Taking children out of school for family vacations is illegal in many (probably most) school districts in the US, Canada, Great Britain and Australia. Most school districts have specific policies regarding absences for reasons other than illness. Some districts allow a limited number of days (usually fewer than four) for such activities – if permission […]
Do infants’ safety seats on airplanes save lives?
January 16, 2016 by
The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) strongly recommends that all infants and young children be seated in an appropriate safety seat (also referred to as a child restraint system or CRS) for air travel. But, to the dismay of many safety advocates, the FAA refuses to enact laws to mandate such seats, leaving the decision […]
Infants/Air travel/Excessive crying: An update.
December 13, 2015 by
Forget lousy food, airport delays, and turbulence. One of air travelers’ biggest nightmares is sitting near a cute, cuddly little baby that suddenly morphs into a nonstop noise machine emitting high decibel, ear-piercing, headache-producing, sleep-preventing terror. An even worse nightmare: it’s your child. But hold on! There may be a solution to the screaming infant […]
Can I Eat This? app
October 4, 2015 by
Another app to keep you family healthy for overseas travel Last month I told you how to download TravWell, a mobile app from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), to help you keep your family healthy while visiting over 200 countries. (Yes, 200+) Authoritative, timely, easy to use, fun, free, tailored to your itinerary… This app is almost like having your own travel medicine expert traveling with you. And what […]
Infants/Sleeping away from home
May 17, 2015 by
At home, putting infants to sleep is a no-brainer. You place them in their crib – and pray they’ll sleep all night. But when traveling, there are many do’s and don’ts regarding sleep safety and getting infants to sleep in new surroundings, the latter often a real hassle. 1. Never “co-sleep,” even for a night […]
Children/travel/illness/insurance: A Primer
March 21, 2015 by
An informal survey of several dozen parents planning major family trips showed that about half of them did not know whether their children (or themselves) are fully covered for all medical expenses incurred away from home. Many confessed that they have never read their insurance policies, not even the large print. Many were not familiar with penalties […]
Air Travel/Infants/Health: Frequently Asked Questions. An Update
February 28, 2015 by
1. Can newborns travel safely by air? Commercial jets are safe for healthy newborns. However, infants with a history of serious medical issues – (significant premature birth or heart and lung problems around the time of birth), for the first year, even if the infant shows no symptoms, may have difficulty compensating for lower oxygen […]
Infants/Air travel/Excessive Crying. An update.
November 27, 2014 by
Forget lousy food, airports delays, and turbulence. One of air travelers’ biggest nightmare is sitting near a cute, cuddly little baby that suddenly morphs into a nonstop, noise machine emitting high decibel, ear-piercing, headache-producing, sleep-preventing terror. An even worse nightmare: it’s your child. Here’ what you should know: The vast majority of infants do NOT […]
Should young infants travel by air? (An update)
October 15, 2014 by
No single answer fits all infants nor all situations. Moreover, the answer changes based on new findings – like the one that just came to light: apparently, very rarely, parents may accidently suffocate infants sitting on the parent’s lap. Here is what is known: No government agency regulates the age at which newborns may fly. […]
Children/Air Travel/Ear infections/Prevention/Treatment
April 12, 2014 by
Should children fly with ear infections and colds? 1. No studies exist to help you make the decision. While saying “no” is prudent, doing so ruins long planned family trips, often unnecessarily. Worse, sometimes it strands families on vacation. The scenario: An infant is cranky and has a fever or an older child complains of […]
