Rx on the Road: 7 health tips for summer travel with kids

1) Meet with a doc before you go-
 

A pediatrician can answer any and all questions you have about keeping the kids healthy on vacation (which could bring your anxiety levels down a notch or two). He may even have some advice for questions you wouldn’t think to ask.

2) Drink Water-
 

Drinking lots of water will prevent your kids from getting dehydrated. So make sure your kids are getting their H20 fill throughout the day. (Remember, a few stops for bathroom breaks are better than a tired, thirsty, and sick family).

3) Deal with jet lag-
 

Kids are a lot more hardy than the 'rents when it comes to resetting internal clocks, and supposedly the under-three crowd doesn't suffer from it at all. When crossing time zones, have kids drink up before and during flight. After landing, start eating and sleeping on the new schedule.

4) Unblock ears-
 

Yawning, swallowing, chewing gum, or sucking (hear that, breastfeeding moms?) are all tried and true remedies. So if you've got a baby, have them drink milk. Keep lollipops on hand for toddlers, and pack chewing gum for kids 5 and older who have the willpower to not swallow it.

5) Travel Insurance-
 

Really, does anything suck more than ending up in an ER in some far-flung place and then paying the bill for years to come because your health insurance doesn't cover you?

6)Keep basic medicines with you at all times-
 

They're such a standby in your home medicine cabinet that you might forget about them, but basic medicines are a must for traveling with kids. Pack your First-Aid kit with items you use often, but make sure to get a fuller list from a doctor that's more tailored to your kid needs.

7) Bring some comfort food-
 

If you're traveling to places with entirely different cultures, your picky eaters may not be so keen on trying unfamiliar foods. Having some of their favorite foods with you will ease them into the new environment while making sure they don't get hungry or cranky.