Traveling with toddlers

PRE-PLANNING: HERE'S A LIST OF OUR ESSENTIAL HEALTH TIPS FOR A STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY

It's the holiday season, but travelling with toddlers can bring unique challenges in keeping them healthy and comfortable.

While family trips can create wonderful memories, they also require careful planning to ensure everyone, especially young children, stays safe and well.

Here are essential health tips from Affinity Health to help parents and caregivers make the most of their travels with toddlers and create a holiday that's memorable for the right reasons.

1. Prioritise hydration
One of the biggest challenges when travelling with toddlers is keeping them hydrated. Airplane cabins have lower humidity, which can lead to dehydration, especially in young children. Encourage your toddler to drink small sips of water regularly and, if breastfeeding, nurse more often. Formula-fed babies over six months old should be offered extra water.

2. Maintain a consistent sleep routine
Travelling can disrupt a toddler's sleep schedule, and inadequate sleep can lead to crankiness, reduced immunity, and overall discomfort. While replicating their exact sleep environment may not be possible, there are strategies to maintain a familiar sleep routine.

For example, you could bring along a travel-friendly version of your toddler's favourite blanket or stuffed animal and if they use white noise at home, consider downloading a white noise app on your phone to recreate a soothing environment.