Travelling with children: this is how to keep your family healthy

January 19, 2026

Travelling with children is a great experience, but it also requires extra preparation. This is because children are more vulnerable to diseases and health problems than adults. They contract infections faster and often become more seriously ill as a result. With good preparation, you can limit many risks.

Start preparing in time

It is wise to make an appointment at a traveller's advice and vaccination office before booking your trip, especially if you are travelling with children under five. There you will get information about health risks at your destination and practical tips to prevent illness. This way, you can make your own informed choice: does the importance of the trip outweigh the possible risks?

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is common when travelling and can quickly lead to dehydration in children. Therefore, let your child drink extra and use ORS (oral rehydration solution) according to the package insert.

Take care with diarrhoea inhibitors:

Do not use on children under 2 years of age
Do not use in case of fever or blood/mucus in stools
In children under 6 years of age, these drugs can cause constipation

See a doctor if:

your child is under 1 year old and has diarrhoea
there is blood or mucus in the diarrhoea
the fever exceeds 39°C
the diarrhoea persists for more than three days
your child drinks badly or keeps vomiting
there are signs of dehydration (drowsiness, irritability, low urination)

Sun and insects

Children cannot properly protect themselves from sun and insect bites. This is especially important because diseases such as malaria and dengue are more dangerous for them.

This is how you protect your child:

Wear covering clothes, a cap or hat and closed shoes
Keep children out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
Use sunscreen with at least factor 30
Use a mosquito repellent with DEET (do not apply to hands)
Let your child sleep under a mosquito net, even during the day

Malaria: extra risk for young children

Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be very serious in children under five. Travelling to areas where malaria is common is therefore not recommended for young children.

Are you travelling to a malaria area anyway?

Follow advice on malaria pills carefully; there are separate malaria drugs for children
Store medicines out of reach of children
Tablets may be finely ground and mixed with sweet food or drink
Note: in addition to malaria pills, mosquito repellent always remains essential.

Always take a thermometer with you. Does your child develop a fever or flu-like symptoms during or after the trip? Then see a doctor immediately and get tested for malaria.

On the road, play and animals: be alert

The biggest danger for children when travelling is often not illness, but traffic and transport. Traffic accidents are more common in many countries than in the Netherlands, so always keep a close eye on your child.

A few more points of interest:

On the plane, earache may occur on take-off and descent → make them swallow or drink
Children are more susceptible to motion sickness → do not give heavy or sweet food
Altitude sickness can also occur in children, but is difficult to recognise
Do not let children pet unfamiliar animals (risk of bites and rabies)
Do not let your child walk barefoot to avoid wounds and infections, especially on the beach or in the sea

Vaccination Point helps you make the right preparations

Travelling with children requires extra attention, but with the right preparation it can be a safe and unforgettable experience. At Vaccinatiepunt, we are happy to help you travel well-prepared. We advise on the right travel vaccinations, possible malaria tablets and other health measures, and give practical tips that fit your destination and family situation. In addition, we pay extra attention to children so that a visit to us is as pleasant and relaxed as possible. Children can pick their own fun plasters, get plenty of distractions during the appointment and afterwards receive a real certificate of bravery. This makes vaccination just that little bit more fun.