Keeping Kids Healthy When Traveling

This post is brought to you by DiaResQ® and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own. 

Traveling and getting to explore new places, people, and cultures is one of the biggest gifts we can give our kids. We've traveled with our kids just about everywhere, and have come to learn a few things. Traveling with kids is fun, exhausting, exciting, worry some, and adventurous all wrapped up into one big memory inducing package. A large part of traveling with kids is just accepting the chaos, and realize those tiny humans are unpredictable no matter where in the world they are located. One thing we do try to control, or at least have a handle on, is keeping our kids healthy while traveling. Nothing is worse than having a sick little one in a place that you are unfamiliar with, and with sometimes limited access to resources.

A vacation can go from fun to frantic when one of your children suddenly falls ill. We have a few tips and tricks to keeping kids healthy when traveling, but also want to hear some of yours! Because trust us, no one wants to experience the adventure that is trying to wash out thrown up on clothes in a hotel bathroom (Been there, done that. So not a travel memory we wish we ever had).

Keeping Kids Healthy When Traveling

When you travel you are being taken out of your natural "germy" environment. That means you're being exposed to all sorts of new germs while you are being exposed to all sorts of new things. Sleeping routines, eating habits, and even the air you are breathing - all are changed. With a little careful planning you can try to combat all that, or at least be prepped for when something does happen. 

Tip #1: Get Immunized 

One easy way to keep kids healthy while traveling is to make sure all their immunizations are up to date. If not, try to get current a month or two before you leave. That way you aren't risking being somewhere else if a reaction occurs, and to let the immunization settle into their little bodies. If you are traveling abroad, check to see if any special immunizations are needed. No one likes the whole immunization getting experience, but no one likes getting the plague and going to the hospital in a strange place either. 

Tip #2: Just Keep Drinking

Staying hydrated is always important, but when you are traveling it's even more important. Dehydration can exacerbate even the smallest of illnesses. The effects of jet lag can be felt more if you are dehydrated. The effects of motion sickness from airplanes, cars, or trains can be amplified. Dehydration is just the worst.

Try giving your kids extra water a few days before your travel, or add super hydrating foods into their diet (watermelon, coconut water, etc.). See above statement about throw up. The less option for it, the better. 

Tip #3: DiaResQ® to the Rescue

Okay, second to cleaning up throw up in an unfamiliar environment, the worst is cleaning up diarrhea. Especially if you have younger children who don't entirely understand "that feeling". Diarrhea and other stomach issues usually are born from contaminated food and water. Unfortunately, when little ones immune systems are still developing it is super common for their tummies to become upset when traveling.

We've discovered a life changing little product that helps combat diarrhea in children naturally. DiaResQ now goes in our travel bags each and every trip. Because if you've been down that road once, you don't want to experience that journey again.

Diarrhea is the body's natural immune response to try and remove an invading microorganism, and most other products work by slowing that response (and trapping that microorganism in your body). DiaResQ is different - it works with your body to address the underlying issue fast. It's been proven to provide safe and fast relief - clinically demonstrating most cases of diarrhea are resolved on first day of use. It's safe for the whole family to take, and is a food made from naturally derived ingredients.

Another things we love about DiaResQ is that it's super easy to take - which is important when it comes to kids. It's just a vanilla flavored powder that you can mix into any drink. So no yucky taste or big pills to swallow. 

So grab yours at your local CVS, or throw it in your next Amazon Prime order, but definitely don't pack your bags with out it!

Note: DiaResQ is not intended for the relief of chronic diarrhea, nor for infants (children aged 12 months or less).

Tip #4: Sanitizing Wipes for Everybody

It's no secret that kids - especially small ones - like to touch everything. After touch, they like to taste everything. Take those amazing skills to the airport, a taxi cab, a train, etc.,  and you are just asking for extreme use of tip number three. 

I've realized lots of airports and exceptional Uber drivers have really come around on the whole hand sanitizer thing. I usually make it a game to see how many stations we can visit in one terminal. That's way more fun than let's say putting your mouth all over the airport seats, right? 

Unfortunately national security frowns upon my attempts at smuggling in extra large bottles of hand sanitizer. So I've learned to pack small packs of sanitizing wipes in everyone's backpacks. As a parent I have one in my bag too, but if needed in a pinch I know there are ones in the other twenty-seven bags I am lugging around and the first one gets the sanitizing prize.

Tip #5: Be Prepared

When packing, often we tend to just pack the obvious when it comes to medications or medical supplies. Whatever prescriptions or inhalers that get used daily automatically go in our bags. In addition to the normal items, we try to pack a little wellness/first kit in one of our bags.

Type up a list of all your family's current medical needs and information (doctors names/numbers, allergies any family member might have, blood types, list of medications taken and how often, etc.). Place this in a bag or small travel box with a variety of over the counter medications and basic medical supplies you might need. Having the info or anything basic that you might need on hand will help ease the stress a little bit if a situation does arise. 

What are some of your tips and tricks to keeping kids healthy when traveling? 

Visit diaresq.com/momapproved to learn more about keeping your children happy and healthy. 

 

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