Jet lag doesn’t have to be painful, but you do have to have patience
Jet lag isn’t fun for anyone. There are no magic tricks or tips that can carry you 100% through it. Adjustment can vary on your child’s age and how far you travel. A trip to China will affect your child much differently than a trip across the country.
We all experience some form of jet lag and what it takes for us to recover. I need loads of fresh fruit for major time shifts, Mike needs coffee and Dek needs milk. It’s just a matter of figuring out what works for you. Keep life simple when necessary and keep telling yourself that it is all worth it in the end. Because it really is.
In general, I’ve found that jet lag can last from 3 to 14 days depending on where we go. Arriving at our destination may only take a few days adjustment, but coming home can be much more tricky. Every trip I learn something new and experience a new way of handling all of our jet lag.
Here are just a few posts that tackle the monster that is jet lag.
Your smiling baby will be back before you know it
Need more great child jet lag tips? Check out these articles by fellow traveling family blogs:
- Tips for Surviving Jet Lag (Suitcases and Sippy Cups)- get your trip off to the right start as soon as you get on the plane.
- Jetlag and Babies, Toddlers and Kids (Delicious Baby)- tips on how to cope, especially after you return home
- Simple Tips for Dealing With Jet Lag and Babies (Baby Loves to Travel)- tips on adjusting to a new time zone
- Overcoming Jetlag with Young Children (Trekaroo)-tips on adjusting to a new time zone
- Coping with time changes and jet lag in babies and young children (Have Baby Will Travel)- tips on keeping your child on your local time when traveling
- Ten Tips for Tackling Jet Lag in Children (Flashpacker Family)- tips on when to travel and how to help your child adjust to a new time zone.
- Whenever possible, do not go back to work the next day. Mike and I have both done this countless times coming back from Asia and Europe. It hurts. Yes, it is one more vacation day you might have to take, but it will be worth it. Your body, mind and kid will thank you.
- Pace yourself. Whether you are coming or going, it will take a few days for everyone to settle in. Don’t plan huge events the day you arrive at your destination or at home, or even the day after. No one will have a good time. Grab that cappuccino at the cute cafe down the street. Call it a movie day when you are home so everyone can veg. You are still all together and experiencing something new (or familiar if you are at home.)
- Be patient. This is a hard one and not something I am good at. I want my beautiful baby, who just had a blast on our trip, to wake up at home refreshed and back on schedule. It won’t happen. Hang in there though. They will get back on schedule and sleep as well as they did before you left before you know it.
written by Keryn Means
June 5, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Thanks for the tips! Jet lag is the biggest challenge we face when traveling. So, we need all the help we can get!
Amy recently posted..Parenting the Living Goddess: Am I Creating a Monster?
July 28, 2012 at 12:28 am
Really glad you suggest not to go back to work the next day. So important. Melatonin is an option to support adults through jet lag but not children. I don’t take it because I try to stay on the same time zone as my little ones. Danielle
November 24, 2012 at 10:50 am
Hi, I just wanted to mention that I have a 6 yr old who vomits through jetlag, yes, it came as a surprise to me too! I’ve never had any problem with it myself and believe it’s something best ignored, but this little one can vomit, out of the blue, for almost a week, at times his body thinks he should be asleep, other than that, he seems OK, happy and energetic during the night, which would be his day. This has only happened when we go back and fore between the UK and Australia when our body clocks are totally upside down. I just wanted people to be aware of it and maybe not think your child is sick if this happens. My 7 year old and I are absolutely fine with it. I really hope he grows out of it.
Alyson@worldtravelfamily recently posted..I have a horrible tropical disease and it sucks!
November 24, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Oh my gosh. That is horrible! I’m so sorry you have to go through that every time you go back and forth. So far we are lucky and haven’t had to face that, but thank you for the heads up in case other readers do!
March 24, 2013 at 7:41 pm
Oh look at how cute and little grumpy Dek looks!
Bethaney – Flashpacker Family recently posted..Ten Tips for Tackling Jet Lag in Children