OK. Drugs are never an OK substitute for parenting,” Snyderman said. “If a mother is drugging a kid that much, it’s a parenting issue.”

While this practice may not win you a Mother-of-the-year award experts say this practice doesn't really come from a place of anger but rather desperation. A few moms opened up about just why they resort to medicating their kids.

I give my younger daughter Benadryl and Tylenol almost every night – she loves the taste and begs for it.”

“I gave my child Benadryl to go to sleep – years later now, I am still embarrassed to admit it.”

“I gave my child Benadryl when he was mildly congested to guarantee he would fall asleep on time so I could get to bed at a decent hour.”

Yes, moms are stressed , sleep deprived and on edge but maybe it's time to send the kids to Grandma's house and open a bottle of wine instead a bottle of Benadryl. Click here to read more on this story.