Bringing children along can make holidays complicated, but never fear! Our experts
and seasoned mummy travellers show you how to plan a great family vacation, by keeping sickness at bay, advising on what to pack, and sharing tips on keeping little ones entertained.
Text: Bauersyndication.com.au/ Additional Reporting: Lisa Twang & Tan Gin Yee.
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Many parents pull their kids out of playschool a week before travelling, to minimise the chances of them falling ill. “Multivitamins are generally unnecessary to boost kids’ immunity before travelling,” says 33-year-old polyclinic doctor Dr Grace Lau, and a mother-of-one. “I usually give my daughter vitamin C with zinc, and I pack fever medication and fever patches, nasal drops, antihistamines and a thermometer in case she falls ill. I also bring along first-aid items like plasters and antiseptic cream.”
Sleeping in a strange environment for the first time could be a terrifying thing for kids. “Taking your own pillow might help, as it creates a sense of familiarity,” says Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, who talks about the effect in his new book The Doctor. Some hotel pillows make use of harsh detergent to clean and can irritate your child’s sensitive skin, so laying your own pillow over it will help.
To minimise your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), choose an aisle seat when flying. This allows you and your child to stand regularly to encourage blood flow, and also allows for easier access to the washroom.
Your little one would want to dive right in, but some swimming pools or hot tubs may not be maintained properly, and contain bacteria that can cause stomach problems or eye infections. Look out for a strong chemical smell and cloudy water, which is a sign of unclean water. This is a telltale sign that there are not enough chemicals to control bacteria growth.
Cutting back on caffeine will leave you with a withdrawal headache. If you’re
going somewhere with almost no access to caffeine, try cutting back a month before you leave so that you will be better prepared to look after yourself and your family.
When packing, choose darker-coloured clothes as they won’t show stains as easily. Ditch the pyjamas for clothing that can be worn in the day as well to sleep, so you will have less things to pack.
“Layer your clothing so you are never out of options,” says Sumedha Khoche, 36, founder of parenting site Social Weaver, who travels frequently with her two children. “Err on the side of caution when packing extra clothes for your baby, as well as diaper bag essentials (bottles, diapers, wipes etc.) Spills and spit-ups will happen!”
Children will feel calmer if their favourite toy is with them, but be careful not to bring too many toys. Let them choose just one or two of their absolute favourite stuffed animals to bring along – many airlines also offer free toys
and colouring books for kids, so save some luggage room for those.
Some suitcases can be bulky and heavy to drag around and become even more of a nuisance when children are involved. Investing in a durable, lightweight one will make your journey easier.
To prevent incessant whining, games such as ‘I Spy’ will help time pass by much faster, says teacher Hafidzah Abdullah, 34, a mother of two boys. “Get someone to distract the child with new toys, or get them to count the number of taxis or red cars that they see or anything that keeps their focus on the road… Your child will be fascinated looking at his or her surroundings.”
You can also ask your child to ‘help you drive’ by imagining there is a steering wheel in front of them. Encourage them during turns and brakes and teach them how to change gears or reverse. Once you arrive, thank them
for their assistance.
Long car journeys tend to make everyone feel a little peckish. Sliced fruit or biscuits can help keep the hunger at bay, especially when mealtimes may not be regular due to heavy traffic or other unexpected delays. Sucking on
sweets can also help with motion sickness.
If all else fails, break out the iPads and put on something entertaining for your child to watch. “As our babies grew into toddlers, we had to think about entertainment for them,” says Thermomix consultant Prisca Hoo, who is 40 and has two children. “Because they have zero access to devices normally, this meant that we could whip out the iPad as a last resort on a flight if required.” Try to get into a conversation with your kids about the show or game, to prevent them from becoming reliant on the device to alleviate boredom.
Getting lost on holiday is almost inevitable: After all, you’re in a foreign country! But no matter the situation, keep your cool with your husband and try not to argue. “Exposure to arguments and physical conflict can push kids into the extremes of aggression or withdrawal,” says Sandra Turner Brown, director of the Barbara K. Lipman Early Childhood School.