When you travel with children, you need to consider some dangers. Family members can get sick or lost, or they can end up in the hospital. However, you shouldn’t let your worries keep you home. With a little preparation, you can handle unexpected challenges and enjoy your time away from home.
Stress Caused by Unfamiliar Places
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Between daycare or school, and timed meals at home, children get used to a routine. Travel can upset these daily rituals and cause stress. For little ones, bring a favorite toy, blanket, or another familiar item to make a hotel room homey.
Keep up part of your routine such as reading a bedtime story or eating dinner together at a specific time. If children are old enough, talk to them before you go. Get your family excited to visit a new place to avoid stress caused by an unknown territory.
A Sick Child
Getting sick is never fun, and it’s scary for kids who are in a strange place. Try to avoid illness by taking precautions before you leave. For international trips, verify whether your family needs any special immunizations and drink only bottled water.
Prepare for medical emergencies while your family is away from home. Check your health insurance to see if you’re covered while you travel, especially if you’re going to another country. Consider additional travel health insurance also.
If a family member gets hospitalized, your insurance may not cover medical transportation costs. A MedjetAssist travel security membership can help with transportation fees. If your child is in a hospital more than 150 miles from home, Medjet can arrange transportation to a home-country hospital of your choice.
Your Child Gets Lost
Your child could get lost on a busy street or beach. Give your kids the information they need to find you if you get separated. Supply your cellphone number and contact information, including the address and phone number of your hotel.
If you’re in a crowded area, identify a meeting place to reconnect if you get separated. Carry recent photos of your children in case you need to engage the police for assistance.
Something Happens to You
If you become injured, does your child know whom to contact for help? Give your child local contact numbers for the police and hotel manager as well as the telephone number for someone back home. Put your family at ease by having a plan in place and discussing what to do if you get sick.
Different Safety Requirements
If you’re traveling abroad, remember that not all countries have the same laws regarding child safety. Railing heights may be different, and pools and beaches may not have lifeguards on duty. Child seats may work differently abroad, too. Don’t scare your kids; however, gently make your family aware of dangers to stay away from, dangers which will be different from ones that they have to worry about at home.
Travel dangers are real, but don’t let them stop you from enjoying a family vacation. Be prepared, talk about contingency plans with your children, and enjoy your trip.
