A guide to destinations to avoid when travelling with your baby
Seeing the world in its entirety is a must for many people, but when there's a baby involved, certain destinations can seem unattainable due to the weather, climate and current political issues. If you're looking at going on holiday but aren't sure whether the destination in mind is appropriate, follow this guide:
Which countries may be too hot?
Babies are very susceptible to heat stroke, which can be a dangerous and even fatal condition. Hot weather and a lack of cover can be highly hazardous, which is why if you are travelling with your baby to a hot destination, you need to be extra careful.
Your baby does not yet have the ability to cool themselves easily. Things to consider:
- Keep your baby in the shade and covered
- Only use sun cream if your baby is more than six months old
- Go out only during the coolest parts of the day
- Make use of pools or air conditioning
- Ensure that your baby stays hydrated
- Try to keep your baby in minimal nightwear if possible
The hottest countries during the summer months are:
- India
- Mexico
- Malaysia
- Saudi Arabia
- Ethiopia
Among many others situated around the equator.
Are there any countries that are not child-friendly?
To be safe, you will want to research your destination beforehand. A country or destination that is too dangerous, polluted or a health risk can be incredibly risky to travel to with a baby. Watch the news and keep yourself updated. For more government information, see here
Note - If you've taken out travel insurance, please be aware that insurance policies are invalid if you visit a country or area that the government has advised not to travel to.
Related content
If you'd like some more tips and advice on travelling with children, or inspiration for the next family holiday, check out our other pages below:
- Travelling with a baby
- Child travelling alone
- Top tips on flying with your children
- Flying with a toddler
- Tips for boating with babies and toddlers
- Travelling by train with your children
- Travelling with a child who has chickenpox
- Getting through the airport with your child
- Top childrens' holiday activities
- Keeping the kids occupied on car journeys
- How to keep your children safe on holiday
- How to deal with a jet-lagged child
- Can a child travel alone on a ferry?
- Travelling with children with different surnames
- Can children travel alone in a taxi?
- Flying with a baby
- Can children travel alone on a train?
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