Tips for healthy travel with children
The smaller bodies and developing immune systems of children under the age of 15 make their travel health needs unique.
On this page
- Visiting a health care provider
- Preparing for air travel
- Common illnesses
- Infections from insects and animals
- Environmental effects of travel
- Safety measures
Visiting a health care provider
Consult your health care provider or one at a travel health clinic about your travel plans—preferably 6 weeks before you travel. There may be age limitations for some travel vaccines.
Remember to:
- discuss all your planned activities
- check your child’s routine vaccine schedule to make sure their vaccinations are up to date
- consider getting influenza (flu) shots for a child over the age of 6 months; flu season is:
- year-round in tropical regions
- November to April in the northern hemisphere
- April to October in the southern hemisphere
- find out if your child should receive vaccines that aren’t part of the routine vaccine schedule before travelling, since:
- the risk for most vaccine-preventable diseases is generally higher for all ages when travelling abroad
- vaccine-preventable diseases tend to be more severe in children than in adults
- children are often at a higher risk than adults of getting infections from other people and animals, especially if they have not received all their vaccinations
- if you are breastfeeding, discuss your vaccination options
- ask for age-specific advice on how often to apply insect repellent
Learn more about travel vaccinations.
Preparing for air travel
Pack supplies to prevent illness and handle minor illness or injuries, such as cuts and insect bites and stings.
Air travel is safe for healthy infants and children, but ear pain due to changes in pressure during landing is more common in children than in adults.
To lessen the pain you can:
- bottle-feed or breastfeed infants
- encourage older children to chew gum, swallow or yawn
If you are travelling by air with a newborn who is 1 to 2 weeks old, check with the airline before flying. Some airlines won’t allow newborns to fly.
Learn more about travelling with children on a plane.
Common illnesses
Children may be at risk of illness or infections while travelling outside Canada.
Learn about what to do if you or your child need medical attention.
Travellers' diarrhea
Travellers’ diarrhea is a common illness. Children with diarrhea become dehydrated more quickly than adults. You can prevent dehydration with an oral rehydration solution (ORS).
Seek medical attention if your child:
- appears to be severely dehydrated
- has bloody diarrhea
- has diarrhea and a high fever
- has diarrhea and persistent vomiting
- does not improve despite the use of ORS
Avoid using bismuth subsalicylate (for example, Pepto-Bismol) to treat diarrhea in:
- children
- breastfeeding mothers
Learn more about the symptoms and treatment of travellers' diarrhea.
Illnesses transmitted in food and beverages
Food and beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites or viruses cause the most common illnesses among travellers.
If you are travelling with an infant, you can help prevent food- and water-borne diseases by:
- breastfeeding, if possible
- washing bottles, pacifiers, teething rings and toys in water that has been disinfected
Learn more about water treatment methods and avoiding contaminated food and drinks.
Illnesses transmitted in swimming water
Swimming in fresh, non-chlorinated water, such as that in ponds or lakes, can lead to diseases like schistosomiasis and leptospirosis.
Infections from insects and animals
Infected insects, such as mosquitoes, flies, fleas and ticks, spread many travel-related diseases. Use insect repellents containing DEET or icaridin (also known as picaridin) on exposed skin, but avoid applying them on children’s hands.
In areas with dengue or malaria, insect repellents are recommended for use even on children under the age of 6 months. Although insect repellents are not usually advised for children under 6 months, these diseases pose a greater risk to them than the potential adverse effects of repellents.
Use a bed net over playpens, cribs and strollers. Insecticide-treated clothing may be available to protect young children.
Learn more about preventing and reducing the risks of insect bites.
Malaria
Malaria can be particularly severe for children.
- Visit a travel health care provider before travelling to a high-risk area to find out if anti-malarial medication is recommended
- Keep malaria tablets in childproof containers and out of the reach of children
- Crush malaria tablets and mix the powder with small amounts of food or drink to mask the taste
- Seek medical attention immediately if your child develops a fever while travelling to an area where malaria occurs—or up to a year after return from one—and tell your health care provider that your child has travelled there
Find out which areas have a risk of malaria.
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly illness that spreads to humans through close contact with the saliva of infected animals.
If your child is bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin or mucous membranes – for example around eyes, nose and mouth:
- clean the area thoroughly by washing and flushing it with soap and water for at least 15 minutes
- seek medical assistance immediately to assess the risk and discuss treatment options
Learn more about the risks, symptoms and treatment of rabies.
Environmental effects of travel
Jet lag
Jet lag can develop after crossing multiple time zones. Children with jet lag may have difficulty falling asleep at night and may wake up earlier than usual.
- Encourage short daytime naps, since long daytime naps may worsen jet lag by making it difficult to fall asleep at night
- Help minimize jet lag by exposing your child to sunlight and having them follow their normal schedule in local time
Motion sickness
Motion sickness is a risk for children between the ages of 2 and 12.
Children may be able to lessen motion sickness by:
- avoiding reading while in a moving vehicle
- shutting their eyes or looking at the horizon
Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness can develop in children more quickly than adults. The signs and symptoms in children are often vague and may be confused with other illnesses. Medical authorities recommend that children not travel to altitudes higher than 2,500 m (8,200 feet) above sea level.
- Children with altitude sickness may vomit, lose their appetites or be irritable
- Older children may also complain of headaches, nausea or trouble breathing
- If you can’t avoid travelling to areas higher than 2,500 metres (8,200 feet), ascend a little at a time: no more than 300 metres (984 feet) per day, with a rest day every 1,000 metres (3,280 feet)
Safety measures
Driving and getting around at your destination
- If you’ll be driving and your child normally uses a booster seat, bring it with you, as booster seats may not be available at your destination
- Even if safety devices, like booster seats, seat belts and bike helmets, aren’t required at your destination, you should follow the practices recommended or legislated in Canada as closely as possible
- In areas with unpaved roads, consider using a carrier for your child rather than a stroller
Water sports
- Supervise your child when they are swimming or playing in the water, and make sure they’re wearing age-appropriate life jackets or personal floatation devices
- Consider bringing life jackets from home: they are not available in every country
Learn more about supervising children when they are in water.
Related links
- Consent letter for children travelling abroad
- Travel health kit checklist
- Sickness or injury
- Receiving medical care in other countries
- Well on Your Way - A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad
- Tips for healthy travel
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