The basics for illnesses & emergencies on vacation

Why is a travel medical kit for children so important on vacation? Quite simply: so your little ones are as well cared for as possible on vacation and you can react quickly to all childhood illnesses and emergencies. Clarify all important health matters before the trip and always have the basics of medicines & co. on hand:

• Gather the basics: Cherry pit heating pad, sunscreen for children, fever suppositories for infants, nasal spray, possibly a sedative for the baby's first flight or the family car trip – parents know, which home remedies and medications work best for childhood illnesses on vacation. If you store these basics at a fixed place at home – the medicine cabinet is optimal – you'll have everything for the vacation ready at your fingertips.

• Vaccinations: Find out early either at your pediatrician's office or from the tour operator whether your child needs special vaccinations for the destination. For many vaccines it takes a while for immunity to be fully built up. The vaccination record should also be included in the travel kit for emergencies.

• Travel health insurance: So you can go on vacation without worries, travel health insurance is advantageous. As a rule you can take this out for the whole family as an inexpensive supplementary policy – the corresponding proof then goes with the travel documents.

• Child-safe: How should I store medicines properly while traveling? The travel kit should be kept child-safe during the journey and at the holiday destination. Optimal is a lockable extra bag, for warm destinations also a small cooler bag in which you can keep all medicines dry and cool.

Checklist: Pack a travel first-aid kit for babies

AA comprehensively packed travel first-aid kit for babies up to one year old or the emergency kit for your babyIt is first aid for illness and emergencies on your trip. It complements your family's travel first-aid kit and ideally contains:

• Wound disinfectant

• Wound protection cream

• Plasters & gauze bandages for minor wounds

• Nail scissors, tweezers & tick remover

• For fever/diarrhea in babies while on holiday: thermometer/fever suppositories/fever syrup; medication for diarrhea/gas in infants

• Electrolyte powder against dehydration from diarrhea

• Children's nasal spray, especially for air travel

• Cough syrup

• Insect repellent/mosquito net for the baby's crib

• Cooling gel for insect bites & burns

• Anti-inflammatory ointment

• Children's sunscreen, at least SPF 20

• If applicable, medications your baby needs to take regularly

• Vaccination record

• Trusted baby care products for the trip

Children's travel first-aid kit: What to bring

• Wound cream, wound disinfectant

• Hand sanitizer

• Medication to treat travel sickness in children

• Remedies for insect bites (e.g., cooling gel for insect bites)

• Plasters, bandage supplies

• Fever thermometer

• Fever suppositories/fever syrup

• Pain relievers

• Cough syrup/lozenges for sore throat

• Nasal spray for children, e.g., with seawater

• Earplugs (for pressure equalization on airplanes)

• Diarrhea medication/electrolyte powder to prevent dehydration from diarrhea

• Nail scissors, tweezers & tick remover

• Cooling pads

• If applicable, medications your child must take regularly

• Mosquito net for the child's bed

• Antihistamines (e.g., for allergies or itching)

• Children's sunscreen, at least SPF 20

• If applicable, medications your child must take regularly

• Vaccination record

• Reliable children's care products for the trip

What should I consider for the travel first-aid kit for toddlers?

Many medicines need to be stored cool and dry. If you are traveling by car or by train, transporting them in a cooler bag is therefore suitable. This is generally an advantage when you travel to a warm country. When Flying with a baby and toddlers, we recommend that you stow the most important items of your travel first-aid kit in your hand luggage – in case the suitcases arrive later than you.

The travel first-aid kit with the children's medication set should be checked and, if necessary, reassembled before every vacation be:

• Has the expiration date on any medication passed?

  Is there still enough left in the packaging?

• How long has a package been opened?

• Especially with babies and toddlers, you should also check whether fever-reducing medications or other medicines are still appropriate for their age and weight are.

Everything in the luggage for your vacation with children

When traveling with babies and toddlers, there are, in addition to the travel first-aid kit, many things you should not forget: starting with all important travel documents to a well-packed changing bag to suitable children's games for entertainment during the trip. We have prepared clear vacation checklists for you – e.g. focused on vacations with babies, with toddlers, summer or winter vacations. This way you are well equipped for every trip!

How to protect your child from sunburn

Are you taking your travel first-aid kit on the plane, in the car or train on a summer trip south and enjoying the sunshine? Keep the following tips in mind to avoid sunburn:

• Sun protection with at least SPF 20: For trips to sunny countries, adequate sun protection is essential. Here a special baby or children's sunscreen is recommended that is tailored to sensitive children's skin. Sun protection should be renewed after splashing in the sea or pool each time – this is also advisable for 'water-resistant' sunscreen.

• Sun break: Babies should not be exposed to direct sunlight at all and are best protected with UV clothing and sun protection; toddlers should spend at least the hottest midday hours indoors or in the shade. Gradually acclimate the little ones to the sun!

• Protective clothing: In addition to sunscreen, a sun hat is essential, for babies also a UV top or short romper. First aid: If your child has had too much sun, help cold compresses with diluted apple cider vinegar or natural yogurt on the skin. With sunburn, children should drink plenty of fluids and stay in the shade until the sunburn has subsided.

Suitable destinations for a family vacation with a baby

Not only daily life, but also vacations usually run a little differently with a baby than before. Are you wondering how to plan your next trip so that you at the same time recharge your batteries and spend a relaxed vacation with your baby can you? We've searched for the best destinations for a vacation with a baby for you!

Homeopathic travel first-aid kit for children & babies

Homeopathic remedies are popular among parents and a good complement to conventional medicine. Usually the preparations have no expiration date and are suitable for any age, moreover the sweet taste of the globules makes administration easier for small children. An overview of homeopathic remedies for the travel first-aid kit:

• Arnica at potency C200 supports wound healing and helps with bruises

• Belladonna helps with heatstroke or sunburn

• Cocculus is good for dizziness, nausea, or weakness, therefore it is popular for motion sickness or jet lag

• Lendum relieves insect bites and can also be given preventively

• Silicea supports the skin's self-healing process, for example when expelling splinters or ticks. The skin does not begin to produce pus. Silicea is also helpful for sinus infections

Tips for relaxed car trips with children

Long car journeys with children on holiday hold many lovely moments, and sometimes a few challenges. To ensure every car journey with children is pleasant and relaxed, we show you practical travel aids and offer a variety of tips.

Image credits

Two little girls sitting on a stone staircase © bubutu - stock.adobe.com

Boy with a hat and sunscreen on his back sitting on the beach © Tomsickova - stock.adobe.com