Tips for Traveling with Children

While family gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas offer opportunities for memories to made, getting to that memory-making destination can be more complicated when you have little ones in tow. Here are some tips for safer and happier holiday travel:

✓ Stay safe while staying warm in the car.

When the temperatures drop, it can be tempting to bundle your little one up until they look like Ralphie’s little brother on A Christmas Story. However, thick coats can compress in the event of a car accident, making the safety straps on your child’s car seat less effective. The safest way to keep your child warm in the car is to dress them in thin layers and then put a blanket over the safety straps for extra warmth, if needed. Then when you reach your destination, you can put that adorably fluffy coat back on them!

✓ Stay alert for household dangers.

You may have covers on your outlets and locks on any cabinets that hold household cleaners, but that doesn’t mean that Uncle Joe has the same level of childproofing at his house. When visiting family or friends over the holidays, watch out for potential dangers like unlocked cabinets, unattended purses, hot radiators, unguarded staircases and accessible cleaning products.

✓ Stick to routines when possible.

Have you ever felt drained after a holiday gathering, even if you truly enjoyed it? As much fun as it can be to travel and see family, it also comes with an element of stress. Help your children enjoy the trip and reduce stress by keeping them in their routines as much as possible, including sleep schedules and timing of naps.

✓ Help ease meltdowns.

There can be so much “new” on a family trip that it can be overstimulating or even overwhelming for small children. Help prevent meltdowns by letting them know what to expect in advance and making time to connect with them through some unhurried one-on-one time periodically. And if a meltdown happens anyway, give your child lots of love and hugs, and remember that crying can be a pressure release – your child may feel better after letting some tears flow!

For more information about holiday safety, visit healthychildren.org for American Association of Pediatrics recommendations. Visit freemanhealth. com/pediatrics for more information about pediatric services at Freeman Health System.