22/08/2026
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧: 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 🧳👧🏻👦🏻
Packing for a holiday with children can sometimes feel like preparing for a small house move: clothes for every possible change in weather, swimsuits, toys, a favourite book, chargers, travel documents… and then comes the inevitable question:
What should we put in the first-aid kit?
It can be tempting to pack medicines and supplies for every situation imaginable. But a good children's travel health kit is not necessarily the one with the most items. It is the one that is practical, safe and tailored to your child's needs and your destination.
Earlier this week, we looked at some of the health problems that can occur more frequently during the summer holidays. Today, we are taking a different, practical approach: how to prepare a useful children's travel kit without taking “half the pharmacy” with you.
𝑨 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒔𝒆 🌡️
It takes up very little room and can be extremely useful.
A reliable digital thermometer is a sensible addition to your luggage. Before travelling, check that it works properly and that the battery is in good condition.
It may seem like a minor detail — until you need it in the middle of the night, far from home.
𝑶𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 💧
Oral rehydration sachets or ready-made solutions can be useful if a child develops diarrhoea or vomiting.
They are specifically formulated to replace water and electrolytes in appropriate proportions and should not routinely be replaced with soft drinks, fruit juices or sports drinks.
If you carry sachets that need to be mixed with water, always follow the preparation instructions carefully. Making the solution stronger does not make it work better.
𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒄 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅-𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔 🩹
Scraped knees, small cuts and minor grazes are often part of an active summer.
You do not need a huge collection of medical supplies. Sterile gauze, adhesive dressings, medical tape and suitable supplies for cleaning minor wounds can be enough for basic first aid.
And one practical tip: keep the kit somewhere accessible. Having everything you need is not particularly helpful if it is buried underneath three suitcases when you need it!
𝑹𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 💊
If your child takes regular medication, this should be one of the first things you pack.
Take enough for the entire trip and, when appropriate, allow a little extra in case of delays or unexpected changes to your travel plans.
Medicines should preferably remain in their original packaging and must be stored according to the manufacturer's or healthcare professional's instructions.
If medication requires refrigeration or special storage conditions, plan how you will transport it before leaving home.
And remember: medicines must always be kept safely out of children's reach, both during the journey and at your accommodation.
𝑫𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 📝
In children, the correct dose of certain medicines may depend on weight and individual circumstances.
If your child uses prescribed or rescue medication, make sure you have clear instructions from their healthcare professional about what to give, how much, how often and under what circumstances.
Written instructions are far more reliable than trying to remember advice given months ago.
When liquid medication needs to be measured, use the appropriate measuring device, such as an oral syringe when indicated, rather than an ordinary household spoon.
𝑺𝒖𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 ☀️
Appropriate sunscreen should be part of the luggage whenever children are likely to spend significant time outdoors.
But remember that sun protection is not just about sunscreen. Shade, suitable clothing, a hat and sensible exposure to the sun are equally important.
Before leaving, check that you actually have enough sunscreen for the trip. That nearly empty bottle from earlier in the summer may not last as long as expected!
𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕: 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕 🦟
Not every trip has the same requirements.
Depending on your destination, the season and the activities you have planned, an age-appropriate insect repellent may be useful.
Always follow the product instructions and check whether there are specific health recommendations for the area you are visiting.
𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒌𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐 📄
Not everything important fits inside a first-aid pouch.
If your child has a chronic condition, significant allergies or requires specific treatment, carrying relevant medical information and an up-to-date list of medications can be very useful.
Depending on the journey, you may also need prescriptions or other healthcare documentation.
When travelling abroad, it is sensible to check in advance how healthcare works at your destination and what documents or insurance arrangements you may need.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌 “𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒆” 🚫
Being prepared does not mean self-medicating.
Avoid packing leftover antibiotics from a previous illness with the idea of using them if your child develops a fever, sore throat or diarrhoea. Nor should medication prescribed for a previous condition automatically be reused simply because the symptoms appear similar.
In children, similar symptoms can have very different causes.
A travel first-aid kit is there to help you manage minor situations and follow existing medical instructions — not to replace professional assessment when it is needed.
𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒆 🧳
A five-minute check can save a lot of inconvenience:
🌡️ Working digital thermometer
💧 Oral rehydration solution
🩹 Basic supplies for minor cuts and grazes
💊 Enough regular medication for the trip
📝 Clear instructions and prescribed dosages
☀️ Appropriate sun protection
🦟 Age-appropriate insect repellent, if needed
📄 Relevant medical reports, prescriptions and healthcare documents
It is also worth knowing where to seek medical assistance at your destination should something happen that cannot be managed with basic first aid.
Travelling with children will always involve a little unpredictability — and that is often part of the adventure. Preparing a simple, well-organised health kit is not about expecting something to go wrong. It is about avoiding unnecessary improvisation if a minor problem arises.
At Centro Médico Villar e Ibarra, we want to provide families with practical, reliable information that can be useful both at home and while travelling, helping parents prepare, prevent avoidable problems and make informed decisions about their family's wellbeing. 💙
Suitcases packed, first-aid kit checked… now it is time to enjoy the holiday. ☀️🧳👨👩👧👦
📍 Centro Médico Villar e Ibarra · Tenerife
