Travelling with Children to Asia

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Planning a vacation to Asia with your kids? Travelling with children to Asia is a great experience, but one that you’ll need to be prepared for.

Immunisations

It’s crucial that your children have the correct immunisations before travelling overseas, as children can become sick much more easily than adults. Check the immunisation requirements for the country or countries you’re travelling to and speak to your GP to ensure all of your children have the right vaccinations. Keep a note of exactly what vaccinations your child has, including the vaccine brands. Check Government notices too and keep abreast of any travel health warnings.

Food & Drink

While it’s great to encourage your kids to try Asian or non-western food while in Asia,  you should also be stringent about what your children eat and drink while in Asia, as even a touch of contaminated food or liquid could make them ill. Ensure that the food they eat is thoroughly cooked, from a reputable establishment and hasn’t been left sitting outside for too long. If you’ve got young children, carry safe, non-perishable food with you when walking around.

When it comes to water, also make sure that your children only drink bottled water and also use bottled water to brush their teeth.

Supervision

Supervising your children at all times is a must while on holidays. Make sure your children are within arm’s reach or within sight and stay away from any places that look like they may entice danger. Other safety techniques like keeping your bag secure and not flashing around large amounts of cash will also make sure that you or your child don’t become easy victims.

It’s also vital to include your name, contact number and address somewhere on your child – either as a bracelet or a pin that they can’t take off. If your child somehow does get lost, having your name and details will make it much easier to have your child returned to you.

Accommodation

Clean, hygienic accommodation is essential for young children and especially for toddlers and babies who often crawl around on the floor. Choose a hotel with a good reputation and it’s often a good idea to make sure it’s child-friendly too. A Malaysian resort or a serviced apartment in Ho Chi Minh, for example, is probably better than a cheap hotel.

If you find yourself on a floor that’s quite high up, check the windows as these are often unsecure – and an open window could mean an easy fall for your child.

Hygiene & General Health

It’s important to practice good hygiene when travelling with children, to prevent them from getting sick. Habits like washing your hands after using the bathroom and before eating are essential. Always remember to keep toys, dummies and anything else that could end up in a child’s mouth clean. If your child is toilet trained by still quite young, taking a travel potty with you could come in handy as well.

Carry child-safety wipes with you and ensure you also have clean, bottled water on hand, since children can become easily dehydrated, especially in Asia where humidity and heat is high. Dress your kids in appropriate clothing to protect them from the heat and sun. A first-aid kit should be kept on hand, too, even for simple things like bandaids.

Insurance

Make sure that you have the appropriate travel and medical insurance for your children and that this covers (a) holidays in Asia and (b) emergency care. If your kid needs sudden medical treatment in a hospital, you’ll definitely want to be covered.