There are ways to reduce your family’s chances of coming home from vacation with an illness or injury.

We love to travel and take several family trips per year, saidDr.

There are definitely measures you could take to stay healthy while traveling, Cazorla-Lancaster said.

A woman holds the hand of a young girl, who is walking and holding a stuffed toy. They are in an airport, with the woman carrying a suitcase

You will get better over time as you gain experience.

Sinks are not always easily accessible while traveling, so its helpful to carry hand sanitizer.

Use soap and water and wash well for 20 seconds at a time.

A child with an adult washes hands at a sink, focusing on proper hygiene. Both have soap on their hands

Immunizations typically require about a month to become fully effective.

Snacks from home that kids are familiar with can help ease some travel anxiety as well, notedDr.

Jenna Wheeler, a pediatric critical care physician at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

A woman holds a young girl on her shoulder, both facing a city skyline with tall buildings and mountains in the background

Snacks from home that kids are familiar with can help ease some travel anxiety as well.

A lot of our travel is during the summer, so we want to prepare for hydration, saidDr.

Ijeoma Opara, a pediatrician and associate professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine.

A man helps a young boy in a sun hat open a bottle of water at the beach. They are surrounded by beach umbrellas and toys

We double-check folks are ready with their reusable water bottles.

Topical creams, Band-Aids and bug spray are other helpful supplies to have on hand.

When my kids were younger, we also always traveled with our Fridababy snotsucker and saline, Playforth said.

A woman sits on a couch holding hands and talking with a young boy. They are surrounded by a bookshelf and a large plant

If you need refills prior to traveling, be sure to let your pediatrician know well in advance.

So I venture to plan ahead and bring a few emergency doses of croup medication, just in case.

Trying To Keep A Semblance Of Routine

Travel means a break in routine, Opara said.

A father carries his smiling child on his shoulders outdoors on a grassy hillside. Both are happy and enjoying the moment

I think its helpful to give notice in the week before.

Have activities or accommodations for that break in routine, and be prepared for what might transpire.

The change can be even more challenging when you travel a far distance.

Kids get sick, and often they pick inopportune times.

It does not mean you did something wrong.

To support your mental and physical health, try not to let stress overwhelm you.

As any parent knows, part of parenting is embracing the chaos, Playforth added.