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Health & Fitness

Family Vacations: Traveling is Where the Adventure Begins

Whether by car or by plane, traveling with children can be stressful. With several years of experience under my belt I have some tips that can make your trip smoother.

We’re getting ready to head out of town and that’s no small task with three active kids. Fortunately, my husband, Frank, is very organized. Our kids, ages 11, 9 and 6, have traveled since they were very young and they love it. Still, whether by car or by plane, traveling with children can be stressful. With several years of experience under my belt I have some tips that can make your trip smoother.

Keep Them Entertained and Occupied

Keeping kids crammed in a car or plane entertained can be one of the toughest parts of traveling. Boredom is a family travel hazard. Waiting for flights or on the long drive to grandma's house the experience is filled with cries of, "Are we there yet?”  My husband says that the man who invented the in-car DVD player should have won a Nobel Peace prize.

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Variety is the Spice of Traveling with Kids

You can bring books, toys, movies, iPods and other electronics, and writing and drawing supplies. Don't forget extra batteries and charger packs for the DS, iPods and iPads or else you will have a very upset preteen or teen. If you have a reading device, add in some new e-books. Also, make sure you download podcasts and movies that they are eager to watch. Remember to bring extra headsets as they tend to get lost or broken easily.

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Get New, Cheap Items Near Home as Surprises

On our last trip, I found myself wishing I had stopped at the Dollar Store to loaded up on inexpensive goodies while looking at overpriced sketch pads and crayons in a bookstore at an airport. Look at local stores for small travel games and toys. My Favorite Toy Store in downtown Elmhurst has a fun assortment of travel games and magnetic story boards. Entertainment can be as simple as a deck of cards so the kids can play Go Fish, War and Solitaire. For the littlest ones, bring comfort items like favorite toys, stuffed animals, pacifiers and blankets.

Keep them Fed

Pack a cooler or a hamper full of nutritious snacks such as fruit, cut up vegetables, drinks, crackers, sandwiches and fruit snacks. This will be a nice antidote to fast food or gas station snacks.

On a plane you are much more limited on space so bring a few snacks that are worthwhile. Gone are the days when airlines pass out food, with the exception of Jet Blue and international flights. I typically bring along cereal and granola bars, fruit snacks and roll ups, oranges and trail mix. I also like individual drink mixes to add to water. My children have been happy so far!

First Aid Kit

You never know what vacation may bring so be prepared. Here are some things to pack in a family first-aid kit:

  • Bring basic medications for pain, fever reducers and the sniffles. 
  • Keep a healthy stash of Band-aids and tissue. 
  • Dramamine works well for children with motion sickness who are 10 and older, and Benadryl can be used for all ages.
  • Afterbite is a great itch eraser for mosquito stings and can be found in most pharmacies. Just be aware of the immediate sting after initially applying the medication.
  • Bring hydrocortisone for application to itchy rashes.
  • Bring sunscreen too, in small 3-ounce containers to adhere to FAA regulations.
  • Don't forget bug spray with less than 10 percent DEET if you are going to a wooded/insect laden area.
  • Also bring a powdered electrolyte solution that is reconstituted into a pedialyte solution. This is invaluable if your children come down with stomach flu on a trip.
  • Pack prescription medications. Please don't ask your pediatrician to call in a new antibiotic prescription while you are on vacation. This impacts our ability to provide accurate medical care for your child.  If you have prescription medications, make sure you have enough for your trip. I've had to explain to parents I am not licensed in Mexico and cannot call in a prescription. Avoid an unnecessary trip to the doctor at your vacation destination by bringing clearly labeled medications.

Travel as Lightly as You Can

If you travel by air, you know about the baggage fees. This makes it more appealing to bring only carry-on luggage. This can be tricky with children, especially the littlest ones who require more equipment than most sports teams. Having navigated security with strollers, car seats and booster seats, I know it takes stamina to get your luggage and family through without losing something, especially your mind. Now that my kids are older they can roll a suitcase (yes!) so this makes travel infinitely easier.

The best advice I can give is plan to do laundry on the trip. My general rule is to bring three days’ worth of clothes (not including what you wear when you travel) plus one extra outfit for spills and accidents. I pack the most comfortable and least wrinkly clothes for the kids. For laundry, 3-in-1 laundry sheets are terrific. They are laundry detergent, softener and dryer sheets rolled into one light, spill-free, compact package.

International Travel

For those of you traveling internationally, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a great site: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/vaccinations.htm. It gives detailed information such as what additional vaccines are needed for certain countries and basic out-of-country travel tips.

Destinations like western Europe, Canada and the Caribbean typically do not require additional vaccinations, but it's a good idea to look at the CDC site to confirm.

Most hospitals have a travel clinic including mine, Loyola University Medical Center. Travel vaccines are typically out-of-pocket expenses but are worth the money. The hepatitis A vaccine is routinely given to children and I recommend it for adults who travel as well. This vaccine protects against a virus transmissible through contaminated food and water.

When overseas I learned from my mom:

  • Not to drink tap water
  • Be wary of ice
  • Not to eat uncooked street food
  • Bring tissues (just in case the bathrooms run out of paper).

So far, she's been right and I've been thankful for her advice. My sister's friends learned the hard way not to eat Peruvian guinea pig prior to a plane flight. Make sure everything is well cooked and bring a small bottle of antibacterial soap, just in case. A little caution goes a long way to keep you and your kids healthy on your trip. 

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