Family holidays are one of life's great pleasures — but the health preparation that goes into them is often underestimated. This guide walks you through everything parents need to think about before travelling abroad with children, from vaccinations and sun protection to managing illness away from home.

Why children need dedicated travel health preparation

Children are not simply small adults when it comes to travel health. Their immune systems are still developing, their vaccination histories differ from adults, and they are more vulnerable to dehydration, gastrointestinal illness, and the effects of heat. They are also less reliable at communicating when something is wrong.

Getting the preparation right means the difference between a holiday interrupted by avoidable illness and one where your family can focus on the experience. The good news is that with the right planning, most risks can be significantly reduced.

Step one: review your children's vaccination history

The first question for any family travelling abroad is whether their children's routine UK vaccinations are up to date. Before thinking about travel-specific vaccines, it is worth confirming that children are current with their childhood immunisation schedule — MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), meningococcal, and pertussis (whooping cough) are particularly important for travel, as outbreaks of these diseases occur in many popular destinations.

Beyond routine vaccines, the additional vaccinations needed will depend on where you are going and for how long. Common travel vaccines for children include:

Hepatitis A. Recommended for travel to most of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and parts of Eastern Europe. It can be given to children from 12 months of age.
Typhoid. Relevant for travel to South Asia, parts of Africa, and the Middle East. An injectable vaccine is available for children over two years old.
Meningococcal ACWY. Required for some destinations and recommended for others, including parts of sub-Saharan Africa (the "meningitis belt") and Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah.
Yellow fever. Mandatory entry requirement for many countries in West Africa and South America, and can only be administered at registered yellow fever centres. Children can receive it from nine months of age, with caveats for very young infants.
Japanese encephalitis. For longer stays in rural areas of South and East Asia.
Rabies. Worth considering for destinations where access to post-exposure treatment might be difficult, and for children who may be more likely to approach animals.

Our travel vaccine service offers family appointments, so that parents and children can be assessed and vaccinated together in a single visit. We provide destination-specific advice based on the latest country recommendations.

Step two: malaria prevention

If your destination is in a malaria zone — including large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South and South-East Asia, and Central and South America — malaria prevention is essential and non-negotiable for children.

Antimalarial medication options for children depend on age and weight, as well as the specific malaria risk and resistance patterns at your destination. A clinician will help identify the right option. Alongside medication, DEET-based insect repellents (at concentrations safe for children's ages), permethrin-treated clothing, and mosquito nets are all part of an effective prevention strategy.

One practical note: children aged under five are at particularly high risk of severe malaria and should be protected with extra vigilance.

Step three: build your family travel health kit

A well-prepared travel medical kit means minor illness or injury does not spiral into an avoidable crisis. For families travelling with children, we recommend including:

Children's paracetamol and ibuprofen (liquid and/or tablets depending on age), in sufficient supply for the trip.
Oral rehydration sachets — essential for managing gastroenteritis and dehydration, which are particularly dangerous in young children.
Antihistamine suitable for children, for allergic reactions, insect stings, and hay fever symptoms.
Wound care — antiseptic wipes, plasters, and a small bandage.
Sun protection — high-factor SPF 50+ for children, with UVA and UVB protection, applied generously and regularly.
Insect repellent appropriate for the child's age (DEET concentration varies by age group).
Any regular prescription medications with a letter from your GP or prescribing clinician confirming the prescription, particularly for travel to countries with strict import regulations.
Travel insurance documents and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) where applicable.

Step four: food, water, and gastrointestinal illness

Travellers' diarrhoea is the most common health problem faced by people travelling to lower-income countries, and children are particularly vulnerable to its more serious effects — rapid dehydration being the primary concern.

Practical precautions include drinking only bottled or treated water (including for tooth brushing in high-risk areas), avoiding ice in drinks, and being cautious with raw fruit and vegetables that cannot be peeled. Street food is generally higher risk, though in many destinations it is fine if freshly cooked and hot.

If a child develops diarrhoea while travelling, the priority is hydration — oral rehydration solution should be started immediately. Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe, there is blood in the stool, the child is very young, or dehydration cannot be managed orally.

Step five: sun and heat safety

Children's skin is more sensitive to UV damage than adult skin, and the effects of childhood sunburn are cumulative — they contribute to significantly increased skin cancer risk in later life. This is not a reason to avoid the sun, but it is a strong reason to be deliberate about protection.

Apply SPF 50+ sunscreen 20 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours, and after swimming.
Keep infants under six months out of direct sunlight entirely.
Use protective clothing, hats with brims, and UV-protective swimwear for children who are outdoors for long periods.
Avoid the midday sun (roughly 11am to 3pm) in hot climates.

Heat exhaustion in children can develop quickly. Ensure children drink regularly, rest in shade or cool areas, and are not overdressed. Cool them down immediately if they show signs of overheating — confusion, pale clammy skin, or rapid breathing warrant urgent medical attention.

Timing your travel health appointment

Ideally, a travel health consultation for a family should take place six to eight weeks before departure. Some vaccines require two or more doses given several weeks apart, and certain medications need to be started in advance of travel. Last-minute consultations are possible but may limit your options.

AtWell's children's health service works alongside our travel health team to ensure that your whole family is assessed appropriately, with age-specific advice for every member of the group. We understand that a family appointment needs to be efficient, clear, and sensitive to the fact that small patients are not always the most cooperative.

Travelling with children: health checklist before you go