What to do about jet lag for kids?

5 Comments

1. Pilot says:

   March 3, 2010 at 1:43 pm

   There is no quick way. The “internal clock” of your body gets messed up, and takes months to recover. The best thing you can do is try to follow Asia’s time, and not where you live. Wake up when they do, go to bed when they do. You will be somewhat used to the time difference in 2 or 3 days then
2. Vinnie says:

   March 3, 2010 at 5:57 pm

   When you are taking of and landing be sure to **** on a lollipop or drink something to keep your ears from hurting. Benadryl ia a quick f
3. Eclipsepearl says:

   March 3, 2010 at 9:53 pm

   I fly with my three children between Europe and California about twice a year. It’s a 9 hour time change. I used to be an international Flight Attendant so I dealt with a lot of jet lag in the past.

   First of all, don’t adjust anything before you go. It doesn’t really help and can be more of a burden before a big trip.

   Don’t do anything during the flight. Let him sleep when he can and needs to.

   Once there, it’s a different story. Get him on a schedule right away. Make it generous. It might be bed at 8pm or midnight. Just get into the day/night routine and tweek it as necessary later on.

   Don’t overschedule the first few days. Take it easy.

   Light helps reset body clocks. I’ve taken my kids to the pool, the park, etc. during the day to combat their jetlag. Bad weather? Perhaps try the mall!

   Travel and airplanes dehydrate and the symptoms are similar to those of jet lag. A double battle! So don’t undermine it and make sure both of you drink during and after your journey.

   Resetting your stomach clock can be worse than resetting the sleep schedule. Keep snacks around. Nothing too sweet or salty. He wakes up at night, he might just be hungry. His stomach is expecting dinner so, with lights kept low, get him to eat something and send him back to bed asap.

   Your dentist will forgive you this once if you don’t manage to get his teeth brushed.

   During sleep time, or right before, no screens. That means no video games, T.V., computers, etc. This kind of light, even when set low, supress melatonin (search it if you want more information but this chemical in your brain is key). Do NOT turn any of these on if either of you wake in the night. Low lights, calm, etc. is what will send you both back to slumberland.

   Talk to your doctor about drugs. I’m allergic to antihistimes so I can’t risk giving them to my kids. So I’ve managed jet lag with three without anything and I can’t see why you would need anything either. Remember, these often excite children (seen it on the plane!) and they are NOT harmless.
4. Patrick says:

   March 5, 2010 at 10:22 pm

   A few months ago, I tried a product called No-Jet-Lag on my trip to Egypt. It is a homeopathic remedy intended to counter the effects of jet lag. For me, the product worked for me as I arrived into Cairo alert and adjusted to their time the very next day. According to the website, No-Jet-Lag is safe for children too but the dosage is smaller.

   “Children under three years do not suffer from jet lag, but they need plenty of fluid frequently to reduce dehydration. Irritability is one of the leading symptoms of jet lag and for children aged between 4-12 years one tablet every four hours is suitable. (Compared with the adult dose of one tablet every two hours.)”
5. person says:

   March 9, 2010 at 4:09 am

   I know the time in China (Beijing) is about 13 hoursahead of where I live on the East Coast. That’s approx. 1/2 a day. So, I you have your 4 year old start taking regular naps in the middle of the day before you leave, when you get to Asia, the nap will become bedtime and bedtime will become a nap. If that makes any sense. If your not staying in Asia for more than a few weeks, have your child keep taking “naps” then when you get back to America, the nap and bedtime will switch back.
   It’s really not as complicated as it sounds.