Parents going abroad — or preparing their child for a trip with another family member — have a lot to run through before they can breathe easy. In this post, we’ll show you what parents can do to guarantee everything goes without a hitch.
Getting the Right Travel Documents
The documents and forms you’ll need beyond your passport will depend on your destination and who’s going. Here are a few documents you might need:
Make sure everyone’s passports are in date; however, this doesn’t just mean that they haven’t expired yet. Your passport should ideally have 3-6 months left from your travel date, and this is actually a requirement for some countries.
Also, remember to renew any expired (or about-to-expire) passports before you travel. This will usually only take around three weeks, but plan in case this takes over a month. Don’t book until you have your new one, as this has a separate passport number.
Health and Medicine
Look into a country’s vaccination recommendations before you visit, even if you’re only there for a layover; it’s better safe than sorry. For example, some destinations have a risk of yellow fever, and some even require a vaccination certificate.
You should also stock up on any medications you and your kids need, as well as spare inhalers, EpiPens, and other medical devices. Take more medicine than necessary as a buffer in case of delays, or your child dropping a dosage.
Consider packing a travel-sized first aid kit; this should have all the following:
Finally, make sure you take child-safe sunscreen, insect repellent, bite cream, and anything else you might need for your destination.
Airport Security
Explain the usual airport processes to your kids, especially security. Some airports have “family lanes,” letting you take your time and get any extra help you’ll need.
Make sure you’ve got all the following covered before joining the security queue:
Security also needs to scan all of your children’s toys. Let your children know this in advance, or they might struggle to say goodbye, even for a minute.
Remember, your children won’t glide through security as easily as adults; be patient with them.
Packing
Trying to fit everything into your hand luggage and checked bags is never easy — even if you’re travelling solo. Adding children to the mix can complicate this further by giving you more bags, but you don’t have to panic. Here are our tips for smart packing as a family:
If you have a pushchair, you should also get a collapsible one that you can easily gate-check.
Safety Tips
You don’t just need to prepare yourself and your child for the flight. You’ll also have to check that your child(ren) will be safe while you’re at your destination. Here’s what you should do:
Never leave your child alone in your accommodation and lock the doors when you leave, though you should still hide valuables (perhaps under the bed) in case of a break-in.
In addition, if your child has any allergies, always take their EpiPen out and watch what they eat or drink. They may be on holiday, but their allergies aren’t.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t an exhaustive guide, but it should cover at least the basics. So long as you’re careful, use your common sense, and have the right documents, you and your whole family will enjoy a great holiday.
