It's that time of the year again when many of my patients and families are traveling.
Therefore,
it is time to dust off, tweak and rerun the travel post. Fully half of
the calls I took this week were from folks who were calling from a trip.
After listening to the list of symptoms and concerns, I would be all
set to say "Gee, it sound like you need to be seen for that" and the
caller would answer "but I am in Delaware/ Minnesota/ Timbuktu"
TRAVEL TIPS
"When
is my baby old enough to fly?" is a question that we hear all the time.
There are many different factors to consider, so there is no one
simple answer. Adopted babies might fly within the first few days on
their way to their new home. Other folks make the valid choice to fly
earlier than we are really comfortable with in order to see an aging
relative or deal with a family crisis.
In
ordinary circumstances, I would prefer to have the babies wait until
they are over 2 to 3 months of age and have had their first set of
immunizations (keep in mind that the first shot does NOT give full
protection against some serious illnesses, but it is a start.) The size
of the baby as well as the time of year are also factors. If there is
some kind of crazy flu epidemic, I would think long and hard before
taking a young baby on a plane. A few months ago we had that crazy
measles outbreak. Last fall we has the Enterovirus D68. Right now, (June
2015) unless you are heading to South Korea,
things seem reasonably quiet (knocking on wood as I type this.)
Regardless of how old your child is, if you are planning a trip here are
some tips and things to keep in mind.
Before you leave
I get calls from all over planet from parents who are dealing with a sick child during their trip.
Prior
to the trip, check with your insurance company to see what the best
method is for having out of state or international doctor visits
covered. Some plans are much easier to deal with than others. Whether
the visit is covered or paid for out of pocket, you also need to figure
out what your actual options are. Is there an urgent care facility near
by? Do you have a friend or relative with a pediatrician who is willing
to see patients who are not in their practice? Does your insurance only
cover an emergency room visit?
Hopefully
you won't need to use this info, but if you are dealing with a sick
child away from home it is nice to have a "Plan B" in place. If your
child has a history of wheezing, it is wise to bring the meds along even
if they haven't needed them in a while.
Surviving the flight
A
few years ago I sat next to a mom with a very young baby. She was so
worried about the possibility of getting evil looks from the other
passengers that she had actually brought ear plugs to hand out to the
people sitting around her. What she didn't have was
anything to soothe her baby. Please always make sure that you have
Tylenol or Motrin with you on the plane (not packed away in your
suitcase). It is okay to bring small bottles through security. They need
to be smaller than 3.5 ounces.I don't tend to give it ahead of time, but I am quick to medicate during the first sign of fussiness.
I often get questions about the use of Benadryl. This is an option for a child who is over 8 months with a long
flight ahead. It helps dry up any congestion and makes 90% of kids who
take it deliciously sleepy. Aha, but what about the other 10% you might
ask? It turns those little darlings into hyperactive, wild hooligans.
You do not want to find out on the plane that you are the parent of the
10%. There is no such thing as infant Benadryl, We use the children's
liquid generic name diphenhydramine.
Many
labels will warn not to give to children under 4. We routinely ignore
that. You may want to give a test dose a few days prior to the trip to
make sure it is a viable option for you.
I
want parents to have the tools with them to deal with an unhappy child.
Don't give any medication unless it is necessary. While I would usually
err on the side of less medication, Benadryl and Tylenol/Motrin can be
given at the same time.
Many
babies and children can have trouble with their ears . For the younger
ones, try to nurse or have them feeding during takeoff and landing.
Sucking on a pacifier may be helpful as well. Have a lollipop or chewing
gum for older kids. Ayr
saline gel is a nice thing to have along. A dab at the base of the
nostrils can moisturize the dry air and make the breathing easier (use
it for yourselves as well.)
If
you have a child with a history of ear trouble, have some of the little
gel heat packs in your bag. You can activate them as needed and the
warmth feels great to a sore ear.
Take
WAY more diapers with you than you think you need for the trip. I was
on another flight not too long ago when we sat on the tarmac for three
hours. There was an unfortunate family behind me who had planned on a
short little trip and was out of diapers long before we took off. It
wasn't pretty. Plan accordingly.
Many
folks automatically bring a change of clothes for their baby. It is
also worth bringing an extra outfit for yourself. If you have a long
flight ahead of you with a child on your lap, it may come in handy (I
learned that one the hard way and sat for several hours covered with
poop.)
Changing
your baby on the plane can be a challenge. It is helpful to have little
changing packs, with a diaper and some wipes, in individual zip lock
bags. This will prevent you from having to take the entire bulky diaper
bag with you into the tiny bathroom.
Bring some disinfectant wipes along and give the tray table and any surfaces a nice wipe down before you use them.
You
can't count on airlines giving you any reasonable snacks, so it is
important to bring along enough provisions in case of delays.
Download
some activities or shows ahead of time for your laptop or tablet. While
I am dreading the day when cell phone use is okay in flight, technology
has certainly made it much easier to keep your child entertained during
the journey. Don't forget about the old fashioned low tech options!
If
you are visiting family, print out a bunch of photos of the people you
are going to see. You can use these for all sorts of art projects on the
plane. Make a paper doll family! This can help your kids recognize
folks that they don't see too much of. Wikki sticks are also a great
activity to bring along. They are lightweight and not too messy.
Reusable stickers will stick on the window.
Once
you get to where you are going, make sure the place is adequately child
proofed (this is also a discussion that it is worth having with your
hosts before you get there). I had one situation just last year, where a
3 year old opened a drawer and got into grandma and grandpa's
medications.
Is there a pet where you are going? Make sure that any dogs are safe with children.
If you are staying in a vacation home, do a quick safety check. Do they have working smoke detectors? A fire extinguisher?
Time
zones are tricky. My best suggestion is eat when you are hungry, sleep
when you are tired and just do your best. Staying hydrated and getting
fresh air are essential. Sunshine is a bonus.
The
link above has wonderful information for dealing with jet lag. Even the
best sleepers may have a period of needing a sleep training tune up
when you get home.
You
can have lots of fun while you are away and it is wonderful to see
family. But, in my opinion, if you are traveling with children under the
age of seven, don't call it a vacation. It's not. It is a TRIP (we used
to call our visits to the various grandparents the "bad bed tour.")
A little preparation goes a long way and remember that some of the more challenging moments make for the best stories!
Here is one of mine..
Many
years ago when my daughter Lauren was two, I got creative as I was
planning for an upcoming flight as a solo parent. I had seen a craft in a
magazine (long before pinterest existed) where a necklace had been made
of cereal and I thought that that seemed like a fabulous thing for an
airplane trip. Unfortunately, not all ideas turn out to be good ones.
Lauren and I strung some Cheerios onto elastic and she proudly wore her
new necklace onto the plane. Soon after take-off Lauren decided to eat
some of the Cheerios. I noticed with some dismay that as she bit off a
Cheerio, some would go into her mouth while other parts would shoot off
like little spitty projectiles. They were landing (unnoticed by anyone
but me) on just about everyone within three rows of us. As soon as I
realized what was happening, I tried to see if there was a way for her
to nibble them off without making a mess. When that didn't work, I tried
to take the necklace off to make it easier or to have her stop eating
them at all. But as mentioned, she was two. My choices were clear...
tantrum on the plane or unsuspecting fellow passengers having little
pieces of spitty Cheerios in their hair.
I opted for peace (besides, ignorance is bliss, right?)
Have safe travels and make great memories
Thanks for sharing the useful info here. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteAndaman tour packages.