Tips to avoid food poisoning to kids while traveling

Food poisoning in the kid is the last thing you will keep in judgment while creating a traveling plan with the family. It can be as minute as stomach pain to as dangerous as to last several days. The major symptoms of food poisoning are being sick, belly aches, mild fever, and weakness.

It is prudent if travel plans include precautions and medical solutions for this problem before heading for a trip. 

Best Tips to avoid food poisoning to kids while traveling

Here are some guidelines which should be adopted to avoid food poisoning to kids while traveling.

Breastfeeding the baby while traveling  

                  

Breast milk is the purest milk a baby can have. Breast milk should be favored instead of pasteurized milk. And it is the best option while traveling as it cuts down the prospects of food poisoning to the child. 

It can cause danger to the kid if his/her mother prefers the milk in plastic bottles. The bottle needs to be fresh every two hours, which is a huge task while traveling.

All you need to do is carry comfortable, nursing clothes/ maternity wear to nurse your baby whenever required.

                        Casual Colorblock Long-sleeve Nursing Hoodie

Say NO to plastic covered food items

You have to be careful about the food your child is using up. Is it properly cooked or baked? It must not be handled with plastic wrappers and also keep a look at the expiry date of the foodstuff. 

It is advisable to have some house cooked food while traveling as it would cut down the prospects of food intoxication. You can also prefer fruits for your kids, but they must be fresh and well cleaned.

Check drinking water before you use it during travel

Keep an eye on which type of water your kid is drinking. It must be well sterilized or mineral water. Besides, don’t forget to see the seal as well as the expiry date on the bottle. Water is one of the main sources from which your kid can get food poisoning.

Ensure kids drink plenty of safe water and fluids throughout the travel period.

Say no to roadside foods

                                         

Always go for food from reputed food outlets. Avoid buying from roadside vendors as they seldom follow cleanliness rules. Check from locals about reputed restaurants or resort to the internet for reliable food outlets at your destination.

                         

Choose what you eat carefully

Mostly, food poisoning occurs from meat and eggs. It could be dangerous if eggs are not properly boiled or meat is not properly cooked. They carry higher risks of food poisoning with them. 

It would be better if you avoid this stuff during traveling. Also, this counts in a heavy diet, which should be avoided during traveling.

Ideally, homecooked food is safe and nutritious. If not possible, buy packed foods/ snacks beforehand and carry them while traveling to avoid food poisoning to kids.

                                                   Banana Bar Cookies 

Ensure the cleanliness quotient twice

Make sure the spoons or the plates you are using must be sterilized. Also, there must be no dirt in your kid’s hands as they give a pathway to bacteria to let inside the body and cause stomach issues. 

Develop a habit of handwashing in kids before eating and after using washrooms.

                Werewolf Spot the Difference Game for kids

Ensure must-have items in your carry bag

Keep some antibiotics, energy drinks,  face masks, and sanitizer with your luggage, and don’t forget to have a thermometer. Also, pack some emergency food that must be easier and can be used during an emergency. 

If the child is having stomachache or showing symptoms of food poisoning, ensure the kid drinks loads of water while you contact the nearby doctor as soon as possible.

Follow these tips to avoid food poisoning and for safe travel with kids.

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Train travel with kids

Air Travel with infant and kids

Traveling needs conceptualizing, planning, and organizing. When it comes to air traveling with kids, this same task calls for extra attention to all details. Our children are completely dependent on us and so we as adults need to make sure that their journey is safe, comfortable, and joyful. 

Checklist for your safe air travel with infant and kids

Plan well in advance

Adults don't have the luxury to opt for a last-minute journey if they are going to be accompanied by their kids. Planning is very important if you wish you make it a hassle-free affair. Always decide in advance one parent will accompany kids and the other one will get things done once the family leaves for the airport. For reaching the airport, you may request a friend to drop you else book a cab in advance to avoid the last-minute hassle.

                                                                                               

Family travel is a great time for bonding with kids.

Before you leave for the airport

Web check-in and online seat assignment are big-time savers. These small things save you from lots of hassles when you are at the airport with your baby/ kid. Remember to print out your boarding pass as well and put them on top of your cabin bag. Along with this, you must have your IDs, tour itinerary, and important contact numbers of the travel agent/ contact person of your destination.

Remember to carry your COVID vaccination reports and/ or the latest COVID test reports as per the rules of the airlines and state/ country you intend to visit.

Consider possible emergencies

Make a checklist of what you can possibly need for your child during the travel. Also, check with the airlines if they allow a stroller and car seat for lap infants. Also, make sure that you pay attention to the standard emergency briefing. You may also talk to the flight attendant if they have any emergency equipment for children in particular.

Carry-on luggage should be thoroughly equipped   
                      

Right from your kid’s food, water, milk, baby food, snacks, and medications, your cabin luggage should include everything in sufficient quantities.  For babies, remember to carry pacifiers, milk bottles, and plenty of diapers. 

                                               

Children tend to get bored very soon. Don’t forget to carry some items of their interest too, so that they don’t bother you too much.

Security checks before boarding the plane

Check with the officials if there are special lanes for security checks of families. Also, ascertain if they allow slings/ strollers/ car seats to be used while security checks going on and after that as well till the time of boarding the plane. In addition, prepare your kids well about the security process in order to seek cooperation from them. 

Once the process is done, let the kids run around or play in the play area of the airport. It is also the time to head to the restroom to change the diapers of your baby or buy some last-minute snacks/ water bottles for your family.

Related post-  Important Family Travelling Accessories that you can't skip

No aisle seat for your child

While most kids love the window seat, there are also a few who would want to sit on the aisle one. But don’t allow them to sit there for too long and definitely not if you see the serving cart coming.

                              

Taking off, in-flight, and landing time

The ear pressure during takeoff and landing can disturb your baby/ kids a lot. So it’s better to nurse your baby or bottle feed him or use pacifiers to divert the attention. For older kids, gum can do the trick. Encourage them to take a nap so that the journey is less tiresome for them.

Don’t let your kids wander in the airplane without you having an eye on them. During long journeys, you should take extra care of this. Engage them in some conversation, book reading, or playing with small toys.

Related post- Proactive ways to avoid tantrums of kids in public

In addition, sharp, heavy objects, and toys that can break easily should be avoided while traveling by air. Electronic games should be immediately closed as per the instructions.

Keep the child belted at all times

This can be very tough especially if you have a hyperactive kid, but nevertheless, you will, at all costs, have to ensure this, just to make sure that your kid is safe and very much in his place.

Unforeseen situations

Flight delays obviously upset anybody but you cannot do anything about it. It is better to be prepared for it especially w.r.t. kids. While on the flight, bad weather conditions or emergency landings do create havoc. The best thing at that time is to follow the instructions of the crew and maintain your composure. Your kids will react in the same way as you will.

Werewolf Spot the Difference Game for kids.

A child’s responsibility is the biggest ever. And you cannot blame anybody if things don’t fall according to your plan. The most important thing to remember is never to panic no matter what. Instead, think of all the alternatives that can come in handy in case of emergencies!

Hope these air travel tips with infants and kids have helped you to plan your air travel. Have a safe journey!

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Road trip with kids

Important Tips for Train Travel with kids

Kids love train journeys, and especially if the travel is planned well. Taking small things into consideration and giving attention to the smallest details can work wonders for you. Here we present a list of train travel tips for traveling with kids. Go over them to have a successful train journey with kids.

                                                               

Important Tips for Train Travel with Kids

1.    Arrive well before scheduled departure

Irrespective of whether you have booked your ticket in advance or not, you should arrive at the station at least forty-five minutes before the train arrives. This way you can take care of the seating arrangements and make the journey comfortable, especially for your kids.

Opt for a direct-route train

Look at the various options and you’ll be amazed to see that although you have a wide range of trains to choose from, there are only a handful that has a direct route. This is important to save time. And your kids will appreciate a short journey moreover a never-ending train ride!

3.  Know the Train Ticket Prices For Kids

Don’t pay an adult rate for your eight- year old. Many times, there is a low fare for children below 12 years. You might want to get complete information before you book your tickets.

Different countries follow varied price structure, it is vital to check beforehand. In case the price provide special benefits for families or any other kind, like for the army, do check it out and avail the benefit.

4.   Consider train timings

Children love gazing out the window, especially when the train is passing by the countryside. That’s their favorite pastime. And if you accidentally happen to book a night train, then your kids are not going to like it. Or, in case you have a considerably long train journey, then opt for the overnight train and preferably a cabin for the privacy of your family.

5.  Always opt for a trial train journey first

Hyperactive kids don’t like to sit and do nothing. Go for a short length train journey to see how your kid reacts. If he/ she likes it then you can choose to go by train for long distances or else skip the idea for a few years.

6.   Never ignore the train’s safety guidelines

Train travel is different from a road trip. Familiarize yourself with all the safety rules and guidelines of the train. You can then make your kids aware of the train protocols. This is mandatory to protect your family from having to face uncalled-for incidents and to make your travel as comfortable as possible.

7.   Know about the dining car

If you are opting for long-distance train travel, then pre-book the seating/ meal in the dining car. This will avoid last-minute hassles, and you can ensure that your child is well-fed during the journey.

8.  Exclusive Travel backpack for kids

Kids love to carry luggage of their own. So, allot a backpack to your kid with his/ her choice of homemade snacks, comics, storybooks, and entertainment options such as cards, Rubik's Cube, puzzles, and other portable pastimes. You may also stick a card on the bag displaying their name and other details.

                                

Baby accessories

In case you need to travel with your baby, then pack plenty of clothes, diapers, pacifiers, and baby food in a separate bag. It is advised to keep an extra of everything to deal with unforeseen situations.

Medical kit

Need we say, you must pack essential medicines related to kids. If your kid is prone to some medical ailment, then do carry the related medicine and doctor's prescription to deal with unexpected circumstances. Always encourage kids to use hand sanitizer/ soap on the journey to maintain hygiene.

Must Read - Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning to Kids while Traveling

Rules to remember for Train Travel with Kids

  

Always keep your kids in between and do not let them go out of your sight.  

While waiting on the platform, boarding or deboarding the train, always hold their hands as the place may be crowded. 

Even while going to the washroom, accompany your kids so that help is just a call away. 

Make sure that you don’t leave your kids alone even for a moment while on the train. 

Confirm kids of 5 years or so know their home address, parents' contact number, their destination, etc.

Kids are really vulnerable and can create huge problems or get into one without even blinking an eye. Provide age-appropriate guidance at home for smooth family travel.

With these essential travel tips, we hope you and you kids will definitely love your train travel experience!

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Happy Eco-friendly Holi to you

Smearing colors on each other and splashing water- this scene instantly brings fond memories of the Holi festival to our minds, though I only watch people splashing water and colors. :)

My idea of Holi is all about preparing delicacies and enjoying them with family. Besides, I enjoy exchanging greetings with all those who mean to me a lot in my life. In fact, I do feel we can find some eco-friendly and alternative ways to enjoy Holi as we often hear about mishaps due to negligence or otherwise.

Let us celebrate eco-friendly Holi!

Alternate Ways to Celebrate Holi This Year

1. Instead of wasting tonnes of water down the streets, it would be better to create a huge water tub filled with natural colors in a common area and enjoy the celebrations. However, there are other ways too that exclude unnecessary water usage.

2. Another attractive option is to play Holi with flower petals. In some parts of India, people shower petals on each other and celebrate in an eco-friendly way.

3. Create colors at home with daily-use items such as turmeric, vegetables, henna powder, sandalwood powder, dried leaves, and flowers. These are natural and skin-friendly, causing no harm to users. Avoid chemical colors and other harmful options.

                                                      

4. Involving kids in Holi preparations, be it in the kitchen or in decoration, is another awesome way. Ask your kids to express their feelings about the festival by way of drawings/ paintings or write-ups as well.

5. Switch to colors on the paper. Let kids draw, color/ paint their thoughts and feelings related to the festival on the canvas. Just see what comes out and enjoy the creation. My six-year-old daughter created her imagination on paper and here it is:

We pasted her masterpiece on the door of her room.

Let there be colors of love, faith, hope, and happiness everywhere. Wish you all a safe, memorable, and eco-friendly Holi!!

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Safety tips for kids while playing sports

Playing sports is indeed beneficial for the all-round growth of children. Nevertheless, it requires several safety measures so that kids remain absolutely safe while playing sports. Here are essential safety tips for kids while playing sports:

Adequate Hydration: While playing any sport be it lawn tennis or some team sports such as soccer, it is important to stay hydrated. Kids must drink adequate water and fluids to avoid dehydration and heatstroke.

Skin safety: Direct sun rays can damage the sensitive skin of kids. Therefore the use of caps, sunglasses, and sunscreen is essential. In fact, sunscreen should be reapplied every 2-3 hours to avoid heat rash and skin tanning.

Warming up and cooling down: It is important to warm up before playing sports because it helps the body to prepare for rigorous physical stress. Moreover, it also improves the flexibility and strength of muscles and bones. Cooling down is equally important after sports sessions as it relaxes the overstressed muscles and nerves and brings them back to normal temperature.
   
Use of sports safety guards: Proper sports safety guards such as helmets, knee caps, elbow caps, mouth guards, goggles, gloves, proper shoes, or any other safety equipment depending upon the sport should be used.    

            

Safety from mosquito bites: Kids are often bitten by bugs and mosquitoes while playing in the parks. This may cause serious problems such as malaria, skin infection, etc. Therefore, it is important to apply mosquito repellent creams, mosquito wipes and wear adequate clothing to avoid such instances.

Overindulgence: Over involvement in sports or playing without taking enough breaks can cause harm to the body in the form of injuries, sprains and strains, body aches, etc. Therefore, parents need to monitor the playing hours of the kids.

                             

Proper training and guidance: Kids need proper training and guidance while playing sports of any kind be it soccer, lawn tennis, cycling, or swimming to avoid any mishaps, injuries, or accidents. They need to learn the sport from professional trainers to learn the correct usage of sports equipment and the right way to play. This would avoid several physical injuries or accidents while playing sports.

Proper nutrition: Last but not the least, regular sports sessions and training should be accompanied by healthy nutrition containing all the food groups such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, water, and minerals. This would help a lot in making kids stronger.

Do your kids love sports?

Do your kids prefer video games over outdoor sports? Are they hesitant to play with the kids of their age? Are they becoming couch potato merely gazing at the television? Or are your kids not able to take defeat in their stride?

If your answer is yes to any of these then sorry to say your kids do not love sports enough. Is it really bad? Yes, indeed! Sports contribute to physical, mental, emotional as well as social growth of kids. Participation in sports of kids helps in all-round development and improves their strengths thereby overcoming their shortcomings. Therefore, teach your kids to LOVE SPORTS.

Simple ways to teach your kids to love Outdoor Sports and Activities 

Why playing outdoor sports for kids is important?

                     

• Go out and play any sport with them be it cricket, soccer, cycling, swimming, or any other outdoor activity that involves lots of physical strain and mind power.

• Encourage your kids to join classes of soccer, martial arts, skating, cricket, lawn tennis, or any other that is available in your surroundings. That would help him/ her to learn a new sport and participate actively on a regular basis.                                                   

• Watch a tournament/ match with your kids with full enthusiasm and cheer for your favorite player. It will also evoke interest in kids in sports.

• Keep yourself updated about the latest in the sports world and share it with your kids.

• Make a collage of favorite sports, collect pictures, and make a scrapbook. Else you can prepare a diary to keep a record of the latest scores or milestones achieved in a sport or by your favorite sports personality.

• Next time, you plan your kid's birthday, keep sports such as football as a theme and ask kids to come dressed up accordingly. Order a cake that looks like a football and plan out the decor of your home as per the football theme.

• If you are planning to gift something to your kid on his birthday or as appreciation for school performance then gift him sports accessories such as skating kit, football, cricket bat, tennis racquet, etc that will motivate him to indulge in sports.

Last but not the least, be a player yourself. If you are an active sportsperson then most likely kids would follow your path.

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Top Team Sports for Older Kids

We know the importance of Outdoor sports for kids and its immense benefits towards all-round development of kids. We also understand the lifelong positive effects of playing outdoor sports. The kids develop confidence, gain endurance and muscle strength, learn to adapt and cooperate as an active team member. These qualities help kids throughout their life.

Now the question arises which team sports should kids play?

Top Team Sports for Older Kids and the Benefits

Football

Whether you have a boy or girl, you can encourage to play team sports such as Football. The game involves lots of fast and slow run, sprinting, standing, passing the ball, and coordinating with the other ten players to score goals. The sport is ideal to reduce fats and attain leaner but stronger physique. Also, your kid will get improved flexibility, increased bone, and muscle strength as well as increased aerobic capacity. Not to forget, the kids learn to play the game in a disciplined way while cooperating with others.

Basketball 

            

Basketball is a fast-paced game with lots of running, jumping, dribbling, and passing the ball involved in the court. It can be played both outdoors as well as indoors. The game is a great way to make your kids active, physically strong, mentally tough, and self-disciplined. To win the game, it requires coordination, strategy, and team effort. The kids thus learn a lot of skills through this game.



Hockey

Hockey requires eye-hand coordination and balance while managing the hockey stick and the ball. The hockey players benefit a lot from this game such as physical strength, flexibility, balance, and stamina.                                  

Not only this the sport imparts several life skills among players like team spirit, coordination, discipline, listening skills, patience, and self-esteem. All these qualities also help kids in their personal lives and make them a responsible citizen of the society.

Cricket                                   

One of the most popular team sports of the world, Cricket, requires great eye-hand coordination, gross motor skills, concentration, and determination. The players hold, catch and throw the ball which improves the motor skills and eye-hand coordination. In addition, batting the ball in the correct direction increases the focus of the player. Moreover, the game also requires fast running between the wickets and around the field as well as developing muscle and bone strength, flexibility, and stamina. Therefore, cricket is highly recommended for young as well as older kids.

Volleyball

Now this game requires the use of hands, focus, coordination, and balance. The players attain strength in the upper body, arms, and shoulders as well as in legs and thighs. The sport also improves eye-hand coordination, concentration, and overall strength of the players. It is a good way to burn extra calories and stay fit. Encourage your kids to join the sport at school or at nearby sports classes. They would love to play volleyball on the court and on the beach as well.

The above team sports are highly recommended to make your kids energetic, healthy, emotionally stable, disciplined, and social.