Winter family fun can take its toll on kids. -- Photo courtesy of Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Too much travel, no sleep, overeating, hugs and kisses from contagious Aunt Bee -- all of it turns the greeting "Merry Christmas!" into "Merry sniff, sniff!"

Headaches, chills and sniffles run rampant as winter nears -- just as most families' are gearing up for Christmas, Hanukah and New Year's travel.

Holidays are an excuse to get away, and to be indulgent. Kids stay up late. Planes and trains can be infectious. And there aren't many vitamins in Grandma's shortbread cookies.

It's true. It's tough to rest when you're on the road constantly throughout the holidays.

Young families, including Jefferson Gilbert, his wife and two kids, often feel obligated to schlep from place to place visiting relatives.

"We have a neat picture of our son Wyatt at Christmas following his first birthday," says Gilbert. "We call the picture A Fallen Comrade because he did not make it to dinner -- the first and only time in his life -- because of sickness and exhaustion. We simply wore him out. We travelled between grandparents and tried to do it all." On subsequent holidays the Gilberts cut back on travel.

"We had to change some Christmas traditions," he says. "This included only visits with one side (of the family)."

But many families -- even the sick ones -- insist on being close during the holidays.

"In our family everybody has to call in to give their health status before getting together," says Marilyn Sinclair, a mom of two girls whose extended family comes together for Hanukah and Passover. Sinclair says their pre-party checks help them establish who's fit and who's sick.

"Then we keep kids with coughs on one side of the room," she adds.

Another solution for young families: Stay home. Invite relatives over and host holiday festivities. Better yet, pass on the extended family get-together and commit to visit in less germy times in the spring, fall or summer.

If you've just got to go on the road, insist that everyone get plenty of rest and relaxation.

Cathy and Rick Kester, parents of three, share a clever solution.

"When our children were 2, 4 and 6 years of age, they were adamant that they were going to stay up until the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve," says Cathy.

"Rick and I were pretty adamant that they weren't because sleep is so important for keeping them healthy, especially during the holiday season.

"So, we put the three of them in the bath tub a little later than usual.Meanwhile,Rick changed the clock to 11:15 p.m. When their bath was over we counted down with Dick Clark (taped from last year) and had a great big New Year's celebration.They were all in bed by 9 p.m.!"

Of course, to avoid the spread of holiday germs ensure everyone washes their hands -- often. Public health experts claim the chance of staying healthy is four times greater if you wash your hands more than seven times a day.

Eating well while away is also a good defence as well. Too much sugar can depress the immune system, leaving it vulnerable to viruses.

Still, until we find a cure, Scrooge-like bugs will try to rob joy from joyful occasions. In the end, it's all about maintaining balance -- even when your family is on the move.

Says Greg Yaneff, husband of Manissa and father of Ryan and Rachel: "A good offense is the best defence -- If things get too out of balance something's bound to happen."