Travelling with a baby or toddler for the first time can be a daunting and exhausting experience. Read my top tips and practical advice to help smooth the way for a happy and healthy holiday.

Flying with little ones is the first challenge. Take small sachets of Calpol or Neurofen in your hand luggage. These can help if the air pressure hurts their ears. Chewing, sipping water, or sucking on a dummy whilst taking off can also help relieve ear pressure. Pack favourite toys and books to keep them occupied during the journey. You could also take a special toy or blanket to encourage them to sleep.

Have a good supply of snacks in case they won’t eat the food on the plane.

Take a change of clothes for your child and for you because planes can be quite cold. Always adjust the air-conditioning to avoid it blowing directly them onto them. Also, take an extra jacket and socks.

Flying with babies:

If permitted, take your buggy as far as the departure gate. Your buggy is not returned until baggage reclaim so a baby sling is often helpful.

You should get to the airport in good time because you may be allocated specific seats at the front. These have more space. If you are travelling with babies, bassinets can be helpful and are generally available for babies up to 2 years old.

It is usually possible to pre-order baby food and ready to drink formula through Boots airside. Ensure you take enough for the flight and to acclimatise once abroad (order at least 7 days prior to departure).

In hot climates think carefully when packing to ensure you have suitable clothes to allow your body to breathe.

Pack travel blackout blinds and sunshades.

Wounds

In hot areas with high humidity, wounds often take longer to heal and easily become infected. You should ensure that any injury is cleaned thoroughly and apply a sterile breathable dressing.

Rabies

If anyone is bitten or licked by an animal, it is imperative that you seek medical attention as soon as possible and receive prompt anti-rabies treatment. If you are going to a high-risk area it is highly recommended to have anti rabies vaccinations in advance. Even if you have these vaccinations you still need urgent medical attention – but it does buy you a bit more time and means you need less invasive treatment should you be at risk. Rabies has 100% mortality and is not a nice way to go, so please treat it seriously.

Dehydration, sunburn and heat exhaustion

Keeping everyone well hydrated is particularly important in hot climates. Treat the sun with respect; cover up with hats, sunglasses and sun cream, drink plenty and keep out of the midday sun. If you are swimming or sailing remember that reflections from water increase the potency of the sun and regularly apply additional sunscreen accordingly.

If someone shows signs of heat exhaustion; flushed, sweaty, stomach cramps, headaches …encourage them to sit in the shade and drink to replace their fluids. Seek medical advice if concerned.

Research in advance about specific dangers in the areas you are visiting to learn how particular stings, bites, illnesses or reactions should be treated. You should choose a child friendly mosquito repellent and wear long, loose clothing to avoid being bitten. Be particularly careful at dusk.

Think ahead:

Always travel with toilet roll, tissues, hand sanitizer and a compact, sensible First Aid kit.

Accidents and illnesses can happen anywhere and can be more stressful when away from home. Equipping yourself with an appropriately stocked First Aid kit and the knowledge to help, means you are ready for action if something happens.

Here are my top tips for essential travel kits and medication:

1. Paediatric Paracetamol or Ibuprofen sachets. Bring these to have on the plane in case the air pressure hurts their ears. Besides this, they are superb painkillers to have to hand anyway.

2. Paediatric Piriton (or alternative antihistamine) – in case they have a mild allergic reaction to new foods, stings etc…

Please note that you should not keep medication in your first aid kit. Store it safely out of the reach of children.

3. A couple of calico triangular bandages. They are superb versatile sterile non-fluffy material, ideal to stop bleeding, easy cover for head wounds, elbows, knees, mouths – pretty much anywhere. You can also fold them to make a flat supportive bandage or use them as a sling.

4. An instant ice pack – you can activate them when you need them (without a freezer). Wrap and then apply to a bump or bruise to reduce swelling.

5. Non-adherent dressings for grazes and micropore tape to secure them to the wound. A couple of finger bandages and small bandage-style dressings are useful too.

6. Burn Gel – use after cooling a burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes, or helpful if burnt when there is no running water available, also great for sunburn.

7. Tough cut scissors to cut off clothes and good quality tweezers to remove a splinter or sea urchin spines.

8. Plasters – for short term covering of a wound. Remove as soon as possible, clean and then cover with an appropriate dressing, as plasters can lead to wounds becoming soggy.

9. Sterile wipes to clean a wound or pods of saline and some gauze squares – the saline is also useful to irrigate sand out of eyes.

10. Small crepe bandage to provide a support bandage for an injured limb.

Emergency services

Ensure you have the number for the emergency services. Throughout Europe the emergency number is 112 (elsewhere you should google in advance or check in your guidebook)

Add additional First Aid items relevant to your trip and attend a First Aid course tailored to the particular needs of your holiday and family.

Before you travel

You can find more details about what to put in your First Aid kit, along with pictures of the individual items, on our website www.firstaidforlife.org.uk.

Attend a practical or online First Aid course relevant to the particular needs of your holiday and family. First Aid for Life will arrange a tailored family holiday first aid course specific to the area you are visiting, planned activities and needs of your family.

About Us

First Aid for Life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a practical First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

First Aid for Life offer tailored first aid courses for specific activities and destinations.

Written by Emma Hammett from First Aid for life
www.firstaidforlife.org.uk

It is strongly advised that you attend a Practical First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency. Please visit www.firstaidforlife.org.uk  and www.onlinefirstaid.com for more information about our practical and online courses and to access free resources.

First Aid for life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.

Author: Emma Hammett