My current inspiration is that my child is sick right now....
for the first time.
As I was holding him close rocking him back to sleep and planning our doctors visit tomorrow I thought to myself, "what would I do if he got sick in another country?"
Seriously, what would I do???
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| Flushed cheeked little booger! |
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There are two scenarios:
1. Knowingly traveling with a sick child.
2. Having a child get sick while traveling.
First this is all brand new research to me and I am going to relay to you all what I feel is beneficial.....this is not coming from my experiences.
1. If at all possible do not make your sick child travel unless absolutely necessary. Even if they are in a good mood and seem fine it is a bad idea because their immune system is weakened making them more susceptible to other illnesses.
2. Your packing list grows.....a lot.
Go ahead and add these items to your luggage:
*plenty of single use paper products like towels, washcloths, napkins, wipes etc. Anything that can go in the garbage.
3. If your child is still in diapers bring more than you think is necessary because if child is having elimination issues you will be glad you did.
4. Where are you going to put your soiled diapers and/or clothes? Etc. Pack plastic bags all of sizes to store them in temporarily. Also, you can use them to catch throw up.
5. Everywhere you go take advantage of clean water. Buy bottles, refill your old ones etc because you never should assume you will have a water source.
Not only is it for hydration but for clean up as well.
6. It is advised to pack extra clothes...warm ones, cool ones and all in between. Your child's temperature can change anytime so you have to be able to accommodate the changes.
7. Research any nearby hospitals or medical offices where you will be.
8. Hand sanitizers and soaps in general are a good idea.
9. Comforts from home ie. blankets, stuffed animals, books, a photo etc.
10. Patience....lots of patience and plan for the worse.
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If your child is still young enough to be nursing you need to be very conscious of what you put into your body.
Stay hydrated with bottled water, watch your alcohol intake and remember to still eat healthy...aka no street meat!
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Your child's overall daily health is entirely dependent on you so do not get so caught up in "traveling" that you forget your daily routines.
Routines in fact will make the whole experience better!
The following is from BabyCenter:
[• Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit in your car or carry-on bag.
• If your child regularly takes a medication (like an anticonvulsant or insulin) or has asthma or an allergy to bee stings, bring twice as much medication as you think you'll need. As a precautionary measure, pack the supplies in two different places (for example, put one set in a suitcase and one in your purse) in case one set gets lost. Also, ask your pediatrician to write a refill prescription before leaving home so you can skip that step while traveling.
• Always carry your insurance information with you. Most HMOs will reimburse you for out-of-area expenses, but to avoid any expensive surprises, call your insurance company ahead of time and find out its policy.
• Know your child's medical history. Get in the habit of taking a notebook with you every time your child visits the pediatrician, and bring it with you on vacation, too. The notebook should contain an emergency checklist with contact numbers as well as information about your child's past illnesses, treatments, vaccinations, and any allergies.
As well as covering all the medical bases, you'll want to put some extra effort into your bedside manner with a sick child. Being sick is never fun, but being away from home adds an element of emotional discomfort. To help soothe your child, stay nearby and keep to the same comforting routines as at home, if possible. Read him a bedtime story, or, if he feels up to it, run a bath for him. Some routines can be broken, though, especially if it will help make your child feel better. You might consider allowing him to sleep with you or nearby while he's feeling sick. You can monitor his health more easily, and he'll fall asleep — and wake up — feeling more secure knowing you're right beside him.]
• If your child regularly takes a medication (like an anticonvulsant or insulin) or has asthma or an allergy to bee stings, bring twice as much medication as you think you'll need. As a precautionary measure, pack the supplies in two different places (for example, put one set in a suitcase and one in your purse) in case one set gets lost. Also, ask your pediatrician to write a refill prescription before leaving home so you can skip that step while traveling.
• Always carry your insurance information with you. Most HMOs will reimburse you for out-of-area expenses, but to avoid any expensive surprises, call your insurance company ahead of time and find out its policy.
• Know your child's medical history. Get in the habit of taking a notebook with you every time your child visits the pediatrician, and bring it with you on vacation, too. The notebook should contain an emergency checklist with contact numbers as well as information about your child's past illnesses, treatments, vaccinations, and any allergies.
As well as covering all the medical bases, you'll want to put some extra effort into your bedside manner with a sick child. Being sick is never fun, but being away from home adds an element of emotional discomfort. To help soothe your child, stay nearby and keep to the same comforting routines as at home, if possible. Read him a bedtime story, or, if he feels up to it, run a bath for him. Some routines can be broken, though, especially if it will help make your child feel better. You might consider allowing him to sleep with you or nearby while he's feeling sick. You can monitor his health more easily, and he'll fall asleep — and wake up — feeling more secure knowing you're right beside him.]
They agree with me that a routine is good but just remember it is not set in stone!
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My sweet little boy currently has a common cold but it is enough to make him feel yucky. He is three months old so he does not know why he is having trouble breathing and why he is sneezing all the time. And today the doctor told me that colds generally last 7-9 days so chances are you will have to deal with it the entire duration of your trip. If this were to happen while traveling I would hope that I packed enough tissues, snuggly items and baby Tylenol for fever.
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Thank you so very much for taking the time to visit my blog! Traveling is very dear to me and sharing my travels and desires with you makes my heart smile. I want to hear all about your adventures because sharing travel stories is the root to all inspiration. Also, any suggestions you may have on how I can improve this blog - I am all ears!!
Smiles,
Allie xoxo