It is half term for my 3 year old daughter so it’s been tricky getting much done. However we received an e-mail that we couldn’t ignore as it really got me thinking. Travelling with an infant is tricky, but as we keep saying being prepared is the key to any successful trip as it having a sense of humour! But when we were asked to help mum of three Keeya find a place for her family, including in-laws where all three of her children suffer from food allergies, we knew that we’d need to find a special list of suggestions for her.

Approximately 8% of children suffer from food allergies, although almost 90% of them will out grow these. The most common food allergies in children are cow’s milk, eggs and nuts. The most sever reaction if your child is allergic known as anaphylaxis, where the sufferer breaks in to an itchy skin rash, swelling of the lips and finds it difficult to breath. It this case they will need their portable epinephrine injector and immediate medical attention.

Some tips for travelling with children that suffer from food allergies include:

Contact the resort before you go. Call ahead and explain what you’re child’s allergies are. Ask them to recommend dishes and find out what they do to ensure that there is no cross contamination in the kitchen.

Prepare your meals yourself. This does not necessarily mean you have to go self catering and cook for everyone. A number of hotels offer private kitchenette areas in your room so you can control what they eat. Some suggestions include

Apartments Bellevue Alcudia, Balearic Islands , Apartments Colina Da Lapa Some of the Sovereign Holidays also have a basic kitchenettes, including the Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort and the Insotel Club Punta Prima. Don't forget that companies such as Mark Warner and Sunsail provide 24 hour access to a basic kitchen with a microwave and fridge. And finally there's Center Parcs which offers a choice of self catering and hotel accommodation in 4 parks across the UK.

Tag your child Ensure your child wears an identity tag, with your emergency number, a list of their allergies and instructions on what to do in an emergency. You can purchase these from here.

Keep emergency medications on hand. If you’re flying keep your epi-pen and other medicines in your hand luggage. Due to heighten security, you will need to show supporting documentation from your GP and prior approval from your airline before you fly. You can check out what the current requirements are from the Department of Transport website.

Carry a food allergy restaurant card. If you’re thinking of feeding your little one at a restaurant, it might be worth carrying a card listing what your child is allergic to. You can get print a list of allergies in various languages from the Food Allergy Initiative.

We hope you find this information helpful, but please feel free to add your suggestions and tips below.

Wishing you happy holidays,

HWB Team.