We had a family vacation earlier in the year and it was lovely. Since a lot of people would be traveling around this time or in the coming months, I just want to share some important tips I believe moms should pay attention to.
A friend mentioned to me that going on vacation with kids is just basically still taking care of children only in a different location. Just like a change of venue for your routine responsibilities. Perhaps in a much nicer place and with lots of sunshine. I quite agree with the person, but something is better than nothing! You just have to make the best of every situation. Listed below are things to bear in mind as mothers when you go on vacation with your child or children.
Make sure everyone takes a bathroom break before setting out. If you have a baby, make sure nappy is changed. You do not want to set out with irritable babies. Irritable babies/ kiddos and vacation simply do not go together.
Let the shower run first to reduce risk of Legionella pneumonia. Whenever you get to your hotel room, always allow to water from the tap or shower head run for few minutes before you attempt to use the water or get a shower. Legionella bacteria is type of bug that is dispersed in airborne water droplets, so the spray created by a shower is the perfect delivery mechanism. Anyone using a contaminated shower risks breathing in the bacteria and developing Legionnaires’ disease as the bug takes hold in the lungs. That can cause pneumonia which is a type of infection of the lungs. Nobody wants that, so you might want to pay attention to this fact. This is because the bacteria can easily grow in pockets of stagnant water through any water outlet, especially in shower heads. I am a doctor by profession, therefore you can guess that there will always be an infusion of useful medical tips.
Always pack Tylenol if travelling with kids. In addition to a miniature first aid kit for scrapes and bruises, you want to include Tylenol on your packing list for a vacation. You are not trying to be a harbinger of ‘doom’, but preparation is crucial in life. Especially with kids. Of course , if the child is running fever unabatedly for more than 24-48 hours with worsening symptoms, go to the nearest hospital to you.
Always make the children especially the pre-schoolers and toddlers ‘pee’ before leaving your hotel room. This is to reduce number of bathroom breaks. You want to reduce the frequency of contact your kids have with public toilets no matter how impeccably clean they are. Another quick tip is to always go for toilets that are at the extreme ends away from the entrance because most people typically opt for the closest one. You want to choose the least used option for your children! That is the smartest thing to do. Of course, you do not need a prophet to tell you to always use toilet seat covers. If for some reason there are no seat covers, what I do is double a layer of toilet roll on each side of the toilet seat and allow the child seat. If I feel so strong, I carry the child up with absolutely no contact with the toilet bowl. It is a win-win situation for both the germophobe of a mom and happy child who finds mom’s gymnastic moves quite fascinating.
Always have a pack of sanitary wipes and sanitizer in your bag. Did I just mention to you I have a tinge of germophobic tendencies? My knowledge of micro-biology in med school does not help very much either. Then, you will be more understanding of my stance. There are germs everywhere and so you want to keep your children safe. Especially, when you are on vacation and really cannot wash your hands and your children’s hands all the time, you have to make do with sanitizers and sanitary wipes. It is not every fast food joint that readily provides hand sanitizers. Plus when hunger is added to the mix, a piece of french fries could reach the mouth faster than you would find your way to the nearest wash hand basin. Everyone must wash hands after each adventure. Now you know why.
Don’t make the mistake of eating out all the time. Pack some home-cooked food. Maybe enough for one meal. At least your family gets some good, home-made meal before the vacation diet kicks off. Most hotels have a micro-wave oven. Pack cereal. Eat left overs. This is economically wise. Plus you will be so amazed at how much left overs can easily accumulate. I personally do not like wastage, so I make my family eat left overs. We paid hard-earned dollars for them anyway.
Pack the children’s multivitamins and meal supplements. With all your packing, it is important to pack the children’s multiviamins. You don’t say because you are on holiday, then your kids miss out on important multivitamins to make for healthy growth of their bodies and brain. For me, I have a child who is a picky eater, so I always pack some Pediasure with me. Whoever invented that thing is a genius.
Pack activity kits for the kids. This should include their favorite books, bible and devotional, coloring pencils and plain papers or activity books. This could literally save your life. It would give you some breathing space while the kids are still well engaged.
Take sunscreen. This is especially important in the summer months. You want to protect your children from the ultra-violet rays of sunlight.
Pack extra grocery bags for make shift laundry bag . The purpose of this is for used items like soiled clothes, dirty socks and underwear. Some people pack disposable things to be used. Whatever works for you and your budget is fine. You can still be organized in a way while vacationing and having a good time with your family.
Don’t use all the drawers in your hotel room. This is to reduce chances of forgetting anything. You can use the top layers, but that’s it! Actually, I avoid using drawers all together. Whenever, you are ready to go home after your vacation, always ,double-check all drawers, check every single room, including bathroom. Try to check the floor or under the bed for anything of value especially a credit cards or your phone charger.
I hope you found these tips really useful and would bear them in mind on your next family vacation.
“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.“
— Og Mandino