Traveling with Children

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Travel can be a wonderful experience for a child. But for a child with nasal allergies, new places and new adventures can mean unexpected allergy triggers—triggers that can worsen nasal allergy symptoms. To help control your child's nasal allergy symptoms while traveling, consider some of these suggestions.

Planning your travel

Speak with your child's doctor, allergist, or pediatrician about what you should do if your child's nasal allergies get worse during your vacation. Keep a list of your child's medicines, the dose of each and the doctor's instructions handy.
Choose hotels or motels that do not allow pets.
Pack enough of your child's nasal allergy medicine to last 1 or 2 days longer than the vacation just in case you come home a day or 2 later than expected.
Pack allergy-proof covers for pillows or bring your child's pillow and a few clean pillowcases with you.

On the way

Travel early in the morning or late in the evening when the air quality is better.
While traveling in the car, use the air conditioner or heater and set the system to "recirculate." Travel with the windows closed to avoid allergens from outside.
Make sure the medicines are packed in a spot that's easy to reach in the car.
Pack your child's nasal allergy medicines in carry-on baggage on planes, so you'll have them just in case your luggage gets lost.

At your destination

Have all family members change into clean clothing after being outdoors all day. This will help reduce the amount of pollen inside the hotel room.
When staying with family or friends, the same allergens that you find at home may be at your new location, so talk with them ahead of time so they can prepare your room to be as allergen free as possible.
In a hotel, ask for an allergy-friendly, pet-free room.

At summer camp

Make sure your child knows his or her nasal allergy triggers, and how to avoid them.
Make sure your child understands how to take his or her nasal allergy medicines.
Give your child and the trip supervisor or camp nurse a list of your child's nasal allergy medicines. Also list the medicine doses and times the medicines should be taken.