Water
Make sure to leave space in your luggage for water bottles, especially for your baby. Several diseases, including hepatitis are transmitted through ingestion of local water and not all hotels offer bottled water. If your baby is fed with formula milk, choose already diluted formulas that will reduce the amount of water that you will have to carry. If you are not using milk bottles with disposable bags, remember to bring antibacterial dish soap to wash the bottles regularly.
Sunscreen
Ideally, your child should be exposed to the sun as little as possible. He MUST wear a large hat, quality sunglasses and a good quality sunscreen of at least 30 FPS. Make sure to add a fresh layer of sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours even if your child has been sitting under the shadow. Sunrays reflect on sand, water, concrete, etc.
Vaccination
- Several diseases such as hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, malaria, meningitis, measles and rubella threaten any unprotected traveller.
- Visit a traveller’s clinic or your doctor 4 to 6 weeks before taking off to give enough time for the immunizing agent in the vaccine to become active. It is even more crucial to follow these procedures if you are planning on bringing a baby or young child with you. In this case, it may be necessary change their vaccination routine and plan for additional vaccines according to the Canadian immunization guide.
- On their website, the Public Health Agency of Canada broadcasts information for travellers concerning the preponderance of certain foreign diseases.
- To consult the list of different traveller’s clinics, click here.
Source: Touring Winter 2004, Passport Canada, Air Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
