Are you planning a family trip but worried about the effects of jet lag? Jet lag can be a real challenge when traveling with children, but there are simple tips for jet lag that can help ease the transition and make the journey more comfortable for everyone. In this article, we share our top simple tips for parents dealing with jet lag.
Many visitors to this blog are looking for advice on how to help kids overcome jet lag. In fact, one of the most popular posts has been THIS ONE concerning children and jet lag. It makes sense because jet lag can completely destroy the first few days of a family vacation, and this is especially true if the vacation is a short escape.
Although there are many theories on how to help children overcome jet lag, keeping things simple has always been the key. I still follow very basic guidelines for dealing with jet lag and children: keep them well hydrated, get plenty of sunlight, rest if needed and treat the day as normally as you can. But I have to constantly remind myself that the same rules also apply to me. Looking after myself and prioritizing self-care is important, since it’s hard to parent joyfully and confidently when you’re in a jet lag fog and feeling weary and stressed.
So parents, let’s remember to also take care of ourselves so we can parent effectively through jet lag!
Tip #1 – Look after yourself on the flight
This is sometimes easier said than done when you’re travelling with kids! But, if you plan ahead, strategise and make sure your kids have plenty of activities to keep them entertained during the flight, you may find some well-deserved pockets of downtime to enjoy. Remember, you too also need to be well hydrated, well fed and well rested. Carry healthy snacks for everyone and purchase large bottles of water prior to boarding the plane.
Getting off a flight and feeling and looking well is half of the jet lag battle won! So remember to also look after your skin and keep it hydrated and nourished during and immediately after a flight. A couple of great go-to skincare products that I enjoy and are ideal for travel are:
1. Pixi Glow Rose Mist
I can’t live without this mist, I use it every day. I 100% pack it in my hand luggage if I am flying. It locks in a layer of moisture and leaves skin glowy and soft. It has a very subtle rose smell, but it’s not over powering and won’t bother fellow passengers.
2. Summer Fridays Travel Kit
The original ‘Baby Who Loves to Travel’ is now 13 years old, and has introduced me to Summer Fridays, a beautiful vegan and cruelty-free brand. This kit is designed for travel – it’s compact and includes a cleanser, exfoliating solution and the aptly named jet-lag face mask. The jet lag face mask was the brand’s first product, it is a hydrating cream face mask, but can also be used as a moisturizer, eye cream and handcream – what more do you need on a flight! Their vanilla lip butter balm also comes highly recommended and can be used overnight as a lip mask, it smells delicious too!
Tip # 2 – Sunlight, sunlight and more sunlight
Exposure to daylight in the first few days of your trip is the simplest and best method to help combat jet lag. I was given this tip many years ago and it really does work. The body clock is regulated by melatonin, which is produced only at night and is regulated by exposure to light and darkness. So sunlight helps the body re-adjust to the new time schedule.
Tip # 3 – Treat the day like a normal day
When you arrive at your destination try your best to treat it like a normal day, and do the things you would normally do. I often co-ordinate our flights so that we arrive at our destinations in the morning. This way we can treat the first day of our trip as a normal day. We try to find a fun activity to do, we eat our meals at the times we normally would and we also try to go to bed at a decent time. Keeping busy during the day can really help distract from the fact that it’s the middle of the night back at home. However, with all that said, if there is any point during the day where I feel sleep is needed then I take some time out to rest.
Tip # 4 – Anticipate upheaval and forgive yourself if things don’t work out
Anticipate that it’s going to take a couple of days to adjust to the new time zone and aim to have a relaxed and flexible schedule during this time. No matter what strategies are used to overcome jet lag, things might not always go as planned. Learn to accept that this is part and parcel of travel and embracing it is easier than fighting it. So getting up at 3am and checking your email and making snacks for you kids (because back home it’s actually lunch time), or having a long nap during the day because it is desperately needed, is perfectly ok.
Thank you for reading! Do you have any great tips for dealing with jet lag? I would love to hear about them. For further articles about jet lag, check out Little Observations on Jet Lag and Toddlers, as well as Simple Tips for Dealing with Babies and Jet Lag.
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