Travelling abroad with children

How early can you fly with a child?

At what age is flying allowed?

Theoretically, one can fly with their child at any age. Nonetheless, I do not recommend flying with a newborn under the age of 2 months because fever at this age can get you and the child into big trouble (read more about neonatal fever here). And nobody wants their baby to catch an infection from the guy who was sitting two rows behind them coughing on the airplane.

At what age is flying advisable?

There is obviously no formal cut-off that answers this question. Younger kids can’t really enjoy flying or being abroad and can’t make memories, so I always recommend parents to weigh out their options and make their own decision as to the best time to take the little one on a family trip.
And of-course, do not take your babies or young children on adventurous trips that require physical effort that they can’t handle.

Travel insurance for families

I don’t know too much about insurance, but I make sure to purchase travel insurance before all my trips. Both for the adults and children in the family.

Proper planning of trips abroad with children

When planning to travel with children, it is important to plan around their needs. Consider the following points:
• Taking a very long flight or a flight that may interfere with their sleeping hours can be very difficult for children. Try to plan the timing of the flights so that children’s sleep cycle remains unaffected.
• Similarly, when planning a long drive, keep in mind that even the calmest and best-behaved kids get irritated after 2 hours of non-stop driving. Make sure to make lots of stops on the way. If you plan on renting a car, don’t forget to get insurance and make sure the rental company also offers an appropriate car seat for your child.
• It is important to make sure your children are eating healthy even when travelling. Plan your trip so that your children are able to have their meals on time, have access to nutritious, healthy and clean food, in a sanitary environment.
• Activities with children – so listen to this. When my kids were younger, we travelled to the United States together and spent about a month there. We climbed mountains and crossed rivers, visited everything from Universal Studios to Disneyland. And guess what my son’s favourite part of the trip was? Going to this little park that we happened to stop at for an hour while visiting in San-Francisco. This really taught me a lesson.

Vaccines for children and parents before travelling abroad

We are all aware that different countries have different immunization demands and risks, and that when visiting certain countries, we may have to get certain vaccines.
For example, you cannot visit certain countries in Africa without receiving the yellow fever vaccine prior to the visit. Another example is when backpackers travel to certain parts of Europe – they have to consider the Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine before the start of their journey.
So, if you are planning an exotic trip with your children, make sure to visit a travel clinic so that you and your children can get all the right vaccines before heading off on your adventure. Try to visit the clinic about 2 months before the vacation, because some vaccines require several doses, and this may take longer to complete.
Also, when planning an exotic trip your healthcare provider may have to consider the need for malaria medication, to which there is no vaccine.
When travelling to a developing country, discuss the need for Typhoid fever (more about it here) vaccines with your provider.

Fortunately, children who have previously received their scheduled routine vaccines (in most developed countries around the world), are pretty much covered for the majority of infections, including tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles and more. So, for most short trips around the world, there is no need for additional vaccines, beyond the ones received through routine immunization. If you recall missing one of your child’s vaccine appointments, discuss this with your family physician and go over the vaccines they have received.
Also, make sure that you, the parents, have received all your immunizations and do not need a tetanus booster, for example.

What kind of medications should I take with me when travelling with children?

Despite being generally healthy beings, children tend to get sick (thankfully mostly with viral infections) at the worst of times! And if you plan on taking 3 kids abroad for 2 weeks, the statistical chance of one of them catching something while you are away is pretty high…
As we are able to deal with some of the more trivial health situations on our own, it is important to supply yourselves with medications before travelling, especially if you are visiting a place with limited access to pharmacies. On the other hand, I sometimes see families travelling with an entire suitcase of medications! That is really unnecessary.
So, what medications should you take with you?
• Anti-pyretics and analgesics – I know, I know. You can find acetaminophen and ibuprofen everywhere in the world. But if you are used to the brand that is sold in your home country and you like its particular form (tablet, syrup, suppository), it is better to take it with you. It doesn’t really matter which one it is.
• Medication for ear pain – I suggest you learn about the two types of ear infections that exist, because their treatment is completely different. The first type is middle ear infection, which sometimes requires oral antibiotics (more here) and the second type, outer ear infection, also known as swimmer’s ear (more here), is very common when travelling especially if the vacation includes lots of swimming and pools. I recommend taking ear drops which are beneficial for outer ear infections as well as oral antibiotics (Amoxicillin), to be safe. You will be given the antibiotic as a powder from the pharmacy, and if a doctor recommends you start antibiotics you will have to prepare it on your own while abroad. You can read more about how to prepare an antibiotic suspension here.
• Eye drops or ointment – I don’t think this is very important when travelling with children, but it’s nice to have just in case you need it.
• Bug repellant and bite treatment – mosquito repellant and a topical gel or ointment for treating bite wounds. In some areas of the world it can help you avoid Dengue fever disease (read more here).
• Sun-screen – one of the pediatric journals I read once stated that one of the most important recommendations that a pediatrician often forgets to give their patients is to apply sunscreen. So here I am telling you: please apply sunscreen! Read more about the benefits of sunscreen here.
• Inhalers – if your children have a history of shortness of breath and have needed inhalers or nebulizers in the past, consider taking these with you (more about inhalers here).
• Daily medications – don’t forget to take your child’s daily medications with you, if he takes any.
• Mebendazole – lots of families ask me for Mebendazole (Vermox) before travelling. To be honest? I don’t understand why. But I realized long ago that when it comes to worms, there is nothing about the timing of these infections that makes sense.
• What about a first aid kit that contains bandages, antiseptic solution, and such? I have never travelled abroad with such a kit. There’s no end to the things that you can take with you.

Can we get a summary of the list of important medications for travelling with children?

Antipyretics and analgesics
Ear drops for outer ear infection
Antibiotics for common childhood infections (Amoxicillin)
Eye drops or ointment – why not
Mosquito repellants and bite treatment
Sun-screen – very important!
Daily medications including inhalers

How to have a pleasant flight with your children

Flights can be very unpleasant for babies and children, so it is a good idea to prepare for them in advance.
Safety – this may vary depending on the particular aircraft and airline you’re travelling with. Usually, for infants under the age of 9 months, you need to order an airplane bassinet ahead of time. For infants over the age of 9 months and under 18 kg, a safety seat fitted to the aircraft is recommended.
Ear pain – ear pain is very common during take-off and landing and can occur as a result of the change in air pressure. To relieve the pain, older children can be taught how to close up their nose and squeeze air towards their ears in order to release ear pressure, or they can be given candy or gum (depending on their age). Using a pacifier or bottle during take-off and landing can be helpful for infants.
Food – remember to order your children a kids-meal for the flight ahead of time. If your children are picky eaters, prepare a tasty and nutritious meal for them before-hand and take it with you on the flight.
Sedatives – despite all the tales you will hear about this, I advise avoiding any sort of sedatives when on flights. Children can sometimes react paradoxically to these substances (even to the simple ones, such as anti-histamines) and this can turn the flight into a nightmare.

Travelling with a child who has an underlying medical condition

Travelling with a child who has an underlying medical condition can be very challenging for the parents. In such cases, it is important to consult with your primary care physician before travelling – think about the destination and the type of vacation you want to plan. Carry a list of their medications wherever you go in case you find yourselves in a situation where you need medical care or a new supply of medication. If the child has a severe medical condition, find out ahead of time where the closest medical centers are located at your destination.

In summary, enjoy your trip. I wish us all pleasant travels and lots of opportunities to create unforgettable memories that our children can tell their children about.