Travelling without kids- prep

[mommyatty]

For the first time, we are leaving the kids with Grandma this weekend while we are going to New York. I feel like we haven't done enough to prep. Like we must be forgetting something.

Grandma keeps them a lot and has done sleepovers, so I feel confident she can handle the normal routines. Also, she lives about a mile from us, so if the kids want a toy or whatever, she can get to our house easily.

I printed, signed, and had notarized medical powers of attorney for the kids in case anything happens. I have copies of their insurance cards. What else do I need?

[k3am]

Insurance authorizations and insurance cards are basically it. We add medications to the list, since my kids come from a crappy gene pool.

Enjoy!

[traveltheworld]

- name and phone number of your doctors;
- your itinerary;
- any medical action plans if your kids have them.

[twinmomma]

Confession: I have never done anything like a medical power of attorney or medical action plan. What exactly is that? Just a letter saying it's ok if they need to bring them to the hospital or something?

[traveltheworld]

Jul 18, 2017 12:13:01 GMT -5 twinmomma said:

Confession: I have never done anything like a medical power of attorney or medical action plan. What exactly is that? Just a letter saying it's ok if they need to bring them to the hospital or something?

Medical power of attorney allows the other person to make medical decisions on behalf of the child.  You typically only need that if you are appointing someone that is not the child's parents or legal guardian.

A medical action plan is a plan to deal with a known medical issue - it's a detailed description of what you should do if that particular medical issue arises.  We have the fun job of managing an allergy action plan, an asthma action plan and a seizure action plan for DS.  As symptoms differ during different episodes, it's hard for a third party caretaker to know what action to take at what point.  So for example, our allergy action plan gives the third party caretaker a clear indication of when Benadryl should be taken vs. when the EpiPen should be administered, the priority of phone calls (911 being first, then parents), etc.  So that in the moment of emergency, you are not relying on that person's judgment alone.

[covergirl82]

twinmomma, our pediatrician has a form that we can have on hand and fill in when a trip comes up. I would think you could just write a letter, sign it, and have it notarized for the caregiver to have while you're gone.

Besides the things others mentioned, I did a "countdown" sheet (list of days of the week we'd be gone) so the kids could cross off each day so they new the day/how soon we would be coming home.

[twinmomma]

Thanks! DH and I have never been away together that's not within easy driving distance, so I guess I never thought about it. I'll have to remember this if we do a big trip at some point.

[waverly]

I don't know if they ever use nebulizers/ breathing treatments, but we have found that we need to take them on every vacation. Even if the kid is perfectly healthy, somehow mysterious they will develop a cough on the trip. We've had a 3am visit to the pharmacy for a nebulizer, and bought one on vacation as well as lots of albuterol and budesonide. So we have learned wherever the kids go always bring the nebulizer. DS has outgrown it, but DD still needs it.  Same with other prescriptions meds like if you have extra ear drops from ear infections or something like that.  And the name and number of the pediatrician.  If you suspect an illness, take them to the pedi before you leave so your MIL doesn't have to.  Otherwise anything else she can run home for or buy.  

[jlaok]

I always leave my mom the dosage amount of common medicine the kids might need (like ibuprofen or benadryl)

[sandandsea]

We left the medical waivers and insurance info as well as a list of local emergency numbers (pedi dentist fire police etc) with nearest major cross streets. Neighbors info. Baby and child meds locations and doses. Our contact info.

The one yo got an ear infection when we were in Israel and I emailed his pedi letting them know my mom was bringing him in and had the medical waiver and they never even asked her for it. She was also able to get his prescriptions and everything without any problems.

[indyrowergirl]

We leave MIL the names/numbers of helpful neighbors and a calendar with the kids' schedules. I also leave names/numbers of all Dr, DDS, and the details for the closest urgent care. Finally I leave a list of ideas of places to take the kids (and any membership cards we might have) as she's not from the same city so isn't familiar with what's available here.

Honestly, we leave our kids with MIL at least once a year for a long weekend. It's the best kind of trip, and really gives DH and I a chance to reconnect. Enjoy yourselves!