It’s no secret that when traveling you put yourself at risk for getting sick. Your chances of catching a germ or two are pretty high—after all, you’ll be doing everything from mingling with crowds to breathing recycled air on the plane. And when you’re traveling with children, your chances of contracting a bug are even higher. After all, kids love to put their fingers in their mouths, roll on the floor, and do many other not-so-sanitary things. But there are precautions you can take when traveling with kids to ensure that they (and you!) stay as healthy as possible.
Below, Zak Zarbock, M.D., dad, pediatrician, and founder of Zarbee’s Naturals lists 5 ways you can keep kids healthy while traveling.
- Sanitize once you get past security. Most fliers are required to take off their shoes at airport security. With everyone touching the bottoms of their shoes, germs and bacteria are being transferred to their hands, and then on everything else they touch past that point. Quickly using a hand wipe just past security can go a long way toward keeping germs at a minimum.
- Be prepared. The best defense is a good offense. To ensure your family feels their best while on vacation, take a multivitamin to fill any nutritional gaps in your diet. Also, focus on wholesome immune support ingredients such as vitamin C, zinc, and even elderberry.
- Wipe down contact points. When you get to your seat (both at the gate and on the plane), quickly wipe down the arm rests, handles, and any side or tray tables before you settle in. You’ll feel better knowing that your kid’s food, drinks, snacks, toys, and activities will be handled with clean hands and only come into contact with fresh surfaces.
- Hydrate. Make sure you and your family both drink lots of water. Planes are known to dehydrate people, and keeping hydrated will make everyone less vulnerable to dry skin, eyes, and mouths. Consider bringing a refillable water bottle or getting bottled water at the airport so you are prepared for the entire flight.
- Wash your hands. No one wants to arrive at their destination only to find an illness coming on, so hand washing is a no brainer, and soap and water are always best to fight germs that you might pick up en route to your destination. If soap and water aren’t available, I recommend using a baby wipe on the hands, followed by hand sanitizer.
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