Are you planning a vacation with children? Ensure you consider their needs and check their necessary documents.
When selecting a vacation destination with young children, prioritize countries with reasonable travel times, high-quality hotel accommodations, and ample preparation for the journey.
“Opt for European destinations, travel by your own means, and choose places away from crowded hotels. To make travel more enjoyable, bring plenty of toys or books,” advises Jana Hamade, Deputy Chief Hygienist specializing in children and youth.
“For children under two years, lengthy air travel is unsuitable due to their still fragile immune systems. For children under three years, we do not recommend travel to tropical countries due to the risk of infectious diseases. Contact with exotic microorganisms, poisonous animals, or parasites can also pose health threats,” the expert continued.
Children Must Have Valid Passports
Before traveling abroad, ensure all necessary documents are in order. It is not enough to check the passport validity of only adults; children must also have a valid travel document.
Missing Permissions for Traveling with Children or Birth Certificates
“While not mandatory, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises verifying with the embassy of the destination country whether, in addition to a travel document, a written consent from parents (legal guardians) is required and in what form and language, and whether the signature must be notarized or a simple parental consent suffices. If the parents and children have different surnames, it is advisable to carry the children’s birth certificates for identity verification at border/passport control,” Demovičová concluded.
Children’s Routine
“For travel to exotic countries, the child should be vaccinated against diseases for which vaccinations are recommended. Avoid risky destinations if the child is not vaccinated due to age or other recommendations,” she noted.
Light Diet
According to her, using children’s sunscreen is essential to protect their sensitive skin from harmful UV rays.
The diet should be light and regular, with an increased intake of fruits and vegetables, which should be thoroughly washed under running drinking water before consumption. Choose types that contain higher amounts of water and minerals.
Perishable foods should not be included in the child’s diet at all.
“An adequate drinking regime is crucial. Suitable options include lukewarm fluids in increased amounts. Prefer clean drinking water and complement the hydration regime with unsweetened fruit teas,” continued the chief hygienist.
Ensure the child gets sufficient sleep, maintaining this even during the vacation. Provide a pleasant day and night rest environment that is not overheated, not exposed to direct sunlight, and not extremely air-conditioned.
Experts also recommend that children wear beach clothing with UV protection, apply SPF 50 sunscreen, and wear a hat that shields the face, neck, and ears while on the beach. After swimming, change wet clothes to dry ones. Avoid direct sun exposure during midday hours.
