Prior to departure, talk to your health-care providers as they can help breastfeeding mothers find out about available breastfeeding support at the destination.

Depending on your destination, you should try to avoid immunizations and medications. However, if you visit some countries in the world that requires immunizations, you should talk to your health provider to make sure they’re compatible with breastfeeding.

Packing luggage is a skill that is too often learned by trial and error. And since most of us do not travel every week, it is a skill that often fades away to zero before our next trip. There are several simple steps you can take to ensure that your next travel packing adventure will be stress free.

1. Make a list in advance. By making a list of everything you want to pack before you start packing, you will know that you packed everything you need in your luggage. To make this work, prepare the list before you pack a single item. Then as you place each item in your luggage, check it off the list. And as a last minute check, review your list to be sure every item is checked and that there are no additional items you wish to add to your luggage.

2. Create a documentation pouch. Place all your important travel papers in a separate easy to reach pouch so you always know where they are. Include items like your tickets, hotel and car reservations, passport, etc.

3. Know your weights and counts. Every airline has limits on how many bags you can check in, how many you can carry on and what they all weight. Be sure all of your bags meet the regulations to make check in a snap. And if you think you need to take extra bags (or return with more than allowed), be sure to find out the cost of each extra bag in advance so there is no last minute sticker shock.

4. Pack with security in mind. With current security, your bags will be X-rayed. If the operator sees something that can’t be identified, your bag will be opened and searched. Items that often cause a failure tend to be dense and oddly shaped items that the X-rays cannot penetrate very well. Pack your bags with this in mind. Place any potentially problem objects in an easy to position in your luggage so the operator can find and verify that they are harmless quickly. This will let you get on your way quickly.

5. Luggage sometimes gets lost. Plan for this by packing all your critical items in your carry on bags. This includes items like medicines, your glasses, traveler’s checks, etc.

6. Pack what you need and no more. Depending on how long you are traveling and the purpose of your travel, you may find that you really don’t need to pack 7 pairs of shoes or 3 business suits. Know what amenities are available at your destination to clean your clothes. This will allow you to pack only what you need and leave extra room for souvenirs and such on your return trip. Remember hotels often have irons and ironing boards, laundry and dry cleaning services available.

7. Your travel toiletries kit. While it is a bit more expensive, consider getting travel sized containers of toothpaste, hand cream, shampoo and conditioner, throw away toothbrushes, etc. This has many positive benefits. First, every container will be brand new and you don’t need to worry about leaks in your luggage. Second, if you need extra room on the return flight, you can just dispose of all those little containers and not feel bad about throwing away an almost unused full-sized bottle of shampoo.

8. Pack and wear for the weather. Be sure you know what the weather at your destination is going to be like. You don’t want to have just summer clothing only to find out that the weather is quite brisk in your destination. Also if you are traveling from a warm to a cold location, dress appropriate for the arrival point of your trip so you are not cold running to your car.

Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to a perfect vacation.

About The Author

Alan Jenks

Instant Hotel and Motel Reservations. At My City Travel Guide (www.mycitytravelguide.com), you can get detailed information on over 50,000 hotels around the world and do instant price checks and make your reservations quickly and securely.

A mother traveling with a nursing infant younger than 6 months old need not plan to supplement breastfeeding because of travel . Breastfed infants do not require water supplementation, even in extreme heat environments. While traveling, the best way to both maintain a mother’s milk supply and ensure ideal nutrition and hydration for the child is frequent, unrestricted nursing opportunities. Breastfeeding also protects the infant from water that is possibly contaminated.

A breastfeeding mother traveling without her nursing infant or child may wish to produce and store a supply of milk to be fed to the infant or child during her absence by another caregiver. Building a supply to be fed in her absence takes time and patience and is most successful when begun gradually, many weeks in advance of her departure. It is also important to consider that infants who have never consumed milk from a bottle or cup need opportunities to practice this skill with another caregiver prior to the mother’s departure.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The EPA has registered several active ingredients for use in personal repellents applied to skin. EPA registration of repellent active ingredients indicates the materials have been reviewed and approved for efficacy and human safety if applied according to the instructions on the label. These active ingredients are DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide), Picaridin (KBR 3023), IR 3535, p-menthane 3,8-diole (PMD or oil of lemon eucalyptus) and oil of citronella. Two additional compounds are also registered as repellents by EPA (MGK-326, MGK-264); however, they are generally formulated with other active ingredients to enhance repellent activity and are not found alone in repellent products.

All the EPA-registered active ingredients have some repellent activity (1-5). Published data indicate that repellent efficacy and duration of protection vary considerably among products and among mosquito species and are markedly affected by ambient temperature, amount of perspiration, exposure to water, abrasive removal, and other factors. In general, higher concentrations of active ingredient in a repellent formulation provide longer durations of protection, regardless of the active ingredient. Lower concentrations are not as long lasting, offering short-term protection only and necessitating more frequent reapplication.

DEET is the most common repellent active ingredient, and its efficacy and toxicity have been the subject of numerous scientific studies. Most authorities recommend repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide) as the most reliable and long-lasting active ingredient. DEET repels mosquitoes, ticks, and other arthropods when applied to the skin or clothing. In general, the more DEET a repellent contains, the longer it can protect against mosquito bites. Low concentrations provide shorter-duration protection than higher concentrations; however, there appears to be no added benefit of concentrations of more than 50% DEET. A microencapsulated, sustained-release formulation can have a longer period of activity than liquid formulations at the same concentrations (6).

DEET has been so widely used that a great deal of testing has been done. Over the long history of DEET use, very few confirmed incidents of toxic reactions to DEET have occurred when the product is used properly. No definitive studies have been published about what concentration of DEET is safe for children. However, reports of serious illness in children after the use of DEET are extremely rare; DEET was used inappropriately in most of these cases. DEET formulations as high as 50% are recommended for both adults and children >2 months of age (7-9). The recommendations for DEET use in pregnant women do not differ from those for nonpregnant adults.

Repellents that do not contain DEET have not been tested as thoroughly as DEET-based products, although available data indicate that many offer a duration of protection from biting mosquitoes similar to that provided by similar concentrations of DEET. Used according to label instructions and reapplied as necessary, EPA-registered non-DEET repellents can provide acceptable protection from biting insects and are not expected to pose health risks to people, including children and other sensitive populations. Similar to DEET, summaries from EPA indicate that Picaridin is slightly toxic by eye, dermal and oral routes. PMD (p-menthane-3,8-diol) shows no adverse effects except for eye irritation. IR3535 has been used as an insect repellent in Europe for 20 years with no substantial adverse effects. Toxicity tests show that the IR3535 is not harmful when ingested, inhaled, or used on skin, although it may cause eye irritation if it enters a person’s eyes. Oil of citronella shows little or no toxicity, but may cause skin irritation.

Repellents applied according to label instructions may be used with sunscreen with no reduction in repellent activity (10). Products that combine sunscreen and repellent are not recommended, as sunscreen may need to be re-applied with greater frequency and in greater amounts than are needed to provide protection from biting insects.

Travelers should be advised to check the container to ensure that the product bears an EPA-approved label and registration number. The entire label should be read and the directions followed carefully. For example, if a tick repellent is needed, the product label should list this use. If ticks are not listed, the product may not be formulated for that use. Repellents should be stored away from children’s reach.

Travelers should be advised to use the following precautions when using repellents:

• Use enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing. Do not apply repellent to skin that is under clothing. Heavy application is not necessary to achieve protection.
• Do not apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
• Do not spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas; do not inhale the aerosol.
• Do not apply aerosol or pump products directly to the face. Spray hands and then rub them carefully over the face, avoiding eyes and mouth.
• When using repellent on a child, an adult should apply it to his or her own hands and then rub them on the child. Avoid the child’s eyes and mouth and apply sparingly around the ears.
• Do not apply repellent to children’s hands. (Children tend to put their hands in their mouths.)
• Do not allow children younger than 10 years old to apply insect repellent to themselves; an adult should do it for them. Keep repellents out of reach of children.

Protect infants younger than 2 months of age from biting mosquitoes by using an infant carrier draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit.

Bed nets and repellents should be purchased before traveling and can be found in hardware, camping, sporting goods, and military surplus stores.

When purchasing repellents overseas, look for the EPA-registered active ingredients on the product labels. Permethrin or a similar insecticide, deltamethrin, may be purchased to treat bed nets and clothes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Travelers should be advised that exposure to arthropod bites can be minimized by modifying patterns of activity or behavior. Some vector mosquitoes are most active in twilight periods (i.e., dawn and dusk) or in the evening after dark. Avoidance of outdoor activity during these periods can reduce risk of exposure. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats minimizes areas of exposed skin. Shirts should be tucked in. Repellents applied to clothing, shoes, tents, mosquito nets, and other gear will enhance protection.

When exposure to ticks, chigger mites, or biting insects is a possibility, travelers should be advised to tuck their pants into their socks and to wear boots, not sandals. Permethrin-based repellents applied as directed to clothing or camping equipment will enhance protection. Travelers should be advised to inspect themselves and their clothing for ticks, both during outdoor activity and at the end of the day. Ticks are detected more easily on light-colored or white clothing. Prompt removal of attached ticks can prevent some infections.

When accommodations are not adequately screened or air conditioned, bed nets are essential to provide protection and to reduce discomfort due to biting insects. Bed nets are most effective when treated with a repellent such as permethrin. Pre-treated, long-lasting bed nets can be purchased prior to traveling, or nets can be sprayed after purchase. The permethrin repellent will be effective for several months if the bed net is not washed. Bed nets should be tucked under mat-tresses. Aerosol insecticides can help to clear rooms of mosquitoes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention