Family travel goes a lot smoother when you plan with purpose. I spoke with a Los Angeles-based pediatrician about the essentials that can help parents stay prepared, whether they’re flying, driving or heading abroad with kids.
Pack like a pro
To increase your chances for a family trip filled with happy memories, Leian Chen, M.D., a pediatrician with UCLA Health in Marina del Rey and a mom of two (ages 12 and 9), urges us to plan well, yet always expect the unexpected.
“On my family’s trips, we’ve gotten stranded in sand dunes and snowstorms, used the first-aid kit more times than I can count and often relied on the kindness of friends and strangers,” says Chen. “While it would have been easy to let these things derail our vacations, we had to learn to be flexible and to make the best of the unexpected situations, which ultimately led to some great stories and memories.”\
Road trips vs. flying
“Road trips are sometimes easier, as you’ll have access to all of your things, but you may need to include some medication like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) for carsickness along with some barf bags if your child is prone,” Chen says. “Of course, some kids experience motion sickness with air travel, too, so this may be an essential either way.
“For flights, some airlines will require proof of age (like a birth certificate or vaccine record) for lap infants or a notarized consent form if traveling with only one parent,” she says. “If your child will need a car seat or booster seat at your destination, that would also be important to gate-check or bring on board so that it doesn’t get lost in transit.”
International travel tips
“Keep passports on your person or locked somewhere safe once you arrive at your destination, with a copy readily available on you,” Chen says.
“Consider bringing some commonly used medications or baby formula with you in case access is difficult at your destination or there is a language barrier. Other items to consider:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil, for infants/children 6 months and up) for fevers or pain
- Cetirizine (commonly known as Zyrtec) for allergies
- First-aid items
- Contact your pediatrician well ahead of time for refills on prescription medications
Pack for your destination
“If you’ll be outside at all, I would have sunscreen and a hat in your bag,” Chen advises. “If you’re going to an area with mosquitoes, I would recommend carrying repellent spray or wipes and, perhaps, some hydrocortisone cream for itchy bites.
“For travel in cold weather, extra layers of clothing and hats/gloves would be helpful to have on hand. I’ve also thrown hand warmers (rechargeable or single use) in there on ski trips.”
Essentials for every trip
- Mini first-aid kit
- Hand sanitizer
- Wipes and tissues
- Snacks and drinks
- Necessary medications
For babies and toddlers
- Diapers (extra, in case of flight delays or getting stranded somewhere)
- Diaper cream
- Wipes
- Changing pad
- Bottles/formula (bring extra)
- Burp cloths
- Comfort items such as pacifiers and lovies
- Blankets
- Toys
- Disposable bags for soiled diapers or clothing
- A few extra outfits for you and your child (in case you get spit-up or other bodily fluids on you and you’d rather not sit for hours on a flight that way!)
- Portable white noise machine for napping on the go
For school-age kids
- Books
- Games or a tablet with some pre-downloaded shows or games (in case you don’t have internet access)
- Headphones.
- Chargers
To keep the kids busy without relying on electronic devices during travel, check out our article on screen-free travel fun.
Elena Epstein is editorial director of L.A. Parent.
