Traveling with Kids
The moment for which you were waiting so eagerly has finally arrived. It is vacation time, and yes, that means travel time. So ,traveling to another city or another country, especially with children, involves care and planning not only as regards finance and logistics but, more importantly health. Here, we will discuss “Traveling with Kids.“
The new and unfamiliar environment is likely to pose challenges and problems for health. But if one anticipates and prepares for them, most problems can be easily prevented So that you enjoy your vacation rather than running from clinic to clinic.
The following tips will help you to prepare kids for traveling.
Water
The clean and pure drinking water that is free of germs is still a pipe dream in many countries. You cannot possibly carry a month’s supply of bottled mineral water. So, when the drinking water at your vacation spot is of questionable quality, boil water before using it for drinking, cooking, or washing the mouth. You can carry an immersion coil that electrically boils water. Avoid using ice prepared from non-boiled water.
If you must use bottled mineral water, try to buy it from a major shop rather than a small roadside shop where there is a risk of getting fake or adulterated products.
Food
Try to eat home-cooked meals or eat at clean, well-known restaurants. Don’t eat at roadside food vendors.
Food should be well-cooked, hot, and freshly prepared. Don’t eat undercooked or cold meat, poultry, or fish. Avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables as they may carry germs even after you have washed them thoroughly in running water. Preferably, eat fruits, nuts, and vegetables peeled by yourself.
Weather
Pack clothes according to the anticipated weather conditions at the place you are visiting.
Choose light-weight, light-colored, and preferably cotton clothes for hot, sunny climates.
In places with very cold weather, dress in layers, with cotton on the inside and woolens on the outside, as layers make an insulation pad for the body. So, take woolen clothes like sweaters, overcoats, gloves, socks, and caps when traveling to cold places.
Insects
The insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, and flies are carriers of many infections. To prevent insect bites, take precautions like wearing long-sleeved clothes and shoes with socks, sleeping in sheltered, preferably air-conditioned rooms, and using protective bed nets and insect repellents (sprays, coils, mats, and creams).
Malaria, which is spreaded by mosquitoes, remains a major health risk in developing countries. Taking preventive medicines like chloroquine or mefloquine is one way of tackling this risk. Prophylaxis or prevention should start one week before traveling to an endemic area and continue for four weeks after returning, with a maximum of 12 weeks in all. The medicine needs to be taken once weekly, on the same day every week. For the correct dose and precautions, consult your doctor.
Medicines
Carry a well-stocked medicine box when you travel. Make sure to carry a doctor’s prescription to justify their presence in your luggage. Here is a list of what you should carry after discussing the specific details with your doctor:
· Paracetamol (for fever, mild pain and inflammation)
· Ibuprofen (for fever, severe pains and inflammation)
· Antihistaminic medicine (for colds, motion sickness, skin allergy, and insect bites)
· Antibiotic ointment or cream (for scrapes, cuts, and boils)
· Analgesic cream or spray (for muscle pains and sprains)
· Disposable readymade dressings (for small cuts and wounds)
· Insect repellents (Creams and sprays)
· Sun-protection creams, lotions, and sprays.
· Skin moisturizing cream or lotion
· Any regular medicines take for chronic problems such as thyroid problems, asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Vaccinations
Ensure that your child’s age-specific routine vaccinations are completed as per schedule before you start your journey.
In addition to regular vaccination, it is advisable to take vaccinations against typhoid, hepatitis A, and meningococcal meningitis when traveling to most developing countries. When traveling to Africa and South America, it is better to take a vaccine against yellow fever.
Vaccinate against influenza if you travel during the flu season. Specific vaccines against diseases such as cholera and Japanese encephalitis are advised if you are traveling to high-risk areas.
Jet Lag
Traveling across time zones in a relatively short period upsets the body’s rhythm and leads to jet lag. The affected person experiences severe exhaustion, irritability, sleeplessness, headache, body aches and sometimes even stomach upsets. To avoid jet lag, start adjusting to the anticipated schedule 2 to 3 days in advance.
You take the following precautions during lengthy flights:
· Drink plenty of fluids. Plain water and fruit juices are the best choices.
· You avoid beverages and fizzy drinks containing caffeine.
· You should stretch your body intermittently.
· Go for short walks.
· Eat light meals.
· Take small naps.
On reaching the destination, expose yourself to sunlight if possible and preferably schedule the 1st day for resting.
Motion Sickness
In motion sickness, a person in a moving vehicle starts feeling giddy and nauseated and often ends up vomiting. To avoid motion sickness. Keep in mind these tips:
· You should take light meals when traveling.
· Sit leaning slightly forward in the most stable part of a vehicle, which is the midsection of a bus or plane, the front of a boat or the front seat of a car, and the car seat in the back for the child.
· Fix your gaze at a stationary point on the horizon rather than looking at nearer objects that pass rapidly. Better still, keep your eyes closed or covered with dark glasses.
· Some anti-histaminic medicines are useful if taken 30-60 minutes before starting the journey. You consult your doctor about them.
Schedules
Make an itinerary that gives you enough time to relax and enjoy. Too tight a schedule with too many places to visit just leaves everyone exhausted and prone to illness.
If you are traveling with small babies, make an early request for comfortable seats and special meals at your travel agency. Use identity tags for every child.
Recreation
So, be sure to carry some of your children’s favorite toys, board games, card games, gadgets, and books, and keep them handy while traveling. Hopefully, that should keep the children happy and busy in their little world and give you time to relax and enjoy the journey.
Conclusion
In the above, we discussed in detail about ” Traveling with Kids”. The content is not taken from researched sources. So, you may not take it on priority.