From sunscreen to bug bites, we’ve thought of everything so you can focus on making memories
Setting off on a family adventure and travelling with your children and babies is exciting. But before you hit the road or take to the skies, making sure your little ones stay safe and sound is key. Each destination, whether it’s a bustling city or a remote hideaway, comes with its own hurdles.
We’ll be diving into the must-knows to help with any health hiccups while you’re on the move. From sorting vaccinations to slathering sunscreen, we’ve gathered up some top tips to help you.
Help protect your little explorers
Before you begin your family adventures, it’s important to make sure that everyone is up to date on their vaccinations. Depending on your destination, there might be specific vaccinations recommended or required to help protect against certain diseases.
For example, if you’re travelling to places where diseases like typhoid, yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis are common, vaccinations might be necessary. Additionally, some countries need proof of vaccination against diseases like polio or yellow fever before entry, so it’s essential to check the requirements well in advance.
Some children might be too young to have some vaccinations for your chosen destination, but you can discuss preventative measures with your GP to help reduce the chance of disease transmission. It’s important to know that you might also be advised to change your travel plans.
If you’re travelling with a baby or child, it’s advised to avoid malarious areas, but if you are planning a trip to one of these areas, it’s important to seek advice before travelling.
If you’ll still be travelling to malarious areas, it’s important that babies and children are well protected against mosquito bites and get appropriate antimalarials (chemoprophylaxis).
Don’t forget about routine vaccinations either! Making sure your child’s vaccinations are up to date can help to provide protection against preventable illnesses at home and also while you’re away.
It’s important to speak to a travel health practitioner at least six to eight weeks before you travel. Our Travel Vaccinations and Health Advice service* breaks down everything you need to know.
The Travel Vaccinations and Health Advice service is available in selected UK stores. We can help you understand how to keep your risks low of getting an illness while you’re away. We have a quick check tool that can tell you which vaccinations and antimalarials you might need and how much they cost.
During your appointment, your pharmacist will ask a few short questions about your travel plans to see if any vaccinations or medications are recommended for your trip. If any vaccinations or malaria prevention medication are needed, a detailed consultation will follow. Our pharmacists will then provide you with the vaccinations, medicines, and advice necessary to help you have a healthy trip abroad.
If you’ll be having an in-store consultation, there’s a consultation fee if you choose not to receive the vaccinations or anti-malarials recommended. There isn’t a consultation fee if you receive the recommended vaccinations or antimalarials, or if nothing is recommended for you and your trip.
Prescriptions & packing peace of mind
If you or anyone in your family has been prescribed any medicines, it’s important to make sure that you’re prepared and have enough for the duration of your trip. Medicines that are prescribed or can be bought over the counter in the UK can be restricted or banned in other countries, so you should always check the rules for entering a country with medicines with the embassy of the country you’ll be going to.
Restrictions can also apply to some medicines when they’re taken out or into the UK. Make sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before travelling. The Gov UK website has more information on the restrictions.
Boots Online Prescriptions** makes it easy to refill repeat prescriptions and have them delivered directly to your doorstep, saving you time and hassle before you hit the road (or the sky). Remember this service isn’t suitable for urgent prescriptions. If you or anyone in your family needs medication straight away, please contact your GP, visit your local pharmacy, or call NHS 111.
It can be useful to include extras of your medications in case of any unexpected delays or changes to your travel plans. For prescription medicines, it’s important to always carry a copy of the prescription. It’s also a good idea to carry prescription medicines in their original packaging, along with their labels, information leaflets and doctor’s note or prescription to help avoid any issues at customs or security checkpoints.
Some general advice for travelling with medication:
• If your medicine needs to be kept cool, you might be able to use an insulated pouch or ice pack, but it’s important to check this with the medicine’s manufacturer to make sure
• Carry your medicine in your hand luggage as suitcases in the hold can become lost or delayed
• If possible, split your medicines between bags so if one bag goes missing, you’ll still have some available
• If you need to carry needles and syringes (or other medical equipment), you might need to carry a letter from a healthcare professional. Some medicines might also need a letter from a healthcare professional. It’s important to contact the embassy of the country you’ll be visiting and your airline if flying to find out their rules
• If you’ll be travelling with liquid medicine that’s over 100ml, you’ll need to contact your airline and the airports you’ll be travelling through
Fun in the sun, safely done
Fun in the sun is a must on any family holiday, but it’s important to protect your little ones from harmful UV rays. Sunscreen helps prevent sunburn and skin damage, so be sure to choose a broad-spectrum formula with a high SPF rating. Our Soltan kids range offers SPF 50+ protection and is specially formulated for children’s sensitive skin.
If you’re unsure of what SPF would be best for your child, check out our handy guide on SPF for children and babies.
As well as sunscreen, don’t forget to cover up with protective clothing, including hats and sunglasses. Sun hats like the Mothercare Shark Sunsafe Keppi Hat not only shield delicate heads and faces from the sun, but also add a touch of style to your little one’s ensemble. We also have sunglasses like the My Little Coco Beach Bum Valle Shades that are specifically designed for under threes, keeping them looking cool while helping them to stay safe in the sun.
It's important to keep babies under six months out of direct strong sunlight. Infants and children should be well protected at all times. You should stay in the shade when the sun is strongest. This can vary by country but in the UK, it’s usually between 11am and 3pm from March to October.
Ouch alert
Accidents happen, especially when you’re travelling with kids. That’s why it’s essential to pack a well-stocked first aid kit to handle minor bumps, bruises and scrapes on the go. The Boots Children’s First Aid Kit includes all the essentials, from plasters and wound dressings, to bandages and tweezers.
A digital thermometer is another handy tool to have on hand. They can allow you to monitor and keep an eye on your child’s temperature in case of fever or illness. For little ones with sensitive ears, our Alpine Pluggies Kids Filtered Earplugs provide protection from loud noises while still allowing them to hear clearly.
We’ve also put together a handy guide of some first aid and health items to take on holiday, to make sure that any minor injuries don’t stop you enjoying your holiday to the fullest.
Plan ahead
While no one wants to think about getting separated from their family while they’re on holiday, it’s important to have a plan in place, just in case. Sit your children down before you leave and teach them important contact numbers, including your mobile phone and emergency services if they’re old enough.
You can also choose a meeting point or landmark in case you get separated while you’re away and make sure everyone knows where it is. You can also take precautions like tagging your child’s clothing or backpack with emergency contact details, or even fitting them with a GPS watch tracker for added peace of mind.
Staying hydrated
Travelling can increase your chances of becoming dehydrated. This could be due to the weather, getting an upset tummy or if you’re using an aeroplane to get to your destination. This is because the circulating air in the plane can be very dry.
It’s essential to stay hydrated, especially for children. Babies and children are more at risk of dehydration, so it’s important to seek medical help if you think your baby or toddler is dehydrated. Seek urgent medical help if your baby or child has symptoms of serious dehydration which include your baby or child:
• Feeling drowsy or unusually tired
• Feeling confused or disorientated
• Feeling dizzy
• Having dark yellow pee or peeing less than normal (if they’re still wearing nappies, they might have fewer wet nappies)
• Having a fast heart rate or breathing quickly
• Having no tears when they cry
• Having a sunken spot on their head (sunken fontanelle)
Make sure to pack plenty of water bottles and encourage your kids to drink regularly during the day.
In destinations where tap water isn’t safe to drink, choose a sealed bottled water to ensure it's safe to drink. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the colour of your child’s wee – clear or pale yellow wee shows proper hydration, while dark yellow may be a sign of dehydration.
Constipation can also be a concern while you’re travelling, especially if your child’s routine is disrupted or they aren’t drinking enough fluids.
Pack plenty of high-fibre snacks like fruits and vegetables and make sure they’re drinking plenty of water. If you’ve noticed that your child is constipated, make sure to get help as soon as possible. The longer your child is constipated, the more difficult it can be for them to return to normal.
Pesky pests
Mosquitoes are more than just annoying – they can also transmit diseases like malaria and dengue fever. You can help protect your family from itchy bites and potential illness with our range of mosquito repellents, including the Kids Bug watch Anti-Mosquito Band. These convenient bands can help provide protection against mosquitoes. Simply pop them on your child’s wrist or ankle and they’re good to go – no messy sprays or lotions needed. Make sure to use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
Fed is best
Travelling with children often involves thinking about food so we’ve rounded up some tips for you. If you’re breastfeeding:
• Nurse comfortably. You shouldn’t ever be made to feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public, so wear what you feel comfortable in. Some parents feel more comfortable putting a scarf or muslin cloth over their chest while feeding their little one
• Stay hydrated. While thinking of the rest of your family, it’s also important to think of yourself and stay hydrated, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Make sure to carry a bottle of water and drink regularly to help maintain your milk supply and prevent dehydration
For parents who are bottle feeding, whether with formula or expressed breast milk, there are some points to keep in mind:
• Pack enough supplies. Make sure you have enough bottles, formula (if using), sterilising equipment and premeasured water for mixing formula. It’s better to pack more than you think you’ll need to account for any unexpected delays or changes to your plans
• Consider ready to feed options. You can choose ready to feed or pre-pumped breast milk when possible, to reduce the need to mix and sterilise on the go
When travelling with a baby you’re allowed to take enough baby milk, baby food and sterilised water for the journey. There isn’t a legal limit on how much you can take, but it’s important to check this with your airport before you travel. If you’d like to save on packing space, don’t forget you can pre-order essentials for your travels through Boots Click and Collect***. All you have to do is choose your airport store (make sure it’s the one past security).
With our list in hand, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle any adventures with your little ones in tow. We’ve got you covered every step of the way. So, pack your bags, grab your passports and get ready for an unforgettable family getaway. Travelling with children and babies doesn’t have to be a hassle!
