Ask the Nurse: Summer Traveling Tips

Question: My child has special needs and we want to take a family trip this summer. What should I do to prepare?

Answer: Doing things different on a trip may seem exciting, but if your child doesn’t handle disruption of his/her routine, it can make a trip hard for everyone. Keeping a routine even when on vacation can help insure the trip is enjoyable for everyone.

When traveling there is a degree to which routine disruptions can’t be avoided. To the degree that you can control routines, you should keep them.  Keep things as predictable as possible for your child, and know that there will be challenges with disruptions.

Here are a few things that can help with routines.

• Bring familiar items like stuffed animals, favorite blanket, pillow, and toys.
• Keep bedtimes and wake-up times as close to normal as possible, allowing for time changes.
• Consider and plan for meals.
• Bring some entertainment item your child enjoys; videos, video games, computer or other device.
• Keep a consistent schedule from day to day, if you can.
• Talk to your child each morning about what you’ll be doing, and then each night talk about what you’ve done.

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