Safety Travel Tips For International & Domestic Travel With Kids

We are about to set off on another adventure with our mini nomads in tow, everyone is excited, especially our 3 year old Marli as she desperately decides which backpack she should take and what to put in it. We on the other hand, are considering all angles we need to cover for our adventure, especially this time as we are heading overseas!

As parents, there is always a thought that comes to mind when planning our adventures and choosing our destinations – safety. What if something went wrong? How can we ensure we will all be ok? How can we plan ahead to eliminate any possible risks? So with all this in mind I thought why not share some safety travel tips to help others before you head off on your next adventure, internationally, or within Australia.

Ensure you are aware of the main risk factors of your destination and how these may affect you and your kids. When travelling within Australia this can be simple things like having a water source nearby e.g. the beach / pool with no fence, or the wildlife, e.g. snakes, spiders, dingos or dangerous sea creatures.

If travelling abroad make sure you know where you will be staying, is it a safe area, which hotels are recommended, do they speak English? How will you travel once you arrive? Do you need to travel with a car seat for your infant children? Where is the nearest consulate and hospital in case of an emergency? What currency do they use?

We recommend visiting www.smarttraveller.gov.au.  You can also register your details and travel plans here to ensure you and your family have the best opportunities to reach you safely in case of an emergency.

Despite the most careful planning, some things can go wrong when you travel. The mantra – ‘it will never happen to me’ is not something you want to live by, especially when you have your children travelling with you, it is just not worth the risk. Travel insurance provides you with peace of mind knowing that you, your family and your valuables (depending on your level of cover) are protected if and when something may occur. Insurance is recommended not just for international adventures but also for domestic adventures too.

There are a number of travel insurers which provide cover to children under the age of 21 at no extra cost, so look around for the best deal. If you are using cover through your credit card provider be sure to check the details of the policy to make sure everything you need is included. For this trip we are covered by our friends at FastCover.

Be sure to understand what will be required when feeding your baby. If visiting another county what is their cultural approach to public breast feeding? Or if using formula you may need to bring your own formula, find out about the quality of water at your destination and consider how you will sterilise it. Can you purchase formula there and if not ensure you pack your supply between a few bags in case one bag is lost. We always like to seek out the local market when we arrive to stock up on things like bananas and avocados (fruit that can be peeled) for a fresh safe snack for our little ones.

If you or your child has an allergy to something, a translation card can simplify ordering food in a restaurant. There may not be one word you can remember to explain your food intolerances, which is why a comprehensive translation can be useful.

As we have learnt, young kids are fast! They can run off and be lost in a crowd in the blink of an eye. While travelling you may want to have your kids wear a wrist band with your travel phone number and name inside it. You could simply buy a plastic, coloured wristband and write your number in permanent marker, or look up the range of ID bracelets available online. When travelling to a destination you can also create a ‘meeting point’ to go to if you do happen to get lost and if you have a large family a buddy system may also be a great way to keep everyone looking out for each other.

It is always a good idea to discuss personal safety with older children too. You could discuss stranger danger and remind them to never tell strangers where you’re staying or how long you’re staying there. While someone may ask well-meaning questions, not everyone has your best interests at heart.

Planning a road trip around Australia? Or will you be hiking exploring New Zealand or the hills in Bali? Wherever you are travelling to keep in mind your child’s limits and be mindful about how long they can walk, sit still or stay outside in the heat/cold for. Remember travelling as a family can take longer than as a couple. You will most likely need more pit stops in between destinations. Exploring a city all day will perhaps not be possible, make sure you prioritise and include rest periods in your day.

Check out our travel with kids tips here for some helpful insights on car travel, snacks and more.

As parents you probably already have your ‘go to’ medical supplies in your cupboard at home. Ensure you have an up to date first aid kit at the ready for your adventure. Consider where you are travelling to and include items to ensure you are prepared. e.g. Snake Bandages, Sting Creams, Imodium etc.  We like to use some natural remedies to help with things like teething too so ensure items like this are well labelled. Also bring a copy of any prescriptions you take on a regular basis. Should you need to get an extra inhaler for example, you’ll want that information on hand.

As a mum of young kids I often walk into a room and do a quick safety scan – I ask myself what can they break and can anything hurt them.
It is best to think about these things when arriving at a new location. Does your hotel room have a high balcony, maybe you need to remove the chairs or lock the doors? What items do you need to move up high etc. you could even travel with a baby gate or a porta cot to use as a make-shift safe play area.

Prepare older kids for new rules about water – in many countries, you will only be able to use bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing your teeth. It’s also a good idea to keep your mouth closed while showering. Getting your kids to practice this before travelling and explaining why they need to avoid local water can save a lot of tummy aches. Packing your child’s own water bottle is a good idea so they know they are allowed to drink from it.

Be wary of contaminated food. Food safety and hygiene rules may be a little more relaxed in some countries. Try to steer clear of anything you think may not be prepared fresh. Choose to eat at busy restaurants and do not ask for ice with your drinks if the local water is not safe to drink.  As previously mentioned we always like to purchase or bring along some snack items for the kids. Whether they are fruit, muesli bars or rice crackers with a tube of vegemite, it means you always have something to offer them incase things do not go to plan.

Read more travel food ideas here.

The dreaded long flights and waiting at a the airport is often the hardest part for anyone travelling on holiday. We recommend packing loads of small games and toys for your mini travellers. Plasticine/play dough, stickers, puzzles, drawing, anything for little hands to keep busy is great. We also bring along a blow up neck pillow and their special teddy to help encourage some sleep. Snacks and screen time is also a good go-to time waster.

Family adventures are a wonderful time to bond with one another, we can’t get enough of exploring this amazing world we live in and love that our mini blondies share our excitement of adventure and travel too. Enjoy your time together exploring and don’t let the thought of ‘what ifs’ get in the way of having fun. Keep an open mind, when travelling with kids things can go from wonderful to awful very fast in terms of your little ones moods especially with jet lag added to the mix, so being prepared can help you handle these situations together. If you have any other suggestions or points to add please share with us in the comments below.

Happy Travels! All images owned by The Blonde Nomads ©

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