Safety Tips for Traveling with Children

Nicaragua First Aid Kit - Unpacked
Image by Mat Honan via Flickr

When traveling with children you want to make sure they’re as safe as possible whether you’re driving or staying at a hotel. Here are a few tips to help ensure the safety and well-being of your children while on vacation.

Be sure to pack the essentials. If you’re going to a sunny area be sure to pack sunblock for your child. Even a few minutes in a stroller can mean a nasty and painful sunburn. Check the bottle and make sure that it is safe for children or purchase a child-specific sunblock. Sunglasses with a UV filter and sun hats can help keep your baby safe from harmful sun rays. Bring a first aid kit with the basic items such as ointment, alcohol pads and a thermometer. If you are taking formula on the trip be sure to have a cooler or some type of refrigeration so it does not spoil. Wipes for toys and other objects are excellent to keep germs away from your baby’s mouth.

If you are staying at a hotel there are a few ways to safeguard the room. Look for exposed outlets and cover with electrical tape if you have a toddler that will be crawling or walking around. Remove or move to an out of reach area any dangerous electrical items such as an iron or hair dryer and be sure bags for disposal cups is kept out of reach. You can cover any sharp edges of tables with a washcloth and some electrical tape if you plan to spend a large amount of time in the room where your toddler may be at danger. Check the doors on balconies to be sure they lock well and there is no danger of your child getting out onto the balcony without you being there.

With just a few proactive approaches, you can safe proof your children from harm.

  • Share/Bookmark

Take Care of Home While Traveling

There are many things that need to be taken care of at home while you’re off on an exciting vacation so that you can come home to a calm and peaceful house. Here are a few things that you may need to remember when going on a trip. Even though you are realizing your dream home through FHA home mortgage, the below tips will surely help during the long run.

Make sure to have your mail placed on hold or have someone pick it up for you. This goes the same for newspaper delivery. One of the biggest signs of a person not home is a yard full of newspapers or a mailbox stuffed with mail that can be seen. If you have someone checking your home or house sitting, have them bring in the mail and newspaper daily.

Make sure your bills are up to date or arrange payments in advance if you are going to be away when they are due. This way you don’t come home to your water or power being shut off and it will help you avoid late or reconnection fees.

Make your house look lived in. Set your lights on a timer or invest in a security system that will alert authorities to any behavior that is out of the norm. If you have arranged for someone to check in, have them leave a light or television on a different times of the day. If possible, make sure a vehicle is parked in your driveway while you are gone so that your home has that lived-in look.

Be sure your pets and plants are taken care of. If you are not taking pets to a kennel, arrange for a friend or neighbor to feed and give water to your animals and water or check on any plants you may have. It can be safer to leave your pets home than to use a kennel as long as you have someone you can really trust with their care.

Last but not least, straighten up before you leave so that when you arrive back home you can relax and take it easy rather than having to clean up.

  • Share/Bookmark