Can benadryl (diphenhydramine) or gravol be used to make a baby sleep?

Putting babyto sleep: Please do not use any sleeping aid to put any baby to sleep. Using medication to induce and maintain a baby''s sleep is the same as an adult relying on a sleeping pill to go to sleep. There are many, many natural ways to put a baby/child to sleep. Ask your pediatrician for a thorough discussion (not possible in this forum) or read ferber's book - solving your child's sleep problems.

Not recommended: Gravol is particularly problematic because it contains a stimulant in addition to diphenhydramine that would have unpredictable and possibly deleterious effects on infants. Generally, diphenhydramine is not recommended for infants less than 12 months of age. Better to consult your pediatrician about the sleep problem and see if an underlying cause can be identified.

Quick fixes: Frustration has led many a parent to drug babies. I remember caring for one with opioid overdose as a student ( Baby Percy for colic) but the sleep thing is similar. Benadryl is the main ingredient of adult sleep preparations but it has no place in infants or children. It does drug them down but it interferes with deep sleep patterns making the sleep quality poor. It worsens things long term.