With airlines dropping mask mandates last night families with young children who are not able to get vaccinated yet are feeling a new round of anxiety.

Eileen Ogintz, longtime family travel expert from the nationally syndicated column Taking the Kids, has a few tips for families trying to navigate these tricky travel scenarios.

Her most recent column is dedicated to this subject, out now at this link What’s a family to do? One option would be to keep masking up everyone in the family with high-quality masks when flying. It’s also a good practice to keep masks handy in case you are confined in an airplane seat near someone who is coughing or sniffling — symptoms not only of COVID-19 but other possible infections. Going forward, families should consider masks as an essential part of any travel first-aid kit.

She also has some tips for families: 

I’ve always said bring a medical kit with you – ever since my 3 year old daughter fell into “a very mean” cactus at Joshua Tree and we had to borrow a pair of tweezers from another family while she cried hysterically. Consider bringing a pack of masks with your medical kit. 

• I’ve always said bring a medical kit with you – ever since my 3 year old daughter fell into “a very mean” cactus at Joshua Tree and we had to borrow a pair of tweezers from another family while she cried hysterically. Consider bringing a pack of masks with your medical kit. 
• If you have young kids under the vaccination age, or are going to see a compromised relative, the whole family should mask while traveling – N-95s or KN-95s are best at this point. While the parents may be vaccinated and at less risk, the same principle of the WHOLE family wearing helmets while bike riding or skiing applies — the kids need to see the example. 
• Bring extra masks, in case you find yourself in a situation where a seat neighbor is coughing often.
• Pack in at home tests if you can. 
• Since earth day is coming up, remember to bring your own reusable water bottles, to cut down on plastic waste and airport costs – just remember to empty your water bottles before TSA, because they will take your water bottle – don’t ask me why a water bottle is more dangerous than a virus that has killed 1 million Americans, but I’m no expert…
• Patience – airlines have been struggling with staffing all year, they will continue to struggle, likely more as more employees become sick now and they have to rotate crews and pilots. This will lead to delays and aggravation. Patience is a virtue.
• Travel insurance – make sure to get travel insurance in case of any hiccups whether with covid or airline delays.
• To avoid delays, try to book the earlier flight you can – delays tend to build later in the day.