Traveling with Small Children

There are a few things you should consider if you are planning to take your children with you to Mexico.

Preparation

Always take your own basic needs medical kit containing remedies such as cold medicine, pain relievers, inhalers, adhesive bandages, and swimmer’s ear solution. Most important, make sure that your children are always rested and fed. If your kids are not having a good time, neither will you.

Children should always wear a necklace or bracelet with their identification and home and emergency contact information. You can also have them carry a small card with this information in their pockets.

Pre-Travel Vaccinations

We recommend that all children two years and older have the hepatitis A vaccine before arriving in Mexico. This is especially true if the child will be in more remote regions of the country or if there is an increased exposure to contaminated food and water.

You should also make sure that your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date according to the schedule presented by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For travel to certain tropical regions of the country, you may consider vaccinating for yellow fever as well as malaria prevention. See specific sections on yellow fever (page 65) and malaria (page 67) for more information.

Before you travel with your child, you should understand that small children might be more susceptible to contracting infectious diseases. If they do get sick, you may not immediately recognize their condition because of their lack of ability to communicate their symptoms. Therefore, you must do what you can to prevent and prepare for illness. Review the sections in this book about food and water precautions and traveler’s diarrhea, water and sun safety, and how to prevent insect and tick bites. Each chapter has a section dedicated to children, which you should also read before you leave.

Traveling as a Single Parent

If you are a single parent traveling with children, you may be required to show proof that the absent parent has given permission for them to be with you. A signed and notarized document of permission (preferably in Spanish) from the absent parent will suffice. We also recommend that you carry the child(ren)‘s birth certificate at all times showing that you are the actual parent. Grandparents or other relatives should carry written permission from both parents.

Since December 2001, Canadian children must have their own passports. However, if you hold a valid Canadian passport issued before December 2001 bearing the name of your child, the passport will remain valid for both you and your child until it expires or until your child reaches the age of 16, whichever comes first.

Travel Accessories

• You may purchase a portable breast pump at BabyBugalow.
• For your potty-training toddlers, you can purchase an inflatable port-a-potty.
• For additional travel supplies for children such as car seats, meal-time accessories and diaper products, visit HealthyBabyCare.

Airplane Travel

It is never avisable for you to hold your child under two on your lap during take-off, the flight, or landing. In addition, small children may be dislodged from a parent’s lap during turbulence. A special harness, the Baby B’Air, is available at FlyingWithKids. This site also has other information on flying with your baby.

If your child has an active middle ear, sinus, or upper respiratory tract infection, we recommend that you delay your plans to fly. This also applies for at least three weeks after ear, nose, or throat surgery. Nursing, feeding, or using a pacifier with a baby during takeoff and landing helps prevent an increase in ear pressure and pain. Letting your baby cry also may relieve the pressure, although your fellow travelers may be unhappy if it continues. A lollipop is useful for toddlers. If it is a long flight, remember children have lots of energy and don’t do well if they have to sit in one place for very long. Try to “tire” them a bit before they board by playing in a part of the airport where there is extra room.

Don’t pre-board. Children become more “antsy” if they sit too long before the flight. Have plenty of snacks on hand, especially now that most planes don’t serve food. Let your children pack their own small bags with water, snacks, and busywork. If you have a baby, you may want to practice changing diapers on your lap before it becomes a necessity. Bring along some plastic bags to dispose of the diapers.

Children become motion sick more easily than adults. Most of the medications available for adults are not recommended for children under the age of 12. If your child develops motion sickness, we recommend diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Traveling in Cars

If you plan to ride in a car with a child under age five, always use a car seat and bring it with you when traveling. Unfortunately, many taxis in Mexico do not have seatbelts, so wait for a taxi that has belts, or rent a car.