Credit Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Q: We will be taking a family vacation abroad starting this Labor Day weekend. What is the best way to travel safely (and sanely) with my children?
A: My most recent family vacation in June to the beautiful Atlantis family resort in the Bahamas was also our first trip out of the country so I was understandably nervous. Besides packing band aids, sunscreen, Benadryl, Neosporin, a thermometer, a new spin toothbrush and generic baby acetaminophen drops, I also made sure copies of our passports and itinerary were left with family members back home and brought lots of snacks for the plane and hotel room, including freeze-dried fruit packets, granola bars, apple sauce, and animal crackers. While there, I slathered her with sunscreen every day, or had her wear a rash guard t-shirt while in the sun, and made sure she drank water to stay hydrated. The resort did its part to keep her safe, by providing life jackets for all guest toddlers and kids and by offering delicious, healthy (albeit pricey) food options.
Whether your travel this year is domestic or international here is additional advice on what to know before you go.
Jen Swetzoff, creator of www.parenture.com
*Make a list of your most important contacts?including the phone numbers of a local doctor and hospital in the destination where you?re going, the US embassy, your pediatrician back home and any family members and friends you might want to get in touch with while you?re away. Pack one copy of the list in your carry-on bag and another one in your checked luggage and email the list to yourself.
*Instead of lugging extra bags place an order on Diapers.com or Soap.com and send what you need ahead of time to your hotel or rental home.
*Depending on how far-flung your destination and your own health conditions, consider buying medical evacuation insurance. A short-term family membership from MedjetAssist starts at just $170, and if you have a medical emergency, they?ll get you to the hospital of your choice from almost anywhere in the world.
Amy Whitley (Pit Stops for Kids) of Best Family Travel Advice
*If going abroad, contact the local embassy or consulate to get a list of recommended pediatricians and family doctors
*Teach hotel room safety (especially to teens); make sure everyone knows the location of the stairs in case of fire; remind them to keep the guest room locked unless they know who?s at the door, and if the kids are leaving the room on their own, be sure to wear shoes, carry a jacket and some form of ID in case they lose their key.
*Use safety ID products such as SafetyTat, which temporarily marks your child?s skin with a cell phone number or other information such as a food allergy or medical issue. You can also use plastic ID bracelets or write your cell phone number (not their name) on their hand with a marker.
Amy Graff, Best Western International?s Travel with Kids expert and creator and editor in chief of On the go with Amy
*Put together a list of important medical information in the event of an emergency. The info should include your kids? names, medical record numbers, doctors? names and phone numbers, medications, health issues, immunizations, allergies and blood types.
*If you are renting a car make sure your kids? car seats are appropriately installed and buckled. If you are not sure the seat has been put in correctly, get it checked out at a local police or fire station.
*Pass on the restaurants dishing up greasy fare, and instead, look for menus offering healthy options. When traveling in the United States seek out local establishments using websites such as ChowHound and RoadFood and apps like UrbanSpoon.
Editor?s Note: Also go to Patch.com if your travels are taking you somewhere within the country and see if your destination has a Patch site of its own.
Earthquake Alert
Q: Although yesterday?s earthquake started in Virginia, we felt our apartment shaking right here in Fort Lee. Now my five-year-old is a nervous wreck, and constantly on the lookout for another tremor. Is there anything I can do to reassure her all is well?
A: You can reassure her that there was no damage to buildings or injuries to anyone in Fort Lee from the most powerful earthquake to rock the east coast in 67 years. For future checking download the apps iFeltThat (you can set up different areas to monitor and confirm if what you feel is an actual earthquake) or Earthquake Alarm (it will sound an alarm if the angle of where you are standing begins to change); the free app Earthquake! gets your phone to vibrate in an amount equal to the quake?s magnitude and is available for Android.
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Source: http://musingsonmotherhoodmidlife.com/?p=140
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