While holidays are often eagerly anticipated, the lead-up can be surprisingly stressful, especially for parents juggling the needs of children. Planning, packing, and remembering everything they might need can feel overwhelming. The journey itself brings its own set of challenges: irritability during long car rides, restlessness on trains or planes, and the unpredictability of delays. Children may become overstimulated, overtired, or unsettled in unfamiliar settings, making it harder to manage moods and energy levels. Travel sickness is another common hurdle, particularly when routines are disrupted or movement triggers nausea. And once you’ve arrived, adjusting to a new time zone can leave everyone feeling off balance, especially young children.
Homeopathic remedies can provide gentle, effective support throughout the process. They can help ease anxiety, settle upset tummies, improve sleep, and support emotional regulation. Remedies also offer comfort when children are overwhelmed by noise, motion, or change in routine. With the right support in place, the whole family can travel with greater ease and enjoy the holiday more fully
TOP REMEDIES – FOR TRAVEL ANXIETY
Anticipating travel can bring a mix of excitement and anxiety for children. Some may become overstimulated, talking non-stop or struggling to sleep in the lead-up. Others might feel nervous, complain of tummy aches, or become unusually clingy or emotional.
ACONITE
- For sudden fear or panic before travel
- Child may be restless, fearful, and want comfort
- Useful when the anxiety is intense and comes on quickly
ARGENTUM NIT
- Great for children who are excited but anxious about what might go wrong
- Talkative, restless, often with nervous tummy upsets
- May ask lots of “what if” questions
GELSEMIUM
- For children who become quiet, withdrawn, and shaky before travel
- May complain of feeling tired, heavy, or sick
- Diarrhoea or tummy aches from anticipation
TOP REMEDIES – FOR TRAVEL SICKNESS
Travel sickness in children is common and often presents with a mix of physical and emotional symptoms, especially during car, plane, or boat journeys. Each remedy works best when matched to the child’s specific symptoms and how they react in times of travel.
COCCOLUS INDICUS
- For nausea and dizziness, especially when worsened by looking out of the window
- Child may seem exhausted, pale, and want to lie still
- Very good for motion-induced fatigue
NUX VOMICA
- For nausea with irritability, sensitivity to noise and smells
- Child may feel tense (even angry) and oversensitive
- Useful for children who are easily overstimulated during travel
PETROLEUM
- Travel sickness with dizziness, intense hunger, or a sinking feeling in the stomach
- Worse from motion, especially in cars
- Nausea may be relieved by eating small amounts of food
TOP REMEDIES – FOR JET LAG
Jet lag in children can certainly be challenging, as their circadian rhythms are still developing and more sensitive to changes. Symptoms may be similar to adults, but can show up differently depending on age and temperament.
ARNICA MONTANA
- For the physical toll and exhaustion from long travel
- Useful when the child says they’re “fine” but are clearly overtired
- Sore body, restlessness, and irritability after sitting long hours
CHAMOMILLA
- Useful for very cranky, oversensitive, inconsolable (often crying) children
- Very difficult to soothe – will not know what they want or need
- Often used for younger children or toddlers who are “not themselves” after travel
COCCOLUS INDICUS
- A remedy to consider for sleep loss from travel and time-zone changes
- Child may be dizzy, nauseous, or extremely tired but unable to sleep
- Weakness, moodiness, and digestive discomfort common
WORKING WITH A HOMEOPATH
- Ensures you receive a individualised remedy that matches your child’s presenting symptoms. Guides you in choosing the right potency/dosage. Offers you on-going support.
- Monitors progress, adjusting remedies and or potency/dosage if needed. For complex or chronic conditions, a homeopath’s expertise helps uncover potentially more deep-rooted causes.
- Personally, I offer nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle recommendations, where appropriate, to compliment the homeopathic approach.
SIMPLE TIPS TO HELP WITH TRAVEL
- Stick to a routine (as much as possible) – familiar nap, meal, and bedtime rhythms can help reduce stress and meltdowns, even on the go..
- Pack your child’s favourite snacks, books, small toys, headphones, and comfort items (like a blanket or stuffed animal).
- Airports, planes, trains and even cars can vary in temperature, so dressing in easy layers (that can be put on or taken off easily) keeps your child comfortable.
SUPPORTING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Hydration is essential, especially during air travel. Encourage your child to sip water regularly throughout the journey to help prevent dehydration, fatigue, and irritability.
- If your travel includes flying – take with you and offer chewing gum, snacks, or drinks during takeoff and landing to ease possible ear discomfort.
- Keep expectations flexible – delays and detours happen – you being able to stay calm and positive helps your child feel safe and secure.