Travelling with Children

by Julie Duhame

Remember the days before kids when a vacation meant grabbing your keys, a bag and off you went? Travelling with children might take a little more planning. Consider these tips to make your next holiday safe and relaxing for the whole family.

Imagine the Trip Through Your Child’s Eyes
Anticipate your child’s needs and limits. Line-ups, hours spent driving or flying, hectic schedules, delayed meals and disrupted routines are hard on everyone, but especially on children. One way to help calm stress is to explain the unknown. Mark off on a calendar when you are leaving, show pictures and describe what you will see and eat, where you will sleep, and what the climate, noise and crowds will be like.

Bring a bag of activities and diversions. Familiar toys and comfort items—plus a surprise or two—are reassuring and fun. Favourites include crayons and paper, puzzles, books and music.

Play games together. Remember “I Spy With My Little Eye,” “I’m thinking of something that starts with the letter A,” or counting games (e.g. cows, signs, license plates)? Songs, rhymes and made-up stories not only pass the time but make happy childhood memories.

Bring snacks. Children can find it hard to wait for meals or to enjoy unfamiliar foods. Bring snacks and water so they can nibble when they need to. Fruit, veggies, rice cakes, dried fruit, fruit cups, applesauce, crackers or small boxes of dry cereal are healthy, yummy and portable.

Road Trips
Check your child’s weight to ensure they are in the right car seat. In B.C., children must be in a rear-facing car seat until they are one year and at least 20 lbs. After their first birthday, toddlers weighing 20-40 lbs ride in a forward-facing car seat. Booster seats are for children over 40 lbs until they reach their ninth birthday, or are 4'9" in height. Car seat laws vary amongst provinces and countries so know the rules of where you are going. If you are flying and need a car seat at your destination, it may be possible to rent one. Safety standards could be lower outside Canada so you might find it best to bring your own.

Airplane Trips
Check your airline’s regulations for travelling with children. Generally, children under two years travel free on a parent’s lap. If you prefer not to have a busy baby on your lap, ask if you can reserve a bassinet—a miniature crib that attaches to the airplane for babies up to 20-25 lbs. You can also buy a seat for your child, but if they are under two years old, you will need to bring their car seat. It must fit within the armrests of the airplane seat, be secured with the seat belt, and be approved for use by Transport Canada (look for the maple leaf mark). Children two to 12 years old are not required to be in a child car seat. You might want to buy a harness restraint system for toddlers and older children; a harness keeps children safely in their seats and fits better than a regular seatbelt.

Health Needs
Complete a family health check:

• Make sure that your child is up to date with all immunizations. For international travel, find out if your child needs extra immunizations or if any immunizations should be given early.

• Bring prescription medication in its original labeled container and a copy of the prescription.

• Remember your health care card and any extended health plan cards.

• Assemble a traveler’s first aid kit, including favourite band-aids, anti-motion sickness tablets, antihistamines, fever medicine, and insect repellant.

Remember that hand washing is your most important defense against illness: wash hands frequently, especially before eating and use hand sanitizer for quick clean-ups.

Travelling in the Heat
Keep children well-hydrated and cool. Young children do not sweat and regulate heat as well as adults and can quickly suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and shock. The following tips will help keep them safe:

• Stay out of midday and direct sun. Play in the shade.

• Give lots of fluids, breast milk or water. Once a child is thirsty they are already getting dehydrated.

• Wear UVA/UVB sun block with SPF of at least 30, re-apply often, and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

• Never leave a child in a parked car—on a hot day the temperature inside a closed car can reach 50° C (122° F) within 10 minutes.

• Cover car seats with a blanket when parked in the hot sun. Metal buckles on car seat straps can cause a burn when heated.

Scheduling
Don’t over-schedule. Coordinate travel with naps and meals and allow extra time for rest and unstructured play. Remember that while you can do your best to prepare for a relaxing holiday, the unexpected does happen—try to roll with it. Happy travels!

For additional information check out the Traveler’s series on Health Link BC: www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/series.stm.

Julie Duhame is a Public Health Nurse at the Peninsula Health Unit, Vancouver Island Health Authority, South Island.