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COOL TRAVEL MAIL’S
TRAVEL TIPS
Tips & Advice for the Seasoned and Armchair Traveler Alike!
February 17, 2009

Leaving your child at home while you travel may be
a frightening and stressful prospect if you’ve never
done it before — and even if you have!

But you can prepare your child before you leave so
that both of you can feel more comfortable.
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Made of reinforced polyethylene with heavy-duty hardware and
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             Traveling Without Your Child

                    Are Kids Ready?

Kids’ readiness to stay at home depends largely on
their age. Separation anxiety is common among kids
between 6 months and 2 years old. For them, comfort
is vital. Make sure they’ll feel comfortable with a
babysitter while you’re gone and keep their normal
daily routines going. If possible, it’s better for
kids at this stage to stay in their own home while
parents are away rather than at someone else’s
house.

Preschoolers might not understand why a parent is
leaving, may worry that they’ve done something wrong
to cause it, and may think that the separation is
punishment. So it’s important to assure them that
this isn’t the case and to explain the reason for a
trip in terms they understand.

Often, preschoolers will react to a parent’s departure
by regressing to younger behaviors, such as whining or
asking for a bottle. If your child reacts that way, a
reminder from you that the behavior is not appropriate
and won’t change your travel plans can be effective.

School-age kids might more directly show their feelings
of sadness or anger about a parent’s departure. Kids
ages 6 to 8 may feel comforted by something of yours
to keep close while you’re gone.

Older kids may seem extra-moody about a parent’s
departure and act angry one moment and clingy the
next. So consider scheduling activities to engage
them while you’re gone. It’s important to reassure
them that you’ll miss them, too, and that you trust
that the babysitter will take good care of them.

If your kids are teenagers, they may not feel like
they even need a babysitter while you are traveling.
If you also have younger children, you can explain
that the caregiver is there because of them and ask
your teen to help the babysitter look after the
younger kids while you are gone.

If you have only a teen and are not comfortable with
leaving him or her alone, it is important to convey
your concerns and to explain why you feel more com-
fortable having someone else in the house.

If you do decide to leave your teen alone, establish
clear rules for the time that you’re away. And it’s
a good idea to have a friend or neighbor look in on
your child while you’re gone.

                 Preparing the Caregiver

If possible, try to have the person caring for your
child visit before you leave. This will help your
child be more comfortable with that person and your
plans to go away. It’s also a chance to review the
house rules, your child’s daily routines, and other
important issues with the caregiver.

Things to cover:

proper use of the car seat

tips for comforting your child

babyproofing or childproofing measures that are taken
in your home

rules your child follows with strangers

the layout of your house and neighborhood

what to do in the event of a fire, including informa-
tion on where the fire extinguishers and the fire
detectors are in the house

what to do in the event of a medical emergency,
including where and how to reach you at all times
 
a list of important phone numbers (see “Leaving a
Paper Trail” below)

a record of your child’s allergies, medications,
vaccinations, and medical history

where to find a flashlight and spare batteries

your travel itinerary, including times when you might
be unreachable

Also consider leaving these with the caregiver:

library cards

membership cards for community centers, pools, museums,
and other local attractions

a calendar of local events

cash for food and any emergencies

a full tank of gas in your car (also check the oil
and tires)

a well-stocked food pantry and refrigerator

favorite toys, videotapes, and books in plain view

a new book or toy to help distract or comfort your
child

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         Traveling Without Your Child Con’T

Stocking the Medicine Cabinet

A well-stocked medicine cabinet should have:

acetaminophen or ibuprofen

adhesive bandages
 
antiseptic

calamine lotion

cool-mist vaporizer

cotton balls/swabs

insect repellent

nail clippers

sterile gauze pads and surgical tape

sunscreen

thermometer

tweezers

If your child takes medication regularly, make sure
there’s a sufficient supply and that your caregiver
knows how to administer it.

Leaving a Paper Trail…..

Besides your itinerary, leave a folder with your
child’s medical information and these phone numbers:

your child’s doctor and your local hospital

police, fire, and ambulance

your pharmacy

your dentist
 
gas/electric emergency number

health insurance company

nearest relative and neighbor

poison control center

school/child-care center

Important medical information in the folder should
include:

health insurance cards
 
your child’s medical record (listing allergies, cur-
rent medications, height, weight, age, and vaccina-
tion history)

emergency medical consent forms (from your local
hospital), which will let the caregiver seek medical
care for your child while you’re away

While You’re Away…..

Check in with the caregiver regularly, if possible.
Think carefully about how much contact will comfort
your child while you’re away. Some kids might need
postcards or a daily phone call or email message,
whereas others might get more upset when they hear
a parent’s voice.

Review basic details about your travel plans with
your kids before you leave. You can mark your
travel dates on a calendar to help them understand
how long you’ll be gone or instruct the caregiver
to cross off each day at bedtime.

Be prepared for your child’s behavior when you return.
Young kids sometimes feel angry at their parents for
leaving and act out or ignore them when they return.

If this happens, provide your child with the same
sort of reassurance and discipline that you would
in any other situation. Certainly, you should try
to hug or kiss your child when you return but don’t
push it if your child is still angry.

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- Keys can be added or removed with an easy-to-push open
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- Requires 1 CR-2025 Lithium Battery (Included)
- Comes in a gift-wrapped box

Get this for yourself or for your forgetful friend or spouse…
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Well, that’s it for this week, group. Thanks again for
reading, and please keep those comments, complaints and
questions coming in.

You can send me an e-mail message at:
mailto:pierce@gophercentral.com
Until next week, thanks for reading. 

Your Tipmeister, 

Pierce