Traveling with food allergies can be a scary thing, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many things parents can do prior to travel to prepare themselves and their child for a new destination. It’s easier to stay safe with a plan in place.
Before considering travel of any kind, know your child and know the food allergy. How severe is the allergy? Is the allergy airborne, contact related, or oral? Take all these factors into consideration because they may effect the destination you choose and the precautions you need to take.
This goes hand in hand with safety, but once a decision has been made about your travel plans, start researching. Does the location offer unfamiliar foods? What do food labels look like? Are there familiar foods you could offer your child in that country? Look into the medical facilities as well. Find their locations and if traveling to a foreign country, know the number for emergency services (odds are it’s not 911).
Before traveling, check in with your doctor and make sure you have current medications. Ask for an extra EpiPen if needed. It’s better to have both parents traveling with a complete medical kit in case one gets left behind. Pack all medications in carry on luggage.
Hand wipes are essential for families with contact allergies. Wipe down seats, trays and arm rests before boarding a plane, train, and/or car. These come in handy for many situations.
When traveling to a country where a different language is spoken, consider ordering allergy translation cards. These are typically the size of a credit card and can translate the food allergy into the native language. They are perfect to use at restaurants and grocery stores when you want to know if a food is safe to eat. Simply present it to a native speaker, they read the card, and can nod their head in understanding. Order a couple of sets so each parent has one.
It’s really important to have something on hand for your food allergic child to eat. Some useful items for us have included small bagels, soy butter, gold fish, and fruit strips. These were extremely handy when we found ourselves in situations where there was nothing allergy friendly to eat. Make sure to pack plenty of extra food for the duration of the trip and then throw in extra just in case.
There are a few airlines that still serve nuts on their planes. If you have a child with a nut allergy, odds are you won’t feel comfortable flying them. However, do not hesitate to call an airline and tell them about your child’s allergy. Some airlines will allow you to pre-board and wipe down the seats to prevent allergic reactions. If you have a concern don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call.
If possible, consider staying at a house/apartment or hotel with a kitchen/kitchenette. Cooking your own meals allows you not to worry about food allergies. Head to the local grocery store or farmer’s market and buy familiar products. If food labels have unfamiliar words, use those allergy translation cards or ask a local.
As someone whose child has suffered three separate allergic reactions while traveling in foreign countries, I speak from experience on this one. If a food is unknown, ask questions and then ask again if the answer isn’t satisfactory. Don’t assume anything and always make sure someone in your traveling party has medication with them.
Kirsten Maxwell is the founder of Kids Are A Trip, a family travel site created to inspire families to explore the word with their children. A bilingual teacher of Puerto Rican descent, Kirsten enjoys exposing her family and audience to other customs and cultures.
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