Your Spring Break Travel Questions Answered

1. What are you packing in your kids’ suitcases?

Fun question!! For carry on bags (backpacks), a new book; little toy or game/coloring book/stickers, etc; Wiki Stix; a snack; loveys and blanky; sugar free gum, and of course iPad/headphones. Personally, I keep my boys’ favorite candy in my bag for bribery purposes :). I encourage our children to entertain themselves with books (even if I read for the whole flight!) or other options prior to the screen. This allows for more hours of entertainment and keeps them from getting the yucky, overstimulated screen agitation that we all HATE.

Packing the suitcase - encourage your child to lay out on their bed what they need in their suitcase! Ultimately, this will teach them to pack for themselves and build confidence (priceless). Then, go through and edit. For older kiddos (and yourself), make a packing list. Make sure to include on the list: sunscreen, sun protective shirts/ clothing. My boys happen to love the SPF hoodie-style fishing shirts and don’t fight me on wearing them because they think they are “cool”. There are similar precious sun protective options for girls and babies! Hats. We pack life jackets because I know they are comfortable, familiar and well fitting for boating activities. My youngest has sensitive skin so all his eczema go-tos have to be packed (hydrocortisone cream, aquaphor & VaniCream!!). Our kids love to fish and we go on some of our greatest adventures looking for our new “honey hole” while traveling. So, our folding fishing poles & tackle are a must! They are sleek, easy to use and loads of fun!

Lastly, I never leave home without a small pharmacy haha including first aid essentials. It makes me feel secure knowing I can help and treat my family while away from home. This is why I created the Saving Grace travel pack so you can travel with confidence, too!

2. Can you provide care as needed across state lines while traveling? If not, do you have advice on how best to obtain care needed?

Yes, providing care while you’re traveling is easy with our telemedicine and Travel Package options. Telemedicine offers a fantastic opportunity for quick advice and visual assessment in a pinch. We cannot treat all illnesses through telemed but it is an immediate solution of guidance and support when you need it most.

Also, please consider Saving Grace’s Travel Package that provides urgent care anywhere! The package includes safe, advanced prescribing (the practice of prescribing medications to have on hand in case needed) paired with telemedicine visits to guide you through the process.

3. Do you have any tips for avoiding mid-flight ear pain?

Certainly! To alleviate mid-flight, ear pain, encourage swallowing (bottle, drinks), yawning or chewing gum during takeoff. Of course, we all know this trick - but why? It helps to equalize the pressure in the inner ear. If flying with a baby, do this by giving a pacifier or a bottle/ breast-feeding during takeoff and landing.

Drinking plenty of water helps prevent dehydration of mucous membranes, especially of the nasal and throat passages which also contributes to ear pain during flights. Prior to flight for a couple of days, nasal rinses, like saline solutions, can also be beneficial to keep nasal membranes moist, thereby reducing inflammation and mucous to help keep your flying experience pleasant.

Additionally, If you or your child frequently struggles with ear pain while flying it’s smart to take ibuprofen at least 30 minutes prior to flight for pain control. You can also take an oral or nasal spray decongestant prior to travel.

4. We are taking our family to Hawaii for Spring Break. How do I adjust my one year old’s sleep/wake schedule to the time change?

As much as I would love to solve your dilemma - there just isn’t a great way. You can try to adjust their schedule 30 minutes a day for a week in advance and gain on it -somewhat. Upon arrival, keep them awake and adjust to the new time.

5. Our family is traveling to higher elevation for our ski trip. Do you have any tips on how to acclimate the kids before skiing to avoid sickness (i.e. arrive a day earlier, Dramamine altitude sickness medicine for kids?

When traveling to higher elevations, it’s important to allow for gradual acclimatization. The first defense to altitude is hydration - in advance! If you have special concern and time, spend a day at a moderate elevation before reaching your higher altitude destination. It’s important to teach children what they might feel if they start experiencing altitude sickness and make sure they are encouraged to vocalize any discomfort such as, headache, nausea and fatigue.

Truly, the number one thing you can do to prepare for your mountain travel is increase hydration! When traveling to higher altitudes you require almost double the amount of water as you do at sea level. For the littles, I recommend drinking plenty of Kinderlyte or Pedialyte the day prior to travel.

Antioxidants, such as vitamin C and glutathione, are shown to be a viable solution for high altitude. This is likely due to the high amounts of oxidative stress you encounter when ascending to high altitudes. Parents and older teenagers that are willing to get an infusion can get a much needed boost intravenously.

Plan to lay low and relax on that first day. Avoiding strenuous activities on your first day of arrival can help prevent altitude sickness and allow for rehydration after flight, also. Adequate rest leading up to your travel day is a great way to ward off sickness. Quality sleep is shown to aid recovery, blood flow, and oxygen.

Traveling with children can be a smooth and enjoyable experience with the right preparation. Thoughtful packing, including entertainment and comfort items in carry-on bags, and ensuring you're equipped for any health needs with telemedicine and a travel health pack, sets the foundation for a stress-free journey. Preparing for common travel challenges like mid-flight ear pain, time zone adjustments, and altitude acclimation with simple, proactive measures can help  your family's travel experience go smoothly.