A Complete Guide for Traveling with Kids
The Importance of Travel Health for Families
Planning a family vacation from Newton or the Greater Boston area? Whether you’re heading up to the White Mountains, down to Cape Cod, or flying abroad, preparing for your children’s health and safety is key to a stress-free trip. Families in Newton, Boston, and throughout Massachusetts can use this guide to make travel with kids easier, from managing motion sickness to choosing the right sunscreen and staying healthy wherever your adventures take you.
Motion Sickness: Prevention and Remedies
- If your child suffers from motion sickness, consider traveling at a time when they typically nap to reduce the likelihood of motion sickness occurring.
- Encourage your child to look out the front window at the horizon rather than focusing on books or screens.
- For children 12 years of age or older, have your child sit in the front passenger seat.
- For children under 12 years old, have your child sit in the middle of the back seat, as this helps them look straight ahead toward the horizon.
- Offer small, bland snacks (like crackers) before and during travel, and avoid heavy, greasy meals.
- Keep the car well-ventilated and take regular breaks to get fresh air.
- Distraction can help your child focus less on the symptoms of motion sickness – try singing songs, telling stories, etc.
- Consider child-safe motion sickness remedies, such as acupressure bands and/or, if recommended by your pediatrician, over-the-counter medications like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine for Kids), which can be used for children over the age of 2 years.
- For acupressure bands, the pressure button should be placed over the center of the inside of the wrist.
- For Dramamine, the 1st dose should be taken at least 30-60 minutes before travel.
- Carry Ziploc plastic bags for vomiting emergencies.
- If your child does become sick, provide a cool cloth for their forehead, encourage sips of water, and stop for a break whenever possible.
Managing Motion Sickness on Boats or Cruises
- Choose cabins located in the middle of the ship and lower decks, where there is less motion.
- Encourage children to stay on deck and focus on the horizon, as fresh air and stable visuals can help reduce symptoms.
- Encourage rest in a cool, well-ventilated area if symptoms arise. Lying down and closing the eyes can help reset the inner ear’s sense of balance.
Managing Motion Sickness on Airplanes
- Try to obtain a seat near the wings or center of the plane, as turbulence tends to be felt less in this area.
Sunscreen: Choosing and Applying for Sun Safety
- Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Look for formulas designed for children and those labeled “water-resistant.”
- Mineral-based (physical) sunscreens with active ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are generally preferred for infants and young children, as they are less likely to cause skin irritation and begin protecting immediately upon application. These sunscreens physically block both UVA and UVB rays.
- Chemical sunscreens (with ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, or octinoxate) are also effective but may be more likely to irritate sensitive skin. Always check with your pediatrician if your child has eczema or allergies.
- For babies under 6 months old, it’s best to avoid direct sunlight and use protective clothing and hats. If sun exposure is unavoidable, a small amount of mineral-based sunscreen can be applied to limited areas, such as the face, the backs of the hands, and the feet.
- Apply sunscreen generously at least 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
- Don’t forget often-missed spots like ears, tops of feet, the back of the neck, and the scalp, especially for children with thin hair.
- Before using a new sunscreen on your child, do a patch test by applying a small amount to a limited area of skin, such as the inside of the forearm. Wait 24 hours to check for any redness, rash, or irritation before applying it more broadly.
- Use hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing for extra sun safety, and seek shade during peak midday hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
- Apply sunscreen even on cloudy days or when sitting in the shade, as some UV still gets through!
Mosquito Protection: Repellents, Clothing, and Managing Bites
- Using insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or, if your child is older than 3 years of age, oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always follow age guidelines and application instructions. Choose products in the form of sticks, lotions, or unpressurized sprays
- Do not use DEET on infants under 2 months old; for younger infants, use physical barriers such as nets.
- Do not place DEET on your child’s hands.
- Apply DEET no more than once a day.
- When used on children, insect repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET.
- If using a separate sunscreen product, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
- Dressing children in long sleeves, pants, socks, and closed shoes, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Light-colored clothing is less attractive to mosquitoes.
- Staying in accommodations with screened windows or air conditioning.
- Using mosquito nets over beds, cribs, and strollers in high-risk areas.
- Avoid scented lotions or soaps that can attract mosquitoes.
If your child gets bitten:
- Wash the bite area gently with soap and water to reduce infection risk.
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and soothe itching.
- Use over-the-counter anti-itch creams (such as hydrocortisone) or oral antihistamines (loratadine or cetirizine) if recommended by your doctor.
- Discourage scratching to prevent secondary infection. Keep your child’s nails short and consider using cotton gloves at night if scratching is a problem.
- Monitor for signs of infection (increased redness, swelling, and pus) or an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, widespread rash) and seek medical care if these symptoms occur.
Water Safety: Swimming and Drinking Water Precautions
- Always supervise children when swimming, even in shallow water or pools with lifeguards. If your child is not a confident swimmer, consider enrolling them in swimming lessons well in advance of your trip to help ensure their safety and comfort around water.
- Use life jackets for boating and water sports, and consider swim lessons before your trip.
- In countries where tap water isn’t safe, use bottled or boiled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and mixing formula. Avoid ice and raw foods that have been washed in tap water.
Hydration: Recognizing Dehydration and Staying Hydrated
- Encourage regular sips of water throughout the day. Don’t wait for your child to say they’re thirsty.
- Offer water-rich foods, such as fruits (watermelon, oranges, grapes), as snacks.
- Watch for signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, dark urine, fatigue, or irritability. If you notice these, increase fluids and seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
- Pack oral rehydration solutions, such as Pedialyte packets, in your travel health kit. These are easy to mix with clean water and can help restore electrolytes if your child shows signs of dehydration due to heat, illness, or diarrhea. They are especially useful for international travel, where quick access to medical care may be limited.
Sleep: Maintaining Routines and Managing Jet Lag
- Try to stick to familiar bedtime routines, such as reading a story or using a favorite blanket or toy.
- Gradually adjust to new time zones by shifting sleep and mealtimes before you travel.
- Encouraging outdoor activity during daylight hours to help reset your child’s internal clock.
- Bring earplugs or white noise apps to help your child sleep in unfamiliar environments.
Nutrition: Healthy Snacks and Eating Safely Abroad
- Pack portable, nutritious snacks such as whole grain crackers, fruit, cheese sticks, or nut butter (check airline or border restrictions).
- When traveling internationally, opt for cooked foods served hot and fruits you can peel yourself. Avoid raw or undercooked meats, unpasteurized dairy, and street food if the source isn’t trustworthy.
- Encourage kids to try new foods, but have familiar snacks on hand in case of picky eaters or food sensitivities.
Traveling with Formula or Breast Milk
- Plan ahead to ensure safe storage and preparation of formula or expressed breast milk during your trip.
- Pack enough pre-measured formula or breast milk for the journey, plus extra in case of travel delays.
- Use insulated cooler bags with ice packs to keep milk at a safe temperature until needed.
- Bring sterile bottles, nipples, and all necessary feeding supplies.
- When flying, formula, breast milk, and infant juice are permitted through airport security in reasonable quantities—notify TSA officers at the checkpoint.
- Always use clean, safe water to mix formula, and wash hands or use hand sanitizer before preparing feeds.
- Freshly expressed breast milk can be safely kept at room temperature (up to 77°F or 25°C) for up to four hours. If your journey extends beyond this window, use an insulated cooler bag with ice packs to keep breast milk at a safe temperature until it can be refrigerated or used.
Medications and First Aid: Packing Essentials
Managing medications and being ready for minor injuries while traveling requires planning.
Pack a well-stocked travel health kit that includes:
- Band-Aids (various sizes) for cuts and scrapes.
- Steri strips for closing small wounds.
- Antibiotic ointment for reducing infection risk.
- Moleskin for blister prevention and care.
- An ace bandage for sprains or support.
- Acetaminophen and ibuprofen for pain or fever, in child-safe forms.
- A digital thermometer to monitor for fever.
- Over-the-counter flu and COVID-19 tests.
- Prescription medications in original containers, along with copies of prescriptions and a list of generic names (keep all prescription medications with you in your hand luggage if traveling by plane).
- Oral rehydration solution packets like Pedialyte.
- Saline eye drops to soothe irritated eyes caused by travel, dust, or allergens.
- Saline nasal spray to relieve dryness and congestion, especially when flying or visiting dry climates.
- Cortisone to help with itching that can occur with mosquito bites.
- Children’s antihistamine (loratadine or cetirizine) to help with itching that can occur with mosquito bites and allergic reactions.
- Acupressure bands and/or, if recommended by your pediatrician, over-the-counter medications like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine for Kids), which can be used for children over the age of 2 years.
If your child gets an abrasion or scrape, always wash the wound thoroughly with clean water before applying a bandage or ointment. This helps remove dirt and lowers the risk of infection. Monitor for signs of possible infection, including spreading redness, warmth, and pus-like drainage.
Managing Medications While Traveling:
Before you travel
- Check the label and consult your child’s pediatrician or pharmacist for further guidance.
Ask whether the medicine must stay between 2–8 °C (36–46 °F), or if it can tolerate room temperature briefly. Some medications for children (like liquid antibiotics) may be safe at room temperature for short periods, while others (such as insulin) are not. - Keep medications in their original containers, with the prescription labels still attached.
This helps with proper identification and avoids confusion at airport security. - Carry all medicines in your hand luggage; never put them in checked bags or a car trunk. Checked luggage and car boots can become extremely hot or cold.
- Bring a copy of your child’s prescriptions and a doctor’s note if flying internationally or carrying syringes, insulin pens, or cooling packs.
- Bring several days' worth of your child’s medications, in case of a travel delay.
For medications that must stay cool:
- Use a small insulated medical cooler or travel bag designed specifically for medicines (for example, Frio® or MedAngel® packs).
- Place ice or gel packs around the medication, but do not let them touch it directly. Wrap the medicine in a soft cloth first to prevent damage from freezing.
- Consider temperature monitoring strips or sensors to ensure the inside of the cooler stays within the safe range.
- Keep the cooler out of direct sunlight and never leave it in a parked car, where temperatures can quickly rise above 38 °C (100 °F)
During travel
- On flights: Ask the cabin crew if refrigeration is available for medicines. Some airlines will accommodate medical needs.
- In cars: Keep medications inside the air-conditioned cabin, not the boot.
- During long stops or layovers: Re-chill or replace ice packs using available facilities or cold bottled water.
At your destination
- Check that the refrigerator in your hotel or accommodation maintains a temperature between 2–8 °C (36–46 °F).
- If a fridge isn’t available, request medical storage at the reception desk. Most hotels are willing to provide a small medical refrigerator for prescription medications.
- Store all medications safely out of children’s reach.
Managing Medications with Time Changes
- Before traveling across time zones, consult your child’s pediatrician or pharmacist for precise guidance, especially for medications that must be taken at specific intervals (e.g., anti-seizure drugs, insulin, antibiotics).
- Gradually adjust medication times by shifting doses an hour earlier or later each day before you travel, aiming to align with your destination’s schedule.
- Keep a written medication schedule that notes both your home and destination time zones to avoid missed or doubled doses.
- Set phone alarms or reminders in your new time zone and bring extra doses in case of delays or lost luggage.
- For less time-sensitive medications, it may be possible to adjust the schedule on arrival, but always confirm with your child’s pediatrician.
Managing Ear Pain During Airplane Travel
Ear pain during takeoff and landing is common for children due to changes in air pressure.
- Help relieve discomfort by encouraging your child to swallow often—offer drinks, nurse, let them suck on a pacifier, or provide age-appropriate snacks or gum. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend giving children under the age of 5 years gum as this can pose a choking risk.
- For infants, feeding during ascent and descent is especially effective at reducing ear pain.
- If your child is congested from a cold or allergies, use a saline nasal spray or, if recommended by your pediatrician, a decongestant before the flight.
- Consider over-the-counter pain relief, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if ear pain persists.
- If ear pain continues after flying or is accompanied by fever or drainage, call your pediatrician, as your child may need to be seen locally for further assessment.
Finding a Doctor While Traveling
When traveling in the United States:
- You can locate doctors through your health insurance provider’s website or app, which often lists in-network medical facilities and urgent care centers nearby.
- Pharmacies can provide local recommendations for medical care.
- Hotel concierges can also suggest reputable local medical providers.
When traveling outside the United States:
- If you need medical care abroad, check with your embassy or consulate for lists of trusted providers, or ask your hotel for reputable clinics. Many travel health insurance plans include a 24/7 helpline that can assist in finding English-speaking doctors and arranging care in unfamiliar locations.
- Some countries offer telemedicine services with local pediatricians.
Consider Travel Insurance for International Trips
- When traveling outside the US, it’s wise to consider purchasing travel insurance that includes medical coverage. Standard US health insurance may not cover overseas treatment, and travel insurance can help with unexpected medical expenses, emergency evacuation, and trip cancellations.
- Review the policy to ensure it covers pre-existing conditions, children’s needs, and any planned adventure activities.
- Carry your insurance card and policy details with you and make sure all family members know how to reach the insurance provider in case of emergency.
Vaccines for Travel: Planning Ahead
Before traveling with your children, it’s essential to consider the recommended and required vaccinations for your destination.
Domestic travel
- Ask your pediatrician about routine vaccines (like MMR and influenza) to make sure your child is up to date.
International travel
Some countries require proof of certain vaccines, such as yellow fever, before entering, and others may have a higher risk of diseases not common in the United States (like typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, or rabies).
- Contact your child’s pediatrician or a travel medicine clinic well in advance of your trip, ideally at least 6–8 weeks before departure. This gives you time to schedule needed shots and allows for multi-dose vaccines when appropriate.
- Some vaccines, such as yellow fever, are not always in stock at every clinic. Advance notice helps you locate a certified center and complete the vaccine series before travel.
- Bring your child’s vaccine records with you when you travel, as you may be asked for proof at certain border crossings or clinics.
- Ask your pediatrician about routine vaccines (like MMR, polio, and influenza) to make sure your child is up to date, in addition to any special travel vaccines.
Traveling to an International location where Malaria may be present
- If you are traveling to a country where malaria is present, talk to your child’s healthcare provider about preventative medications, commonly called antimalarials. These medicines are prescribed based on your destination, your child’s age, and their health history.
- It’s important to start some malaria medications before you leave, continue them during your trip, and for a period after returning home, as directed by your provider.
- Be sure to ask about possible side effects and how to ensure your child takes the medication correctly.
- In addition to taking medicine, always use insect repellent, dress your child in long-sleeved shirts and pants, and sleep under a mosquito net when appropriate.
- Taking these steps together greatly reduces the risk of malaria while traveling.
Traveling to High Altitude Destinations
Consult your child’s healthcare provider before visiting high-altitude locations (generally above 8,000 feet) to discuss individual risks and proper preparation.
- Be aware that children are more susceptible to altitude sickness, which may present as headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, or trouble sleeping.
- If your child has a heart or lung condition, consult with your child’s pediatrician in advance of travel, as certain conditions make it more likely that a child may need supplemental oxygen.
- Allow time for gradual acclimatization:
- Ascend slowly if possible—plan to spend a few days at an intermediate altitude before reaching your final destination.
- Avoid strenuous activity for the first 1–2 days after arrival at high altitude to give your child’s body time to adjust.
- If traveling by car, consider overnight stops at lower elevations along the way.
- Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids—preferably water—and avoid drinks with caffeine or high sugar content, which can contribute to dehydration.
- Offer small, frequent meals high in complex carbohydrates to help maintain energy and ease symptoms.
- Monitor your child for any signs of altitude illness. If symptoms develop, rest at the current altitude and do not ascend higher until they resolve. If symptoms are severe or do not improve, descend to a lower altitude and seek medical attention.
Conclusion: Final Reminders and Resources
Before you pack your bags, make sure your family is ready for the journey ahead. Families in Newton, Boston, and throughout Massachusetts can schedule a pre-travel health consultation with the team at Essential Pediatrics to ensure their children are healthy, protected, and prepared for every adventure—whether across the U.S. or abroad.
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