The holidays are upon us again, and for many, that means packing up the family and visiting with family and friends. When you’re traveling with little ones, keeping everyone happy and healthy can be a bit of a challenge, particularly if you’re not prepared for the surprises that invariably crop up.
Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD and her team in Fountain Valley, California, are here to help with our suggestions for protecting your children through the changes of environment and scene that can be common with holiday travel. Scan through these tips and choose the ones that work best with your gang.
Some kids love the excitement of new places, others dread the break in routine. In both cases, it may mean a tough time keeping to regular bedtime schedules.
Take this into account when traveling and do what’s necessary to keep your little ones rested and recuperating. The downtime of sleep is a natural boost for their young immune systems.
Everyone in the family — everyone — must commit to the hygiene habit of washing hands. After coughing, sneezing, using the bathroom, getting dirty, being in public, and before eating, hand washing is a must.
Don’t forget hand sanitizer for travel. Choose sizes that suit your mode of travel, and use a product that’s at least 60% alcohol.
Fast food is convenient and, let’s face it, sometimes part of the fun of travel. However, there are usually nutritional compromises with an overreliance on restaurant meals. Provide easy and convenient snacks like cut veggies and bite-sized fruit to boost vitamin C levels. Whenever possible, try to keep mealtimes consistent, even if locations aren’t.
Drying out makes everyone miserable, regardless of age. That means a steady intake of water throughout the day. Once again, you’re seeking an immune system boost because the easiest viral infection to deal with is the one that your child’s immunity prevents.
It’s never too late to get your little one’s vaccinations up to date. Contact Dr. Tandon’s office to arrange flu shots and COVID-19 immunizations as well as any scheduled or missed regular vaccines.
Help your child form reasonable expectations by communicating in an age-appropriate way about your holiday plans. Sometimes, surprises are nice. Other times they can shake the foundations of a little one’s perception of the world.
Focus, of course, on the good things, but also prepare them for the unexpected and unplanned. They’ll be watching how you react to the unpredictability of holiday travel, so remember you always have an audience.
When juvenile illness crops up during the holidays, contact Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD, by phone or online, at the first sign of trouble.
