Family vacations are some of the most memorable times you’ll look back on. Full of excitement, fun, and well...oftentimes a bit stressful too. Whether it's a flight to Disney World, a road trip to grandmas, wherever you may be going, follow these 7 safety tips for traveling with kids so you can have that extra peace of mind and little less stress.
1) Make a plan and be prepared
Be prepared by establishing a plan with your child if they were to wander off. For example, consider designating a meet up spot. This could be the front desk at your hotel, or the snack bar by the pool. If you lose sight of one another, there's that one location you both know to reunite at.
2) Keep a first aid kit on hand
You never know when you might need a bandaid, medical tape, rubbing alcohol, etc. Keep a travel sized first aid kit in your purse, along with one for the car during road trips. That way there's almost always one on hand. A list of items to keep in a first aid kit recommended by American Red Cross can be found here.
3) Secure a car seat and test the seat belts
When booking a rental car, make sure the rental service knows if any car seats need to be included with the vehicle. Making these arrangements prior to picking up the car will save you time and stress. It also ensures there's a car seat available or at least on hold for you.
Also be sure to check that the seatbelts are functioning properly before taking off so everyone on the trip stays buckled up. For tips on seat belt safety check out the article from Safe Kids Worldwide.
4) Write your contact information on their belongings
Placing a keychain tag with your contact info on their backpack, favorite purse, or luggage is a quick way to ensure they almost always have your phone number on hand. This can be especially helpful if the child is nonverbal and/or is unable to communicate your contact information to authorities. Identify police officers, airline security, any qualified official within the area that the child can refer to if they need to get in touch with you.
5) When traveling by plane, arrange your seats to be next to one another
Flying can cause anxiety not only for kids, but for adults too. Prior to booking your flight, research which airlines allow you to select your seating and arrange to sit next your child on the plane. This can bring a sense of ease and comfort to both you and your child.
6) Research restaurants and book your reservation
Do your research and make reservations at kid-friendly restaurants when traveling to new destinations. Websites such as Yelp and Tripadvisor are good starting points. This is especially important if the child has any allergies or dietary restrictions. Review the menus and even give the restaurant a ring before dining with them.
7) Safely track your child using a GPS tracker for kids
.jpeg)
The right GPS tracker for kids will not only give you your child’s exact location, but it will also provide you with real-time location updates, a proximity alert in case they wander off, and include built-in safety features so you always know your child is safe and protected. Simply open your app on your phone to check in on their location.
Take these 7 safety precautions before and during your trip so you can travel with more ease. Tweet us @jiobit to let us know your travel safety tips on family vacations!
