8 Helpful Tips for Traveling With Kids With Allergies

It’s official! We are right in the middle of the blissful days of summer, which means one thing for many families – it’s the perfect time for traveling.  Although many parents look forward to family vacations, no one I know enjoys the endless planning and packing that precedes a good trip especially not parents of kids with food allergies who have even more to worry about than most. Well here are some tips to safely make it through your next family vacation so you can focus on fun and leave the worry behind!

• Pack a back-up of safe snacks in case you experience travel delays or have difficulty finding safe food along the way. I can’t tell you how many times I forgot to do this in the beginning with my own son and how much aggravation it caused!
  

• Keep moist towelettes and disposable gloves handy so you can wipe down tables and chairs where cross-contamination is more likely to occur. Millions of people pass through gas stations, airports and restaurants as they travel, and some will without a doubt leave behind traces of allergens. Bonus: Not only does wiping down these areas prevent your kids from coming into contact with their allergens, but it keeps germs that cause colds and the flu away, too!

• Know ahead of time how you will handle meals, especially if it isn’t feasible to pack your own food for the trip. Search online for restaurants and call ahead to confirm that they will be open and can accommodate your kid’s allergy on your travel date.

• Help service providers help you! Let your airline, car rental company and/or hotel know about your kid’s allergies in advance. Ask if they offer special accommodations and request the things you need from them to have a safe trip.

• If you need particular brands or types of toiletries, bring them with you. People with severe allergic asthma may also want to consider packing an allergen-barrier pillow protector or their own pillow for a safe night’s sleep away from home.
  

• Allergy bracelets or necklaces are always important! Be sure your kids are wearing their allergy or medical identification in case you become separated.

• Bring along a full supply of current medication in pharmacy-labeled containers, and a medical action plan.

• Pack an allergy & medical bag with those life saving meds and and keep it with you on Every. Step. Of. Your. Journey.
  

Follow these tips, and you can try and leave your worries behind so that you can focus solely on the fun and excitement of traveling!

Did we miss anything? If you have any advice on how to keep kids with food allergies safe while traveling, share with us!  Join our monthly newsletter.  We promise not to spam you with useless info or TME (too many emails).  Just helpful stuff for keeping your kids well and safe.

Xo

Iris

Iris Shamus is a mother to three awesome kids & the founder/CEO of AllerMates. AllerMates was born as a result of her food allergic and asthmatic son, Ben. Iris and/or AllerMates have been featured in many places including Fox News, the Doctors, Veria Living, MSNBC, The Today Show & the Huffington Post with helpful advice on keeping kids safe.  Based in New York, Iris & her team design & ship their products, create informative content & obsess every day about safeguarding kids.