Traveling with a child who has food allergies

Before booking

Think through where food will come from on travel days, at the accommodation and during excursions. A kitchen or refrigerator can increase options, but it does not replace checking ingredients and preventing cross-contact.

• Discuss the trip and medication plan with the child’s clinician.
• Check airline, hotel, tour and childcare food procedures directly.
• Locate appropriate medical care near each overnight stop.
• Make sure travel insurance addresses existing medical needs and possible evacuation.

Build redundant communication

Keep the allergy information in more than one form: the Safely Plate offline card, a printed card and the wording already recommended by the child’s healthcare professional. Ensure every supervising adult knows where medication is stored and who will speak to restaurant staff.

• List allergens precisely rather than using only broad categories.
• Save the destination-language card before leaving home.
• Print a backup and keep a copy with another adult.
• Teach age-appropriate rules without making the child responsible for adult safety decisions.

During the trip

Reconfirm the allergy before each order even at a restaurant visited previously. Recipes, staff, suppliers and equipment can change. If staff cannot confidently check, choose another option rather than negotiating away a safety requirement.