Travelling with children

From pool safety to sun protection, these simple steps will help your children stay safe and healthy on holiday.

Pool safety

Children need to be watched constantly. Don’t depend on a lifeguard, who may not be trained to UK standards.

What to pack - Swimming aids, such as armbands, are great for playing in the water but can easily slip off. Therefore, you still need to keep an eye on your child.

Top tips

• Actively supervise all young children near water.
• Choose pools that are fenced with locking gates.
• Even if a pool has a lifeguard, make sure you know where your children are and what they're doing in the water.
• Let children take swimming classes while on holiday. They're a great way of gaining water confidence and learning essential water safety skills.

Take the RoSPA Water Wise quiz.

Sun protection

Studies have found that sunburn during childhood can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.

What to pack - Use at least a factor 15 sunscreen and choose a "broad-spectrum" brand that has a four- or five-star rating. Apply it to areas that cannot be protected by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and backs of the hands. Choose sunscreens that are formulated for children and babies' skin.

Top tips

• Apply sunscreen before children go outdoors.
• Sunscreen can easily be washed, rubbed or sweated off, so reapply it often throughout the day.
• Keep babies in complete shade, such as under trees, umbrellas, canopies or indoors.
• Protect a baby’s skin with loose-fitting clothes and a wide-brimmed hat that shades their face and neck.
• Make sure children drink regularly.

Travel sickness

Children often get motion sickness more than adults. Early symptoms of motion sickness include hot flushes, dribbling and paleness.

What to pack - Several medicines are available to reduce or prevent symptoms of motion sickness. You can buy them from pharmacies or get them on prescription. Anti-sickness remedies containing hyoscine are the most effective medicines for motion sickness. There are several brands of medicines containing hyoscine and they come as a soluble form for children.

Top tips

• Avoid staring at moving objects, such as waves or other cars. Instead, look ahead a little above the horizon at a fixed place.
• Keep motion to a minimum. For example, sit over the wing of a plane or on deck in the middle of a boat.
• Avoid heavy meals before and during travelling. It may be a good idea to avoid spicy or fatty food.
• On long journeys, it may help to have a break and get some fresh air, drink some cold water and take a short walk.
• Ginger can improve motion sickness in some people. It can be taken in ginger biscuits, ginger tea or as tablets before a journey.

Last Updated: 01/04/2017 09:00:00