Traveling with Children

Traveling With Children

Traveling with children presents special challenges. It disrupts familiar routines and imposes new demands.
Planning ahead and involve children in the planning….
…may lessen the stress of travel.

Here are the Recommendations

Before you leave, check with your physician. Children often have special medical concerns. The doctor can also advise you about medicines you might need if your child becomes ill. Know the dosage of common medicines for colds, allergic reactions, or flu.
Traveling by PLANES, TRAINS or BUSES
Bring snacks and familiar foods along. This helps when travel delays meals or when the available meals don't suit the child's needs. Small crackers, cereals, and string cheese make good snacks. Some children can eat fruit without problems. Cookies and sugared cereals make for sticky children.
Take premixed formula for babies. On airplanes, the flight attendants can warm it for you. Small jars of baby food travel well. They have little waste and you can dispose of them easily. Unless you are certain you can clean utensils, opt for disposables.
Airline meals may not appeal to all children. Many airlines offer special meals such as fruit and cheese if you request it at least 1 - 2 days ahead of time. Air travel tends to dehydrate people. Drink plenty of water. Women who are nursing need to consume more fluids. Children often have trouble with pressure changes at takeoff and landing. Chewing sugar free gum when taking off and landing helps equalize ear pressure. Most children can learn to do this at about age 3. Bottles (for infants), drinking beverages, and sucking on pacifiers can also help prevent ear pain.


EATING OUT

Try to maintain your normal meal and sleep schedule. Ask that your child be served first (try a snack from the menu or bring something to munch on). If you call ahead, some restaurants may be able to prepare special kid's meals.
Encourage children to eat normally, but realize that a "poor" diet won't hurt for a few days.
Check food for safety (see traveler's diarrhea for information on E. coli and giardiasis).

Giardia; Traveler's diarrhea - giardiasis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Giardia outbreaks can occur in communities in both developed and developing countries where water supplies become contaminated with raw sewage. It can be contracted by drinking water from lakes or streams, where water-dwelling animals such as beavers and muskrats, or domestic animals such as sheep, have caused contamination. It is also spread by direct person-to-person contact, which has caused outbreaks in institutions such as day-care centers.
Travelers are at risk for giardiasis throughout the world. Campers and hikers are at risk if they drink untreated water from streams and lakes. Other risk factors include unprotected anal sex, exposure to a family member with giardiasis, and institutional (day-care or nursing home) exposure. There has been an increase in cases in the last few years.
The most common cause of diarrhea is viral gastroenteritis, a mild viral infection that goes away on its own within a few days. This condition is often called the stomach flu. Viral gastroenteritis often occurs in mini-epidemics in schools, neighborhoods, or families.
Food poisoning and traveler's diarrhea are two other common causes of diarrhea. They occur as a result of eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria or parasites.
Medications, especially antibiotics, laxatives containing magnesium, and chemotherapy for cancer treatment, can also cause diarrhea.

The most common cause of diarrhea is a mild viral infection that resolves on its own within a few days, usually known as the "stomach flu". Two other common causes of diarrhea are from food poisoning and traveler's diarrhea. They occur from eating food or drinking water contaminated with organisms like bacteria and parasites. Medications can also cause diarrhea, especially antibiotics, laxatives containing magnesium, and chemotherapy for cancer treatment.

Here are the TIPS
· Drink plenty of fluid to avoid becoming dehydrated. Start with sips of any fluid other than caffeinated beverages. Milk may prolong loose stools, but also provides needed fluids and nourishment. Drinking milk may be fine for mild diarrhea. For moderate and severe diarrhea, electrolyte solutions available in drugstores are usually best.
· Active cultures of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) make diarrhea less severe and shorten its duration. Probiotics can be found in yogurt with active or live cultures and in supplements.
· Foods like rice, dry toast, and bananas can sometimes help with diarrhea.
· Avoid over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medications unless specifically instructed to use one by your doctor. Certain infections can be made worse by these drugs. When you have diarrhea, your body is trying to get rid of whatever food, virus, or other bug is causing it. The medicine interferes with this process.
· Rest.

Prevention
· Wash your hands often, especially after going to the bathroom and before eating.
· Teach children to not put objects in their mouth.
· When taking antibiotics, try eating food with Lactobacillus acidophilus, a healthy bacteria. This helps replenish the good bacteria that antibiotics can kill. Yogurt with active or live cultures is a good source of this good bacteria.
· Use alcohol-based hand gel frequently.
When traveling to underdeveloped areas, follow the steps below to avoid diarrhea:
· Drink only bottled water and DO NOT use ice.
· DO NOT eat uncooked vegetables or fruit that do not have peels.
· DO NOT eat raw shellfish or undercooked meat.
· DO NOT consume dairy products.

ADDITIONAL HELP
Many travel clubs and agencies offer suggestions for traveling with children. Check with them. Remember to ask airlines, train, or bus companies and hotels for guidance and assistance.
For foreign travel, check with embassies or consulate offices. Many guide books list organizations that help travelers.

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY….