How to Reduce the Effects of Jet Lag on Kids on a Vacation to Thailand

Although a vacation to Thailand with kids can be great fun,the effects of jet lag on children are often horrendous Jet lag is difficult enough for parents. For children it's ten times worse as they don't understand why they feel so bad, and can't figure out what to do about it. Luckily, there are many ways to countermand the negative effects of jet lag and time differences on a trip to Thailand. Follow these quick tips and, even if your children do experience some jet lag, they'll still bounce back fast, just in time to enjoy their vacation.

Before you begin doing any time difference calculations too, be aware Thailand is usually 11-14 hours ahead of the United States and Canada, depending on time of the year and where in the United States and Canada you live in. As for Europe, the time difference is much less -- 5-7 hours difference -- so the jet lag is usually less severe.

Keep Your Kids Up Later - One easy way to reduce the effects of jet lag on children on a trip to Thailand is to let them go to bed later. What that means is, a week before you are due to leave on your vacation, let your kids stay up 30 minutes longer. The night after -- an hour longer. The next night -- 90 minutes longer. If you do this for a week, by the time you leave on your trip to Thailand, your kids will already be going to bed three and a half hours later than normal, so already closer to a typical Thai bedtime.

Have Thai-Time Naps on the Flight - Before you set off on your flight, figure out what time it is in the US, Canada or Europe when Thais are sleeping. Then, to get onto a Thai sleeping schedule that much faster, get your kids to sleep on the flight when it's bed time in Thailand. Even if they only sleep for an hour or two, they'll still be closer to getting their bodies readjusted to Thai time the first day they arrive in the country.

Get Into Thai-Time Sleep Routine on Arrival - Depending on what time your plane arrives in Thailand, you should immediately get into a Thai routine. So, for instance, if your flight is a European flight it will usually arrive late morning or early afternoon. In that case, keep the kids up and put them to bed at their normal bed time. If however you arrive late evening or 1-4am, put the kids to bed as soon as you get to the hotel, but wake them up at their regular time -- 7am-9am -- Thailand time. Even if they are tired the first day, that will get them into a normal sleeping pattern quickly and reduce the effects of jet lag.

Stay Out in the Fresh Air and Sunshine - During the first couple of days of your Thai vacation, keep the kids outside in fresh air and sunlight. Sunlight tends to keep them awake longer and gives them more energy. So, even if they're lagging a bit due to tiredness, as long as they're getting lots of sunlight they shouldn't be falling asleep too soon.

Drink Lots of Water - Keep your kids hydrated, particularly when they're outside as Thailand is hot. Drinking lots of water cleanses your body. It also helps with the effects of jet lag as, particularly in the afternoon, it countermands the oft-felt 'crash' after lunch, helping your kids stay awake until a normal sleeping tiime.

Don't Plan Long Trips for the First Two Days - I usually find, after the first two day back in Thailand, my body is close has adapted to the jet lag. But, for the first two days I'm back, I don't to plan any long trips away from home or travel to another town as, the one time I did, I almost didn't make it back home I was so tired.

On your first two days in Thailand, explore your immediate neighborhood but stay close to the hotel. That way, if the kids suddenly need a nap, you can pop back for a couple of hours and let the whole family have a rest.

Never Use Sleeping Pills - Some parents give their kids sleeping pills when they arrive in Thailand, so they can sleep easier. That's the worst thing you can do as your kids' bodies will never correctly adjust to Thai time. Plus, sleeping pills, even kids' size ones, make them sluggish and slow them down. Don't do it. A couple of nights of tired kids is better than an entire holiday of kids looking like they're about to pull a Sleeping Beauty.

Be aware, the flight back to the United States, Canada or Europe can cause much worse jet lag when you arrive back home than the flight to Thailand. I always find, when I fly from the US to Bangkok, I might be a little tired the first day but get back into my normal Thai routine quite fast. But, traveling back to the US, the first week I arrive in America I'm usually wiped out and retire to bed every night around 6pm. If that happens to you and your kids, the only thing you can do is get back into your regular routine as fast as you can, and stick to it as much as is physically possible.

More Information:

Jet Lag: Babies, Toddlers and Kids - Delicious Baby