Traveling Tykes: Travel Safety Guidelines & Tips for Your Child

When traveling with young kids, it simply takes careful planning to reduce parental stress and circumvent possible glitches up ahead. Below is a list of important considerations for a worry-free family getaway.

Destination
Consider your child’s age: remember that young kids have very short attention spans. So choose a place with activities that will keep your tots entertained.

Get updated health advisories about your destination. “Know the diseases that are endemic in that particular province, country, or region so that your kids can be given the proper preventive medications,” adds Dr. Sherrylab Lagarto, resident-in-training at the Pediatrics Department of the Philippine General Hospital. She cites malaria as common in the provinces of Mindoro and Palawan, while parasite infections are prevalent in Samar and Leyte.  Visit your child’s pediatrician prior to traveling to get updated on your child’s immunization status.


Seats and Schedules. Prep your kids for the trip by excitedly telling them that they’ll be away from home for a few days.

If possible, work around their feeding and play times when scheduling the trip. The most appropriate time for your kids to travel is when they’re not hungry or when they’re close to falling asleep.


If traveling by land
The car seat should be properly installed in the back seat of your car. Use a back-facing car seat for infants.

Toddlers weighing at least 20 pounds can already use a forward-facing car seat.

Use a car seat that has certified safety features and offers a comfortable ride for your child. The latter will prove crucial to your child’s disposition on road trips that last more than three hours.

It’s best to start long trips in the evening so your child can sleep through most of it and avoid the heat of the sun, possible car sickness, and other discomforts. If traveling by bus, make sure you choose one that’s air conditioned and equipped with seat belts.

Click here to learn traveling safety tips for your child when traveling by air, sea, and about accommodations.