Plan ahead and you will have a great time with your brood

By Isabel Shan

Leave yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination. Often, all your fractious child needs is a break, and if you’ve got time to take one, you’ll feel less stressed, too.  Trains are a great way to travel with your brood - the rocking motion often soothes a baby to sleep and the constantly changing scenery keeps your toddler interested.  With Influenza A (H1N1) rife everywhere, get flu jabs for the whole family, especially if you are visiting colder climes.  Keep toddlers out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its most powerful.  Flu bugs live longer in colder climates - up to eight hours on surfaces like tabletops and clothes.

These days, a daylong jaunt with junior seems to call for the precision planning of an Arctic expedition. Sure, travelling with your tot in tow takes some legwork, but stick to our guidelines and you and your little one will have a terrific time. 

BEFORE YOU GO
It’s easy to overpack, but you’ll be able to buy most of your child’s essentials when you get to your destination, unless you’re off somewhere especially exotic. For babies, take enough diapers and baby food to see you through the first few days, so you won’t be under immediate pressure to buy more. If you’re bottlefeeding, though, do take enough formula milk for the length of your stay. Switching formula can cause an upset tummy in young babies. If you use an electric steriliser, don’t forget a plug adaptor. You may find it easier to use sterilising tablets instead. And take sun protection for all - including sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses and a sun shade for the beach or pool. 

JUST A JAB
With Influenza A (H1N1) rife everywhere, get flu jabs for the whole family, especially if you are visiting colder climes. If you’re going to Europe, North America and Australia, you probably won’t need other special shots. But if you’re visiting certain Asian destinations and more exotic locations, you will need to take precautions, such as anti-malaria pills, and Hepatitis A and typhoid jabs. Check with your GP as you may need to get the jabs some time ahead. You can also find updated information on travellers’ health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website www.cdc.gov 

GETTING THERE
Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination. Often, all your fractious tot needs is a break, and if you have the time to take one, you’ll feel less stressed, too. Your child will grizzle if he’s hungry, so keep plenty of snacks and drinks on hand. Tasty choices include fresh fruit, cheese triangles and mini rice crackers. Babies are often lulled to sleep by the motion of a car or train, but your toddler may make a noisy travel companion, especially if he’s excited. Pack a travel bag for your tot with his favourite books, some crayons and paper, or whatever will keep him entertained and calm.

• Planes…
In the weeks before your trip, prepare junior for his plane trip by showing him pictures of planes or reading him a story about flying. Once in the air, take regular walks up the aisle so he can stretch his legs and get a change of scene.

• Trains…
This is a great way to travel with your brood ? the rocking motion often soothes a baby to sleep and the constantly changing scenery keeps your toddler interested. Try to get seats with a table, so you can play games, read and draw with your tot.

• … And Automobiles!
Nothing keeps your little one entertained in the car like a singalong. And when it’s time to give your voice a break, try a storybook CD or play your tot’s fave cartoon DVD on a portable player. If your child’s strapped in the back seat, make sure that someone spends time in the back with him. You can watch the world go by together or play action songs like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. If motion sickness strikes, keep windows open and encourage your child to look at things outside the car. Plain, dry crackers will help settle his stomach.
 
YOU'VE ARRIVED!
At last, you’ve made it to your destination - but before you race off to have fun, take some time to read any local safety literature, and check out your surroundings to make sure it’s be safe for your little one. 

• Your room
If your child’s mobile, move anything he could climb onto away from windows, move furniture to block plug sockets from little fingers and check that the balcony is safe. 

• The pool
Find out if there’s a lifeguard or fencing. Be wary even around the kiddie pool, as your child could drown in very shallow water. Always keep a close watch when your tot is in the pool. 

• The sea
Tides and currents can make swimming, and even wading, very dangerous. Always check that the sea is safe to swim before you take a plunge. Babies under 6 months should stay out of the sea. 

• The road
Familiarise yourself with the local road rules and, if you’re driving, make sure your precious one is in a car seat, however short the trip. 

• Drinking water
Tap water is unsafe to drink in many areas and may cause tummy troubles. Stick to sealed bottled water, and avoid ice in drinks.

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT! Make sure all your documents are in order well before you travel. Don’t forget…  • Passports Your baby will need his own passport, which costs $80 ($10 rebate if you apply online or by post) and is valid for five years. Application for Passport On-line Electronic System (APPLES) allows you to get one easily when you fill in your particulars online and submit a digital photo. Use Internet banking or a credit card to pay for it. For more details, contact the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority at its 24-hour Call Centre (6391-6100, or visit www.ica.gov.sg for more information.  • Travel Insurance Be sure to get a travel insurance that takes care of the entire family. It should cover the medical expenses that your family members may incur overseas. NTUC Income and Tenet Insurance offer family plans that include compensation for flight delays, baggage loss and medical expenses.  • Money Most large shops and restaurants now accept credit cards. Cash point machines will dispense local currency on most credit or debit cards. Travellers’ cheques are available from banks or the bureaux de change, and you can cash them in many places, including some shops and hotels, for a commission fee. Bring along some local currency, too, so you won’t have to locate a cash point as soon as you arrive. OUT-SMART Sun-safety strategies. • Keep your baby under 6 months out of the sun. • Keep toddlers out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its most powerful. • Re-apply sunscreen every two hours, or every hour if your child swims or sweats. Apply it 30 minutes before heading into the sun. • Make sure your child wears a sunhat and sunscreen (SPF 20+ and above) that blocks UVA and UVB rays. • Keep kids cool with light, cotton clothing and plenty of fluids.

FLU FIGHTERS
Ways to keep the bug at bay when you travel to wintry wonderlands. 

If you’re running off to a colder climate, don’t forget to protect your kid since winter usually spells flu season! Dr Dawn Lim, a consultant paediatrician at Kinder Clinic (Paragon), shares stay-healthy strategies with on-the-go families.
 
Q How do we keep the flu bug at bay in colder climates?
A Flu bugs live longer in colder climates ? up to eight hours on surfaces like tabletops and clothes. So, wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 15 to 20 seconds, especially after contact with any common surfaces. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser and allow the gel to dry after use. Try not to touch your nose, eyes or mouth as the virus enters the body through these routes. Make sure the family gets adequate sleep and drinks enough water. Bring face masks along, and if anyone sitting close to you is coughing, use the mask to protect yourself and your family. 

Q Can’t we just use wet wipes for cleaning up?
A Only alcohol-based hand sanitisers can kill the virus. Wet wipes usually don't have alcohol in them and can’t kill the flu bug, and neither can non-alcohol based hand sanitisers. But they may be helpful if you have no other alternatives available.
 
Q Must my precious one get a flu jab?
A If your child has a chronic underlying illness like asthma, then he should certainly get vaccinated. If you kid is travelling to a country during its flu season, he should also take the jab. Discuss this ith your doctor and remember that some children, like those with an egg allergy, can’t take the vaccine. 

Q What exactly does the influenza vaccine protect against?
A An influenza vaccine only protects against the influenza virus. In each vaccine, there are three viruses, usually two Influenza A viruses and one Influenza B virus. Taking the normal flu vaccine will protect your child against the seasonal flu, but it does not protect against other viruses that cause the common cold, nor the H1N1 virus. Influenza vaccines come out twice a year depending on what scientists estimate is going to be the prevalent strain during the flu seasons (usually winter) in the different hemispheres. So, ensure that all vaccinations are up-to-date. 

Q When should my child go for his flu jab?
A If your child is less than 9 years and has never taken a flu vaccine before, he will need two doses, since the immune response of younger children to the vaccine may not be as strong as an adult’s. The two doses are given a month apart. You’ll need to complete your jabs two weeks before travelling, so that the immune system can create enough antibodies by the time you fly. So, bring your kid for his first dose at least six weeks before your trip. If you’ve missed the boat, taking one dose is still better than none. One study showed that the effectiveness of one dose can be over 70 per cent. You can then bring your child for his second dose after one month, when you return from your holidays.