The holidays are a wonderful time full of shopping, parties, and, of course - travel! At Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, we understand that traveling with children can sometimes be challenging. To help you prepare for trip, our experts have compiled a list of how to overcome common travel problems. Doing a little planning in advance can help ensure that when the time comes, all you'll have left to do is relax and enjoy your vacation!

Jet Lag. When you fly across time zones, it can take time for your internal body clock to catch up with the local time. In addition to tiredness, jet lag can cause an upset stomach and even insomnia. Here are some steps you can take to help deal with jet lag:
. Try to adjust your family's sleep schedules 2-3 days before departure.
. Make sure everyone drinks plenty of water during the flight. Avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages.
. Try to have everyone get a little exercise on a long flight by stretching regularly and even walking up and down the aisles when they're clear.
. After arrival, encourage kids to be active outside or in brightly lit areas during daylight hours.
. Try to follow local time at your destination

Ear Pain. It's common for kids to experience ear discomfort during a plane's takeoff and descent caused by pressure in the middle ear as it tries to equalize. Encourage kids to swallow, yawn, or, if they're old enough, chew gum. It may help infants to nurse or suck on a bottle. You may also want to give your child a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, 30 to 60 minutes before takeoff or, if it's a long flight, prior to landing.

Travel Sickness. Travel (or motion) sickness is caused by a conflict between the eye and ear: The inner ears detect movement, but the eyes - focused within a car or other vehicle - do not. These mixed signals coming into the brain can cause nausea, dizziness, vomiting, pallor, and cold sweats. Some ways to help your child combat travel sickness:
. Have your child eat a light meal before your leave, and provide foods that are easily digested, such as complex carbohydrates, and avoid fatty foods.
. Try to avoid eating during short trips. For longer trips, sip drinks and eat light, small meals and snacks. If your child is feeling sick, provide some blander foods, like crackers.
. Encourage kids to look outside the car, rather than inside. They should focus on still objects - not moving ones (like other cars) - or a distant point.
. Keep the window open a little to allow fresh air to circulate.
. Use a headrest to minimize head movement.
. Make frequent stops at places like rest stops and parks. A short walk for some fresh air might help.
. Ask your doctor about medicines to prevent travel sickness.

Be Prepared. Do some research before your trip to find the hospital or medical care facility closest to your destination, particularly if your child has a chronic health condition. It's also a good idea to carry a written copy of your child's medical history. This can help healthcare workers make appropriate decisions about how to treat your child and you won't have to worry about forgetting important information at a time when you're likely to be upset.

For more information on services at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, please call (850) 416-1600 or visit www.sacred-heart.org.

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