Reply #9: Ped's actually recommend the Benadryl trick, even today. [View All]

[Xithras]

When small children are having problems sleeping, and normal techniques like set bedtimes, diet adjustments, and quiet rooms don't work, many pediatricians will openly recommend giving your kid a dose of Benadryl before bedtime to help them fall asleep. It obviously shouldn't be a regular practice, but it's an effective and safe way to help adjust a child's sleep schedule.

I'm not defending this lady (NOBODY should be drugging kids without their parents knowledge and informed consent), but the practice is very common. At various times, and for different reasons, I did it with all three of my kids when they were little.