4 travel tips from top Paediatric Consultant
Heading off on holiday with your little ones? We know it's a mix of exciting adventure and logistical mission! We sat down with Dr. Prevatt, a leading NHS Paediatric Consultant specialising in Travel Medicine (one of the very few!), to get her expert advice on keeping kids happy, healthy, and safe while exploring the world.
1. Travel sickness is a nightmare for parents. Any advice?
It's very common in kids aged 3-12, especially girls. For quick relief, over-the-counter anti-sickness tablets like Joyrides® or Kwells® are effective, but be aware they can cause drowsiness. If you know your child is prone to travel sickness, an antihistamine like Piriton® taken the night before can help with less drowsiness.
Here are some tips to prevent travel sickness:
Keep them cool with fresh air or air conditioning.
Encourage them to rest their head back or recline as much as possible from the start of the journey.
Minimize head movement with pillows or headrests.
Offer a light, dry snack before travelling.
Have them close their eyes or focus on the horizon.
Limit sensory overload – no reading, loud radio, or intense games.
Use relaxation techniques like deep breathing. (Anxiety can worsen motion sickness.)
Other things that might help:
While evidence is limited for kids, some parents find ginger chews or prism sunglasses helpful.
Acupressure wristbands (pressing 5cm above the wrist) are used in pregnancy, but studies in children are lacking.
If these don't work, and travel sickness is predictable (e.g., an hour of winding roads), give Piriton® the night before travel. This can be effective 8-16 hours later and causes less drowsiness than stronger anti-sickness medications.
For fast relief of travel sickness that's already started:
Stop the journey temporarily if possible (easier in a car than on a boat or plane) and give over-the-counter sickness medication like Joyrides® or Kwells®. Always read the label!
Top Tip: Always test new medication before travel to see how your child reacts, as some kids become hyperactive with antihistamines.
2. Ear pain on take-off and landing—how do we stop the tears?
Babies should breastfeed or bottle-feed during takeoff and landing to help equalize ear pressure.
Older kids can sip a drink, suck on a sweet, or use an Otovent balloon—a fantastic tool for kids who struggle with pressure changes. If children have a cold, congestion makes it harder to "pop" their ears, potentially leading to eardrum perforations. I always use my Otovent!
3. How can we avoid kids getting jetlagged and sleeping through the first three days of our holiday?
Children often experience jet lag when flying over 8 hours or crossing multiple time zones. Effective strategies exist, but people often don't use them. You need to adjust your body clock before the flight!
The most important thing is to avoid napping at the wrong time! If your child's body thinks it's nighttime but it's daytime at your destination, expose them to sunlight to reset their clock.
Jet lag is often worsened by travel fatigue, so consider minimizing travel time to the airport or staying at an airport hotel.
🕒 Before you fly:
Adjust your family's bedtime three to four days before the trip. Sleeping earlier for eastward travel can be beneficial.
For adults, adjust wakening time as well. For children increase daytime activity instead of waking them early.
✈️ On the flight:
Stay hydrated. Encourage water intake and offer hydrating foods like coconut water or fruits. Avoid sugary drinks.
Immediately switch to your destination's time zone.
Encourage naps according to the new time zone. Bring comfort items and consider pull-out seat extenders or bassinets for babies.
🌞 Once at your destination:
Follow the new time zone's day-night cycle for the first two days. Stay awake during daylight hours, even if you're tired.
Plan low energy activites for the first day, to avoid making poor choices due to jetlagged brain. walking or swimming are great.
If naps are necessary, ensure they're in daylight, such as in a stroller.
If you accidentally fall asleep during the day, meditation apps or melatonin supplements (for adults, prescription only in the UK) may help.
4. Many parents struggle with getting their children to take medication. Do you have any creative solutions?
Absolutely! It doesn’t have to be a stressful moment and can be fun!
I've developed what I call the "Swallowing Magic Technique" that turns medication into a fun game children actually enjoy.
You start with swallowing sweets! They aren't scary and they aren't bitter if they don't go down. This method is supported by the Royal College of Paediatrics!
Start by swallowing small sweets!
Gradually increase the size of the sweets to match the pill.
Begin with tiny bits, then move to small cake decorations, smarties, or bread balls.
Provide their favorite drink in a familiar water bottle.
Sit comfortably, put the sweet on your and their tongue.
Lean slightly forward, and drink three gulps of the chosen drink.
Show them you swallowed it like magic!
If it doesn't go down, it's just a sweet, and you can try again.
If they do it, congratulate them for their magical skills!
If you are anxious about your child taking pills, let another family member or friend teach them this skill.
Dr. Prevatt, NHS Paediatric Consultant specialising in Travel Medicine
She is passionate about sustainable travel and shares her insights on her blog. She also leads the paediatric board for the International Society of Travel Medicine and offers remote kids travel clinic appointments across the UK. Check out her blog for more travel tips or book a consultation before your trip!