Family Travel Basics

• Keep an emergency travel card containing identification and contact information in your children’s pocket or pinned to their clothes. You should also carry a recent photo of each child.
• Leave a copy of your travel documents with a family member back home, including Xeroxes of your passports, insurance cards, itinerary, emergency medical numbers, and credit cards.
• For long trips, consider shipping items like diapers, formula and baby food through services like Jet Set Babies or Babies Travel Lite. Sunscreen, sun hats and sunglasses should always be non-negotiable attire when vacationing in the sun.
• If traveling to a warmer destination, keep the kids hydrated.
• Have everything your child needs – from diapers to water to medication – on you at all times.
• Keep an extra close eye on your children, especially in crowded tourist areas and near pools, lakes, or oceans.
• Designate a central meeting place in case anyone gets separated from the pack.
• No matter what your travel plans, pack a medical kit including:
  • Pain reliever (always check with your pediatrician on dosing)
  • Thermometer
  • Alcohol wipes or liquid rubbing alcohol
  • Cotton balls, cotton swabs and gauze pads
  • Prescription medications
  • Sterile adhesive bandages
  • Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Petroleum jelly or another lubricant
  • Moistened towelettes
  • Instant cold pack
  • Saline drops and nasal aspirator
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Insect repellent and sunscreen
  • Packets of oral rehydration salts
  • An antihistamine (like Benadryl)
  • Antibiotic, anti-fungal and hydrocortisone ointments
  • Motion sickness medicine, if your trip requires.