Dealing with Pre-Travel Anxiety (Yours and Theirs)
Dr Shidan, Kids Travel Doc | 3 min read
Not medical advice: this article is general health information only and does not replace individual advice from a qualified doctor.
Whilst travel is exciting, I have found that sometimes anxiety can appear in the days and weeks before .Sometimes it is the kids. Often it is the parents. Many parents express concern to me about the plane trip for young infants, or what to do if something goes wrong during travel, access to medical services, the safety of food, sleep difficulties and more. Pre-travel anxiety is completely normal, and there is a lot you can do to take the edge off before you even reach the airport.
1. Why Travel Brings Out the Worry
New places, plane travel, new routines, the fear of something going wrong far from home are enough to unsettle anyone. In children, anxiety often shows up as clinginess, tummy aches, trouble sleeping, or sudden reluctance to go at all. In parents, it usually shows up as a growing list of "what ifs." Naming this early, rather than pushing through it, makes the whole lead-up to the trip easier.
2. Preparing Kids Without Overloading Them
Give children a simple, honest preview of what is coming: where you are going, how you will get there, and what will feel familiar (their teddy, their blanket, a favourite show on the plane). For younger kids, a picture book or a simple countdown calendar works well. For older kids, involve them in small decisions, like choosing an activity for one day of the trip, or looking at the itinerary. Avoid over-explaining every possible hiccup, since that can create worry rather than prevent it.
3. Practical Anxiety Reducers for Parents
Most travel anxiety in parents comes down to the unknowns around health and safety. A pre-travel consultation with a travel doctor closes a lot of those gaps at once: any needed travel vaccines organised in good time. Some travel vaccines need to be given weeks apart or take time to become fully effective, so booking this early is one of the simplest ways to take a whole category of worry off the table. Having a packed first aid kit, travel insurance and knowing where the nearest hospital is at your destination also does a lot of quiet reassurance work.
4. On the Day: Small Rituals Help
Build in a buffer so you are not racing to the airport. A predictable routine (same snack, same seat position, same bedtime story even if it is 3pm local time) gives anxious kids something steady to hold onto. If your child has a formal anxiety diagnosis, it is worth discussing strategies with their treating clinician before you go, rather than improvising mid-trip.
Your Quick Checklist
● Give kids a simple, age-appropriate preview of the trip
● Bring familiar comfort items (blanket, toy, book)
● Try to keep a regular sleep schedule in the days leading up to your trip
● Keep travel day routines as predictable as possible
● Book a pre-travel health check early to close off the medical unknowns and allow time for any travel vaccines
● Talk to your child's clinician ahead of time if anxiety is a known issue
At Kids Travel Doc, we can take the travel vaccine question off your list. Come in ahead of departure for a pre-travel consult and leave with your vaccines sorted.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. For specific recommendations about your child's health or travel plans, please consult your doctor or make an appointment with a qualified travel health professional.
