School is officially out and summer break is here. Many people are itching to get out and about. Some are traveling to see long-missed loved ones and others are traveling simply to get away from it all. Whether driving or flying to your destination, it is always more pleasant to be prepared when traveling with children.

But what do you do if you have a sensory-sensitive child? How do their sensitivities impact travel ease? What steps can be taken to lessen their anxieties when traveling? How do we feed our children responsively, anticipating a hunger crash? Moms everywhere have their tricks of the trade that help them ease the travel experience for everyone. However, if you are a new traveler with a sensory-sensitive child, here are some tips and tricks to start with to make your travels more pleasurable.

Be prepared for unexpected mishaps1

Even as an adult traveling alone, anticipating the unexpected makes for less stress when the unexpected indeed happens. When traveling with sensory sensitive children this is even more important.

Some unexpected situations to consider:

Bathroom accidents
- carry an extra change of clothing, wipes, and a large ziplock to store the wet items (if driving you can purchase a travel potty for last-minute needs)
The dreaded lost lovey/safety blanket
- bring your child’s second favorite along for the trip to ease some of their stress, or better yet find an identical replacement if possible
The even more dreaded lost child
- there are numerous ways that parents use to identify their children
  - Dress your child in bright colors and unique patterns for easy visibility
  - Get an identification bracelet (can also identify that they have special needs)
  - Some people swear by leash bracelets/backpacks, especially if they have an extreme wanderer - they can ease your anxiety which can, in turn, ease your child's anxiety
  - Have a photo and your child’s personal/medical info on hand to provide should authorities need to search for them
Meltdowns
- We can only control so much about the surrounding environment when traveling, so anticipating a potential meltdown by having a variety of tools to help calm your child will help.
- Some tools that may be helpful:
  - Weighted vest/blanket/lap-pad
  - Fidget toys
  - Chew sticks
  - Noise blocking earphones
  - Sunglasses or another eye cover
- Allow your child to carry their go bag if they want to, so they have some control over their environment, and carrying the weighted bag may help to regulate your child as well

You can find therapeutic toys/supplies at: therapyshoppe.com, fatbraintoys.com, childtherapytoys.com (no affiliation with any of these online shops)

Healthy feeding while traveling1

Feed your child prior to travel
Have plenty of the healthy snacks that your child prefers on hand to prevent low blood sugar and hunger crashes
- Try to feed every 2 hours to maintain blood sugar levels
Easy access to water for hydration
When possible bring foods from home that are familiar and preferred
- Otherwise do your best to find these foods in convenience stores or the airport food court

Traveling by car/vehicle1

In addition to the previous recommendations, you will also want to:

Schedule frequent stops to use the bathroom or move around

plan on stopping at places that will not be overstimulating such as a small park (i.e. if your child is overwhelmed by crowds maybe opt to skip the rest stop/service area)
Bring a ball or another outdoor activity that your child enjoys to feed their need to move and touch

Traveling by plane2

In addition to the previous recommendations, you will also want to:

Call your airline prior to your flight to see what accommodations, if any, they can provide for your child.
- Find out if there are any quiet places at the airport

Let the flight attendants know, prior to boarding, that your child has sensory processing challenges (yes, they would love to know and help!), so that in the event that there is a problem you will have a support system.

If your special needs child should need extra safety restraints, you can find FAA compliant CARES (kidsflysafe.com) for harnesses fitting children up to 44 lbs.
- If you need a harness for a larger child/teen/adult, you can purchase a “special CARES” and request an FAA exemption (follow directions on the website in the references)

Prepare your child ahead of time
- Create a visual story about your future travels: how the day will go, how you will get to the airport, what will happen at the airport, what the outside/inside of the plane looks like, etc.

Give yourself ample time to get to the airport and flight without rushing

Most importantly, breathe and enjoy your trip!

References

1. Tips for going places with sensory challenged kids. The Child Mind Institute. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/tips-for-going-places-with-sensory-challenged-kids/

2. CARES for special needs flyers. Retrieved from http://kidsflysafe.com/instructions/cares-for-special-needs-flyers/

Tips for traveling with a sensory sensitive child