November is Child Safety Month, and while those of us with children usually have childsafe homes, keeping kids safe and sound can become more of a challenge when traveling. Whether you are flying the friendly skies, traveling the highways of the United States, or simply going to Grandma’s house the next town over this holiday season, here are some ways to keep your children safe:
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Always use an appropriate carseat. The National Highway Safety Administration says that four in five kids are not properly restrained in the car. If you are driving any distance, even from your home to the end of your street, it’s important that the kids are buckled up correctly. Infants and babies up to age two should be in rear-facing carseats in the back seat. Older toddlers and preschoolers should be in five-point harnesses (they can face forward once they outgrow the weight limit of a rear-facing seat, which is usually 30-40 lbs), and bigger kids need to be in booster seats until they are about 4’9” tall and weigh about 80 lbs. This means that your eight or nine year old might still need to be in a booster! Kids under age 13 belong in the back seat, and everyone not in a carseat needs to wear a seatbelt with a shoulder strap. If you are flying, you can take your child’s five-point carseat along on the plane. Booster seats are not approved for flights, but can be checked as luggage, or you can rent a booster along with your rental car.
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Bring along safety devices if you are staying in an older relative’s house. If you are staying with your brother who has three of his own kids, this is probably not an issue, but your parents or grandparents likely do not have electrical outlet covers or cabinet locks. You don’t have to run around childproofing the entire house, but covering up or locking up the biggest dangers is a wise idea. Make sure that your baby is sleeping on a firm surface; bringing along a portable crib is the best option. Don’t sleep with a baby on a sofa or a waterbed, as this could contribute to a raised risk of SIDS. Remind older relatives that little ones can be poisoned by their medications; the elderly often don’t use childproof caps on their prescriptions, and your curious toddler could get into blood pressure medications or vitamins too easily. Ask your relative to put up cleaning supplies or medications out of a child’s reach. Tuck up the cords of mini-blinds and keep kids’ sleeping areas away from second-story windows. It also goes without saying that you must watch your child more carefully in someone else’s house, because chances are great that he’ll find something to get into that you hadn’t thought of.
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Take along a first aid kit. If you are traveling during the holidays, it can be difficult to find an open pharmacy, particularly if you are going to a rural area or a small town. Bring along the basics of a first aid kid (bandaids, Tylenol, antibiotic ointment, a rubber bulb syringe for babies), and also take a pediatrician-approved cough medication, any prescriptions that your child requires, Benadryl and rehydrating solution, such as Pedialyte. Having the basics on hand will alleviate parental panic attacks if your child comes down with the flu or a stomach bug while en route.
- Arrive early. If you traveling by airplane, allow extra time to go through airport security. Make sure children wash hands frequently and have antibacterial wipes to clean the trays and arms rests. Keep the seatbelt on children at all times just in case there is unexpected turbulence. Have snacks and water on hand as well as gum just in case their ears bother them during take off.
- Check hotel rooms. If you have smaller children make sure that you check the room for electrical outlets or furniture with sharp corners.
Traveling with kids can be stressful, but keeping their health and safety in mind and being prepared ahead of time can help.
Do you have any great safety tips for kids while traveling? Since it’s Child Safety Month, help our readers out by sharing good ones in the comments section below!
