Travelling with children means planning ahead. Always pre-book your seats. On aircraft, bulkhead seats allow for extra playing room for children or a sky cot for an infant.

During take-off and landing, a bottle of formula, juice or water, breast feeding, or a soother should help prevent ear pain. Older children may chew sugar-free gum to help keep the ears clear.

Before leaving on your trip, make sure your child's regular immunizations are up to date and that other travel immunizations have been included.

If you will be staying in a malaria risk area, an anti-malarial medication might be necessary. Store all medications, including malaria pills, in child-proof containers out of children's reach. Mosquito repellants that you are used to should be carried.

It is important to protect children from the sun. Keep them out of direct sunlight. Sunscreen is safe for children 6 months and older (SPF 15 with protection against UVA and UVB rays). Insist everyone wear a wide-brimmed hat outdoors.

Teach your children important health habits such as hand washing, drinking only safe water, peeling fruit before eating.

Provide infants and children with lots of fluids as dehydration can occur very quickly in hot climates. Illness, including diarrhea, vomiting or fever, causes extra fluid loss. It is important to replace all lost fluids. If you are breastfeeding, continue to breastfeed. Buy commercially prepared packets of fluid replacement mixtures - electrolytes and brands that you are used to and carry them with you. These packets must be mixed in clean water. You can also make your own fluid replacement drink:

• 1 ml. (1/4 tsp.) of salt
• 10 ml. (2 tsp.) sugar
• 250 ml. (1 cup) boiled water (cooled)
• lemon, lime or orange juice for flavour

Pack in a child-friendly manner - use a day back pack so your hands are free and include important items in your carry on luggage. If children are older they can each carry their own daypack. You may wish to include:

• snacks in resealable bags or containers

• one change of clothes for each child

• moist towelettes for dirty hands and faces

• baby food, bowls, spoon, cup, formula, bottles

• enough disposable diapers for the plane trip and stopovers, diaper rash cream, wipes

• favourite toys (without small pieces) such as stuffed animals, books, stickers, crayons, colouring book, CD/tape player, small blanket, cars, handheld computer games, etc.

• emergency medication

• Always have an emergency plan in case your shild becomes lost. Be sure your child knows what the plan is.

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