Their health
It’s difficult enough to relieve them when they’re sick at home, so it’s important to take all the precautions you can to ensure that the trip will be hassle free and you’ll have everything you need so that you can address any problematic situation quickly. First, you can make sure your kids are up to date with their vaccinations. Pay special attention to vaccines and diseases present in the destination you have planned to go to. It’s also good to prepare a list of the clinics, pharmacies and hospitals in the area you are visiting in advance, so you can react quickly if your child gets sick during your trip. Also remember to have good travel insurance that covers the sometimes expensive care your child may need if he falls ill.
Don’t forget to bring medication to relieve nausea or diarrhea as well as products to protect them from the sun and the mosquitoes, which can sometimes be carriers of dangerous diseases. On site, you can also take precautions like avoiding non-bottled water or raw foods.
Reminder! Beware of drowning! Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children. Keep your child in your sight at all times and make sure to bring floaters and protective jackets for the little ones who can’t swim yet.
Safety on the playgrounds
If you have chosen to head south, most of the all-inclusive hotels provide play areas specifically dedicated to young children. Here are some tips to ensure that the playgrounds are safe for your children:
- Make sure the structure hasn’t been painted with a paint that contains lead.
- Ask the kids to wash their hands after using the playground.
- Remind your kids not to put their fingers in their mouths.
- If there is more than one playground, always choose the ones that have wood chips, sand or other spongy surfaces, which are less dangerous than gravel or grass.
- Children under 5 should not be on a structure higher than 1 and a half meter from the ground to avoid the risk of serious injury.
- Keep an eye on kids in the playground at all times to respond quickly if kids are fighting or pushing, which can be dangerous.
Losing a child: Every parent’s worst nightmare
We often hear about it, and the risks are real because it’s so easy to get lost in the crowd and kids are being abducted every day. There are still some basic precautions you can take to put the odds in your favor:
- The first thing you can do is to explain the rules of basic safety to your children before you leave on your trip.
- Ask your children to remember the name of the hotel and the address where you will be staying.
- Keep your kids in sight at all times and when visiting public places, hold their hand.
- For younger children, you can bring a stroller that allows you to keep your child close to you.
- Have your kids wear an ID bracelet or a sticker with all the important information to contact you in case he gets lost.
- For older kids, you can use walkie-talkies to communicate if you get separated.
- Take a picture of them every morning so you always know what they were wearing.
- Choose a backpack when travelling, so your hands are free.
- For toddlers, especially the ones who are full of energy and who tend to run away, you can choose to use a cord that connects his wrist to yours for added protection.
What to bring when travelling with kids
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent
- Medication for nausea and diarrhea
- Water bottles
- A first aid kit to treat minor injuries
- Hats to protect their heads from the sun
- An Aloe cream or gel to soothe sunburns
- Copies of the If your child goes missing sheet for each of your kids.
- All documents relating to your children like health insurance card, insurance documents, passports, etc.
