Conquer Family Travel with Reflux Management Tips 

Parents know how hard traveling with children can be, whether it’s feeling like you are packing your whole house to prevent the meltdown or figuring out an itinerary to keep everyone occupied. Being worried about traveling with your reflux-prone child should not be another hurdle to cross because we've got you covered! In this article, you’ll learn tips for managing reflux symptoms on the go and ensuring a smooth, enjoyable trip for everyone. Following these tips will bring you a sense of relief and confidence, knowing that you are well-prepared for any situation. 

Prepping for Travel with Reflux

To ensure your travel is smooth sailing, preparing ahead of time is really important. This may sound odd, but I love a good checklist. Anyone else? When making a checklist, include any pertinent medications your child may be taking, syringes or any type of measuring product you may need if it’s a liquid medication, and some comfortable, loose-fitting clothes for your child. Also, don’t forget a portable high chair to ensure a proper feeding position for your child to help reduce reflux. The convenience of a portable high chair will make you feel at ease and prepared for any feeding situation during your travels. 

• Folding travel high chair
• Portable booster chair
• Table chair 

Managing Reflux During Transportation 

When traveling with a reflux-prone child, it’s a good idea to plan meal times around breaks in travel, if possible. Studies have recommended avoiding sitting in car seats after feedings, as it may worsen GERD symptoms. It is best to wait at least one hour after eating before returning to the car seat. Regardless of whether you are flying or driving, it is always encouraged to have your child remain in an upright position during feedings. 

For flights, consider feeding your child during takeoff and landing to help with ear pressure and keep them upright. For car rides, plan for breaks to allow your child to digest their food before getting back into the car seat. 

Reflux Essentials on the Go 

When you are on the go, ensure you account for a way to store reflux medications. Some liquid medicines for children require refrigeration. If that is the case, pack the medication with ice packs. It’s also a good idea to bring familiar comfort items your child is used to having at home, along with extra bibs and wipes for potential spit-ups, as you never know when you may need them. The last thing you want to happen is to be on the go without a way to clean up spit-up. 

Something else that will likely come in handy is familiar reflux-friendly snacks. If you’ve ever traveled with kids, you know how kids want snacks, so those reflux-friendly snacks are essential. When in public places, always have a plan for where you can clean up if your child has a reflux episode. This might mean knowing where the nearest restroom is or having a portable cleaning kit with you including an extra change of clothes and portable changing mat.    

Strategies for Restaurants and Snacks 

Eating out while on vacation is one of those things that will likely not be avoided. It is important to remember that these foods may worsen reflux: high-fat foods (like pizza, chips, bacon, sausage), acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits, spicy foods, peppermint, and chocolate. When searching the menu at restaurants, try to avoid those foods. Also, plan smaller, more frequent meals to reduce reflux symptoms. These strategies, when followed, will give you the confidence and security that you are doing everything you can to manage your child's reflux while enjoying your vacation. 

We hope this gives you peace of mind when taking your next adventure! Feel free to leave comments telling us what worked for you when traveling with your little one! 

1. _{Jung, W. J., Yang, H. J., Min, T. K., Jeon, Y. H., Lee, H. W., Lee, J. S., & Pyun, B. Y. (2012). The efficacy of the upright position on gastro-esophageal reflux and reflux-related respiratory symptoms in infants with chronic respiratory symptoms. Allergy, asthma & immunology research, 4(1), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2012.4.1.17} 
2. _{Orenstein, S. R., Whitington, P. F., & Orenstein, D. M. (1983). The infant seat as treatment for gastroesophageal reflux. The New England journal of medicine, 309(13), 760–763. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198309293091304} 
3. _{Wijendran, V. (2021, August 16). Acid reflux in children: What to eat & what to avoid. eMediHealth. https://www.emedihealth.com/child-health/conditions-and-symptoms/manage-acid-reflux-in-children}