Travel tips

We are approaching the time of year when many of my patients will be traveling.
I am commonly asked the question, “when is my baby old enough to fly?”
There are so many different factors to consider that there is no one simple answer.

I have some families with babies who are adopted or born to a surrogate out of state. These young infants often fly within the first week or so of life just to come home.

Other folks make the valid choice to fly way earlier that 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 months of age and have had their first set of immunizations. ( that 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.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE:
I get calls from all over planet from parents who are dealing with a sick child during their trip.
Before you leave home, 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 way easier to deal with than others.
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 “Plan B” in place

SURVIVING THE FLIGHT:
A few months 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.
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 Benedryl.
Benedryl is nice 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%.

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 like parents to have the tools with them to deal with an unhappy child. Don’t give any medication unless it is necessary.

Many babies and children can have trouble with their ears . For the younger ones, try to nurse or have them feeding during take off 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 3 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.

You can’t count on airlines giving you any reasonable snacks, so it is important to bring along enough provisions to count on delays.
For older kids make sure you have little activities to keep them busy.
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.

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 smoke working smoke detectors?





Time zones are tricky.
My best suggestion is eat when you are hungry, sleep when you are tired and just do your best.

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, so have safe travels, make great memories and remember that some of the roughest times make for the best stories!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Judy