There is something very special about holidays abroad with your children; from seeing their faces light up as they splash in the sea to their curiosity over eating new food, there are a host of new memories waiting to be made while away! However, taking children away on holiday means you’re removing your little one from their comfort zone and are placing them in a series of unfamiliar situations. So before embarking on your family holiday there are many important things for you to take into consideration to ensure that your time away runs as smoothly as possible. 
 
Preparing for your Holiday 
• Get the Passports - Every member of the family will need a passport of their own. Check the expiry date on your own passport and apply for one for your children well in advance of your holiday. 
• Buy Travel Insurance – Don’t risk travelling without proper travel insurance for you and your family. When someone gets ill or something bad happens at home it can be really stressful, let alone abroad! Don’t risk travelling without proper travel insurance for the whole family, it’s just not worth it. 
• Get your EU Health Insurance Card – To easily access healthcare and necessary medical treatment in the EU you will need a valid EU health insurance card. These can be easily applied for online. 
• Check Vaccinations! Do you need a certain vaccination before travelling to your destination? 
• Brush up on your Language Skills - This is something that is fun to do with your kids, no matter what their age. 
 
On Holiday 
 
• Make sure you Buy Bottled Water - A number of different infectious diseases can be transmitted through contaminated water. Buy bottled water to avoid any upset little bellies! 
• Avoid Wild Animals - Your child should understand the importance of avoiding contact with wild animals while abroad. It is estimated that 40 percent of people bitten by suspected rabid animals are children! Please be careful. 
• Sun Safety - Avoid full sun during the hottest part of the day, usually between 11am and 2pm to avoid heat and sunstroke. 
• Sun Cream - Children have sensitive skin so using plenty of sunscreen is a must. A wide-brimmed hat, umbrella for the push chair and long-sleeved swimwear will help protect them even more. Ensure you reapply cream after splashing in the pool or sea too! 
• Check the Room - When you arrive, give your room a quick once-over – make sure little bodies can’t squeeze through any balcony railings, plug points are covered, locks on doors work and that fire escapes are working and accessible. 
• Watch out for Water - Even if your child is a strong swimmer, don’t let young children swim unattended. And if your little one isn’t a born swimmer, make sure they have arm bands or another flotation device. 
• Give them Instructions if they get Lost - Make sure they know what to do if they get lost and can’t find you. Explain that if they can’t find you, they should find either a staff member, a policeman, a mummy or daddy who has other little girls and boys with them. 
 
Packing 
• Pack in Advance – Rushing to pack risks leaving important things behind in the madness of last-minute packing! 
• Pack Snacks – Nobody wants a hungry child to become a grumpy one, so make sure you have plenty of snacks at the ready. Try and make them as healthy as possible – some fruit or some savoury snacks – and try to avoid sugary snacks at all costs! You don’t want to be dealing with hyperactivity followed by a come down in the confined space of an airplane cabin. 
• First Aid Kit - Pack a first aid kit that is appropriate for the destination, the children travelling and the activities to be undertaken. Useful items when travelling with children include sun cream, oral rehydration solution, age-appropriate painkillers, antiseptic and basic wound dressings, tweezers, motion sickness medication, thermometer and barrier cream. 
 
• Comforters – When it comes to your little one getting some sleep on a long journey and on holiday, make sure they have whatever comforters they like to help them settle. This could be their favourite blanket, a special cuddly toy or even just a dummy. If you have room, pack a small pillow to make it easier for them to nod off on a flight. 
• Car Seats and Buggies – Don’t rely on hiring these items, you never know what you will end up with and safety is key, especially when abroad. 
 
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