Traveling the world with your family can be exciting, but it also requires thoughtful planning. Family travel safety isn’t complicated, but it does call for smart, proactive choices. With the right approach, you can move beyond basic packing and create a safer experience from the moment you start the car to the moment you settle into your hotel.
Safe Transit: Traveling by Car
The most important part of family road safety is using child restraints the right way. Children younger than 13 should always ride in the back seat. Infants and toddlers should stay in rear-facing car seats until they reach the seat’s height or weight limit, since this position protects their developing neck and spine. Once they outgrow a rear-facing seat, they can sit in a forward-facing seat with a harness, followed by a booster seat when they’re big enough for a proper seat belt fit, usually around 4 feet 9 inches tall. If you’re using a rental car, check any provided child seat carefully. Make sure it’s the right size, has no visible damage, and includes instructions for proper installation.
If you’re taking the family on a long trip by car, schedule breaks at least every two hours to prevent driver fatigue and give the kids a chance to move around. Pack quiet activities to keep the car calm and reduce distractions. And no matter the circumstances, never leave a child alone in a vehicle; interior temperatures can become dangerous within minutes.
Air Travel Safety
Airports can be stressful, but preparation helps everything run more smoothly. Wearing slip-on shoes and minimal layers and knowing what to expect at security checkpoints can save time. Talk kids through the screening process so they understand that their belongings will be out of sight only for a moment.
For young children, especially those under 40 pounds, the safest seating option on a plane is their own FAA-approved car seat. While the FAA allows infants younger than 2 to fly on a caregiver’s lap, this doesn’t protect them during turbulence. Booster seats cannot be used on planes but should be checked with your luggage for use at your destination.
To help kids manage ear pressure changes on the plane, encourage infants to nurse or use a bottle during takeoff and landing. Older kids can sip a drink from a straw. Clean hands and wipe down high-touch surfaces to reduce the chance of picking up germs. If your child has chronic health concerns or frequent ear infections, talk with a doctor before flying.
International Travel and Lodging
Traveling abroad requires extra preparation because safety standards vary widely between countries. Before your trip, make sure your child is up to date on routine vaccinations and ask a doctor whether additional vaccines or preventive medications are recommended for your destination. To reduce jet lag, begin shifting your family’s sleep schedules gradually before you leave, and aim for plenty of daylight exposure once you arrive.
When you check into your hotel, look closely for hazards you might not expect at home, such as loose wiring, unlocked windows, unstable railings, or accessible chemicals. Be cautious about using hotel-provided cribs or play yards, which may not meet current safety standards. Treat tap water as unsafe unless you’re told otherwise; use sealed bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth during stays at hotels abroad. And if your hotel has a pool, remember the essentials of water safety: Stay within arm’s reach of children while swimming, and keep them away from pool drains.
More Information
- NHTSA Car Seat and Booster Seat Recommendations
- Keeping Kids Healthy During International Travel
- How to Keep Yourself and Your Family Safe When You Travel
- What Are Some Ways to Help Jet Lag?
- Vacation Safety Tips
- Keep Your Kids Safe When They Fly
- Water Safety and Drowning Prevention
- Travel and Your Health
- Six Things Parents Can Do to Keep Their Kids Safe on Vacation
- Ten Safety Tips for Taking Your Kids on Vacation
