Preparing yourself for your next trip: Bring on the disinfectant wipes!

When I first went to Disneyland in 1977, people could still smoke on airplanes. I was fairly little, but I remember quite clearly the ash trays that were on the airplanes and the cloud that hung over the ceiling.  As a parent, it's a relief to me that you can no longer have a cigarette on airplanes, but it seems now we have bigger fish to fry than just pesky old second hand smoke.  For days before a flight, I lay awake at night stressing over taking my kids on the airplane.  Why? Not because of a fear of flying (which I have wholeheartedly), but instead because of germs.

Yes, anti-germ phobia has taken over the country.  We all carry our hand sanitizer in our pockets for protection, and flu shots are a hot topic no matter what state or city you live in.  And yet, the holidays are upon us and we need to be able to travel with our kids and not hide out until the next wave of the flu rears it's ugly head. The quickest means of getting from point A to point B? Air travel.

Airplanes, those meccas of quick transport, carry hundreds of people every single day.  With each person boarding, they bring their own special brand of germs.  Germs spread when you touch things or cough and sneeze without covering your mouth, and although I will hit the deck if I see someone not being careful with their sneezes, my kids may walk straight into someone else's germ cloud.  Yes, it's a difficult environment to be in when you are trying to avoid illness, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your children during travel and flu season this year:

• Carry anti-bacterial wipes the same way you would carry baby wipes - Keep them in a ziploc baggie in your purse and upon entering your seats, wipe down everything that your kids can touch.  Most wipes remove 99% of the germs on surfaces, so you can rest easy after your kids make a grab for the inflight magazines or tray table. Wipe down the seat belts, windows, and even the fabric on the seat.  The person across the aisle may think you are crazy, but they will be sneezing in a few days and your kids won't be. 
• Drink a lot, and encourage your kids to drink a lot - Ask for orange juice or the kids and tea for you.  Of course, with large amounts of beverage consumption also comes...
• Bathroom breaks - Once again, bring along your anti-bacterial wipes and your own container of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer.  A travel bottle of Purell is small enough to bring on the airplane. Once in the bathroom, wipe down everything before letting your child use the facilities. 
• Don't use airline blankets or pillows if offered.  Generally these items are no longer on flights due to the spread of the flu, but if you are offered, say no. 
• If your child falls asleep, cover his or her head with your sweater.  At the very least, this will filter out some of the air as they sleep.
• Avoid coming into contact with numerous baggage handlers by leaving your car seats and strollers at home.  Without the extra baggage, you can go straight in and straight off the airplane.  Renting car seats and strollers from Travel BaBees means you have clean, sanitized equipment delivered straight to you.  You won't have to wonder how many people grabbed it and threw it around. 

Yes, the flu epidemic has turned us all into germaphobes, but it is definitely better to be safe than sorry.  You won't stress as much about your children picking up bugs from your next trip if you come prepared.  Happy traveling!