Have allergies, will travel. Here's how
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iving with food allergies is daunting in a familiar environment; it’s that much more challenging in a strange setting. Yet that doesn’t mean a child with allergies can’t enjoy the thrill of traveling. Here’s how some intrepid parents made it work
Packing for a trip can feel like a mammoth task.
But for families with kids with allergies, it involves much more than just remembering sunscreen, snacks for the airport, and the favorite teddy — forgetting essential items can be a matter of life and death.
Leaving their home environment means increased risk their child will be exposed to allergens. And that exposure can lead to anaphylaxis — a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs minutes, sometimes even seconds, after exposure to an allergen.
It’s therefore no wonder many families choose to give up traveling altogether once their children are diagnosed with allergies. But with intensive preparation and some practical know-how, many families have found ways to continue enjoying traveling, even when their children have severe allergies.
Seasoned traveler Shaindy says her family continues to travel extensively even though her two sons are highly allergic to a range of foods. “We love traveling and travel as a family several times a year. We go away for Pesach and for the summer. We’ve been to Rome, Israel, Amsterdam, and in the United States: Seattle, Chicago, California, and Florida.
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