Christine's Holiday & Summer Family Travel Tips

Before I share Christine's GREAT family travel article, I want to say CONGRATULATIONS to her. She is officially a first time mommy as of a few weeks ago. And we couldn't be more thrilled to have her as part of the PUREmamas team. In case you didn't already know Christine is trained in intregrative health and is a medical journalist. She is smart, beautiful and, well, now a healthy mom! Yay for that!

Christine's Tips for Skipping Town with the Kids: Must Haves

Thinking of heading to the great outdoors with the little ones? It’s getting to be that time of year when hiking and camping excursions are the family thing to do! Toting the tots equals a lifetime of memories, but are you sure you’re ready? If you’re going kid in the front, back pack in the back, here’s what you’ll want to stash in addition to the crayons and coloring books!

Pack a kiddie damage control kit

1. ID Bracelet (or ID card tucked into kids clothes) that reads:           

                                          ■Allergies (meds foods)
                                          ■Name
                                          ■Age/Birth Date
                                          ■Your Name, Phone Number, Email
                                          ■Emergency Contact Back “Home”
                                          ■Phone Number of Your Country’s Embassy or Missing Persons Info

2. On the Spot Fix it First-Aid:

Homeopathics! Children respond almost immediately to homeopathic treatment making them ideal for travel.. A bonus to homeopathics is that they carry an extremely low reaction and interaction (with other meds) rate (I‘ve never had a patient experience a reaction).

○      Arnica Montana (internal and topical): bruising and swelling
○      Kali Phosphorus: fever
○      Clematis: traveling anxiety
○      Rescue Remedy: irritability, restlessness, and unsettled feelings
○      Byronia, lycopodium & causticum: constipation
○      Belladonna & Hepar Sulphur: ear ache remedy
○      Nux Vomica: nausea and vomiting
○      Apis Mellifica: bug bites & stings
○      Homeopathic Teething Tabs

Natural Wound Care

○       Aloe is an extremely versatile wound remedy that instantly closes thes kin  well as encouraging germy microbes to exit the area. Aloe can also be used in any orifice as well!
○      Sovereign Silver: Colloidal Silver Gel is my fave topical anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal... Here’s where you can skip the Neosporin and go natural with great, fast results!

Snack Time. On the go go go equals an increased need for nutrients and healthy choices to keep your kid sustained. Kids are finicky eaters as it is so be sure to have a supply of healthy favorites. Snacks free of sugar are the best bet to keep your child’s blood sugar properly balanced and prevent dehydration all day long.

○      Kookie Karma snacks!
○      Dehydrated fruits
○      nut butters & pastes
○      rice protein mixed in organic juice
○      rice protein and fruit frozen into cubes (if you have a cold pack)

3. Hydration

Sounds like a no-brainer to give the kids water right? Kids are easily dehydrated and parents often don’t notice until it’s too late and a fever ensues.

Kids will like:
○      Watermelon
○      Coconut Water
○      Cucumbers
○      Jicama

Experienced Parents Share Other Fun Travel Tips...

I hit about five different airports a month so I’ve had the chance to chat up some super savvy traveling parents…  Some shared what they’d never leave home without and others taught me how they adapted to their surroundings with found amusements for their kids.

“Coloring books and crayons? Haha, duh!” One parent joked, “we don’t even go to a café without those.”

“Get to the craft store and buy a ream of velcro if you’re traveling with a kid under four. Kids drop enough as it is at home so consider picking something up off the ground while backpacking in Colombia-gross! We got the idea from a European family in California before we took off. Wrist rattles, pacifiers, anything you can imagine can be stuck to your kid’s arm or leg with velcro!”

“Mirrors. Babies love to see themselves and it’s relatively soothing when they get upset. My boyfriend and I attached mirrors to both of our backpacks so our son could see his reflection while we walked around or waited for buses.

“Even when babies are being carried they get restless. After our daughter was crying for an hour and we were feeling desperate we had this ‘ah-ha’ moment when we spotted mini-clip on dolls in Bangkok. We rigged a scooter mirror to the baby carrier and fashioned an impromptu mobile with the dolls clipped to the mirror. She loved it and it kept her occupied while we meandered through the crowded markets.”

"A bag full of new toys {.99 cent isle at target? or stuff on sale. cheap stuff} or special treats that they don't usually get at home. like lollipops {sorry to suggest unhealthy ideas, haha} or gummies. taking one thing out at a time every time the kids get restless is a HUGE life saver."

"A new book. One they haven't read before. Or a book they can't live without."

"Obviously, if the baby is young, don't forget the hooter hider. It's great when you're sitting next to strangers. Babies love to fall asleep on planes and giving them the boob always makes them feel right at home. They will most likely instantly fall asleep. Plus the sucking is good for take off and landing. Helps with the ears."

Are you a parent successfully on the go? Share your kid-trotting tips with other Matador parents here!