Travelling with children

Travelling with children can be stressful for parents, teachers, carers and more so if the children have complex issues such as autism or ADHD.

Trust me, I know what I am talking about and what many of you might be experiencing or even dreading with upcoming holidays. When my youngest was little (it is getting easier and easier as he grows up and with all the work we do with him), it was often much easier to go on road trips rather than attempting getting through an airport 🚗

So here are my top tips for long (or even short) car journeys:

🔸️ PLAN! – use maps, sat nav and even chatGPT to plan your journey. The AI can help you find the fastest and easiest routes that usually avoid heavy traffic (especially if you are travelling through Germany 😆), where to stop for refreshments (including playgrounds), scenic places you might want to visit…

🔸️ plan regular breaks, don’t rush it, take it easy

🔸️ take lots of different snacks and easy drinking bottle for your child

🔸️ think of the car seating arrangements and have a support person (older sibling, your partner or another responsible adult) who can pay attention to the child while you can safely focus on driving – this is crucial

🔸️ take various activities that can occupy your child at least for a few minutes at a time (you need the helper here to swap the activities as needed or read a book, colour along etc) – we used to have a sort of portable play table with velcro pockets for colouring pens, little stamps, stencils etc (the child will need someone to help them set it up and clear it away though)

🔸️ I know screen time is not ideal however on long car journeys it can be a life saver – download films that you are happy for your child to watch. Or have kids stories on Audible or other audio options (forget about listening to your podcasts or books 😆)

My car travel first aid homeopathy kit:

🌸Cocculus Indicus – for motion sickness with dizziness, exhaustion, unwell kids

🌸Nux vomica – another one for car sickness with irritability, overeating on snacks, travel constipation

🌸Gelsemium – for anxiety, fearfulness, weakness – when the kids seem kind of droopy

🌸Chamomilla – for irritable, screaming kids who settle only when carried meaning you would have to stop every 10min (yes, done that too)

🌸Arnica – that goes with me everywhere, can be used not just for minor injuries but also shock, tiredness and soreness from long sitting

🌸Ledum palustre – mainly for insect bites but also other puncture wounds

🌸Arsenicum album – food poisoning, vomiting, restlessness, anxiety

🌸Belladonna – heatstroke with flushed face, hot skin, throbbing headache

🌸Apis mellifica – insect (especially wasps and bees) bites and stings that are swollen, itchy and burning, allergic reactions

🌸China – weakness after diarrhoea or dehydration

Non homeopathic remedies:

🌾Bach Flower Rescue Remedy – for anything and everything really, stress around travelling, tantrums, if you’ve had poor sleep…

🪻Lavender essential oil – can be applied on skin neat without diluting in a base oil (always do a patch test!) and can be used on insect bites, minor scratches, sunburns, on pulse points for headache, can help you sleep and relax or simply just improve the smell in your car after your kid threw up (tried and tested 🤢).

🌞 Wishing you safe and smooth travels wherever and however you travel!

And if you feel like you need more support or want to have expert advice at your fingertips even while travelling, join my Mother’s Herbal Club with dedicated private WhatsApp group where you can ask questions anytime!