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5 tips for traveling with children in hot weather
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As a follow up to my article, "Heat Illness 101: 5 tips for prevention and treatment" here are 5 tips for keeping the kids cool, healthy, and happy on the road this summer.
1. Keen them hydrated
Pack a cooler with ice and bottled water or sports drinks (avoid sugary drinks and sodas, who wants a wired five-year-old on a long drive?) Toss in a couple of cold packs or dampened hand towels as well. Place these on the back of a child’s neck if they get hot and sweaty, and sit them down in the shade to cool. Try to get them to drink at least six 6oz glasses of water a day, more is better. Yes, all those potty breaks are a bummer, but much less so that a trip to the emergency room.
2. Dress them for the heat
Cool, loose fitting clothes are best and keep in mind sun protection as well. Hours of sitting beside a sunny car window can lead to serious sunburn. Window shades are a good investment.
Also, make sure you bring layers. A lightweight jacket, or a pair of sweatpants that can be donned quickly and easily, can be a real life-saver if the temps drop when the sun goes down, or that weather forecast wasn't 100% accurate. Also, remember that much of the body's heat escapes from the head, so a cap with a visor can pull double duty as sun-protection and insulation.
3. Plan ahead
Check an online weather service for the area that you're traveling to. If it's going to be hot, try to book a hotel or motel that offers air conditioning and maybe even a pool. Be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen along with those swimsuits!
4. Keep their tanks full
Keep the kids fueled up (a hungry child is a grumpy child) with several smaller meals and snacks throughout the day. Stick to cool snacks and meals (salads, sandwiches, raw fruits and veggies.) You can save a bundle by packing these yourself in the cooler.
5. Be realistic
Take a look at your itinerary and compare it to the weather forecast. Disneyland at 98 degrees isn't nearly as much fun as Disneyland at 78 degrees (been there!) Try to have a "back-up" plan for fun, maybe an indoor arcade, or a kid-friendly movie. Be flexible and remember that kids will be worn out by the heat quicker than adults, and will be less likely to give you warning...until they meltdown!
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