Traveling with your children can bring moments of joy and create lifelong memories. But as any parent knows, it’s hardly a simple endeavor. The logistics of packing and transporting the essentials alone can be overwhelming.
“Expect the unexpected,” said Dr. Jaime Friedman, a San Diego-based pediatrician and director of marketing at Children’s Primary Care Medical Group. “Always pack extra. Carry on whatever is most important in case of lost luggage.”
“I’ve been on an airplane and run out of diapers,” she added. “I’ve been stuck in a thunderstorm with my son crying in pain needing pain medication. I’ve run out of sunscreen. I’ve had flights canceled. You never know what might happen, so be prepared.”
To help other parents feel more prepared for their next family vacation, HuffPost asked Friedman and other pediatricians to share the items they’re always sure to pack when traveling with their kids.
Extra Medicine
“Medicines are important to have on hand because you never know when your child may suddenly get a fever, an injury, or a random bout of growing pains,” Friedman said. “Especially for young children who can’t take traditional pills or if you will be traveling somewhere in which buying medicine might be difficult, I always made sure to have appropriate formulations of acetaminophen and ibuprofen in case it was needed and I couldn’t find liquid or chewable.”
In addition to common medicines like Tylenol or Motrin in liquid or chewable tablet form, the pediatricians HuffPost spoke to make sure to travel with their children’s prescription medication or other specific health supplies in ample quantities in their hand luggage.
“I always pack my son’s emergency medicine for nut allergy and history of asthma, which includes EpiPen, Benadryl, and albuterol inhaler,” said Dr. Candice Jones, a pediatrician in Orlando, Florida.
Comfort Items
“I make sure my kids pack some of their favorite comfort items and things to keep them busy, such as a stuffed animal, jacket, iPad, earphones, snacks, and something to draw or read,” Jones said. “This saves money and keeps them from getting into trouble.”
Comfort objects offer kids a sense of security, familiarity and calm no matter where they are. The same goes for other familiar items like their usual water bottle or favorite snacks.
“Children are thrown off of their routine when traveling,” Friedman said. “They can get tired, hungry and the dreaded bored….
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