Essential tips for travelling with kids Kids travel can be a fun and exciting experience, but it's also important to remain mindful of some safety considerations. From the moment you start packing for your family holiday or business trip, there are plenty of things that need to be considered in order to ensure a safe journey.
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Before you start your journey, it's best to ensure that every person in the family has a passport. Whenever travelling overseas, children must carry their own passports with them at all times during trips as well.
If you're not sure what vaccinations are required for traveling abroad but have been told by the doctor or nurse that they need one then contact your nearest Australian travel clinic before heading off on holiday so they can organise this for you.
Vaccinations will vary depending on which country and region is being visited - some require up-to-date inoculations against polio, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, hepatitis A&B and rabies while others may not be necessary if previously immunised.
-Children should have all their immunisations up to date and a doctor's letter confirming this.
-Check the airline website for any age limits on particular flights, which may vary depending on the time of year or destination.
-If children are old enough (usually at least 12), they can buy a seat so that you don't need to hold them in your lap during takeoff and landing as this could be dangerous if turbulence occurs. If they're not big enough to sit independently then ask an air stewardess about seating arrangements well before departure day so there isn't too much stress involved last minute, but still keep it close by justincase!
-Kids will enjoy watching videos like Pixar favourites - Ratatouille, Wall-E and Up.
-Don't forget to pack a DVD player or children's games console for the time spent in transit!
-Bring some of your child's favourite books with you as well as toys they haven't seen before - this will help keep them occupied while they're waiting at the airport terminal. It also gives them something new to play with on arrival too!
Some parents worry that travelling with kids will make their holiday drag. It's easy to see why - you may need more time for the journey itself, and there are likely to be heaps of other people in transit feeling just as frazzled! Yet if you take it slow and leave plenty of time before your trip begins, then all these worries can easily be put at ease.
If travel is at an airport terminal, try not getting too stressed about rushing through customs or security so they don't have any last minute panic either.
You'll also want to pack a DVD player (or games console) for those hours spent on planes or trains. Kids love watching favourite films like Ratatouille, Wall-E and Up while waiting to land, and also do their best to keep themselves entertained during lengthy journeys.
Pre-book everything you can, including hotel rooms and car hire. If plans change or there is a problem with your travel arrangements on the day of departure then it's so much easier to fix if you've already organised what needs doing beforehand!
Kids are less likely to have any issues with jet lag when they're sleeping in their own bed at night - as long as they get plenty of rest before and during their trip too. Yet even this doesn't always work perfectly for everyone, which is why sometimes parents need to make provisions that are more specific like taking along an extra blanket for winter trips or packing earplugs (for kids who may not sleep well).
Planning out each child's activities ahead of time also ensures that they don't feel left out of the fun.
It's pretty likely that at some point your child will become ill while on their trip. If they do, then it's essential to have a good supply of basic medicines with you such as paracetamol or ibuprofen – and try not to rely on the medicine from abroad! This is really important for kids who are prone to getting chronic illnesses like asthma too because if worsening symptoms happen, you'll want them in reach so they can be treated quickly.
One other thing: make sure you also pack any prescription medications that need filling up (such as inhalers). Take this advice into consideration before coming up with your travel plans and ideally get all necessary prescriptions filled beforehand - it saves time on arrival day where there may be a queue at the pharmacy. If you have specific questions about this post, please contact us.
It's also worth taking into account any allergies that your child might have, especially to food or medicine? If you know they're allergic to something and there's an option for them not be exposed to it while on their trip then make sure you pack plenty of snacks in case they don't like what is offered by local restaurants! This will help with avoiding tummy aches too.
Colourful stickers are perfect for kids who may need reminding about what medications/symptoms they should see a doctor about - just stick them onto medication bottles or pillboxes so that your little one can recognise which one corresponds to each ailment.
You'll want this information handy when travelling overseas as some countries require a doctor's note in order to get treatment.