Balitang America Travels: Traveling with Children

Traveling abroad with kids in tow can be a daunting task. But with research and good planning, you can still have a great trip and minimize stressful situations...especially when it comes to health issues.

In one of my recent "Travels" segments on Balitang America, I interviewed Louis Rodrigo - operations manager of Mango Tours in San Francisco - about his experience in bringing his 8-month-old child to the Philippines. Long story short, the baby ended up spending a week in the hospital because Louis said he and his wife weren't prepared to deal with the potential health risks. What's the moral of the story: do your research and plan ahead.

Parents should consult with a pediatrician when planning to travel outside the country with young children. The doctor can give parents an idea about what things they should bring with them on a trip abroad. You may even be referred to a travel medicine specialist if your child will need certain vaccinations.

It's also a good idea to take a look at family travel resources on the web - from what to put in your first aid travel kit to general safety tips. The Centers for Disease Control has a section devoted to traveling with kids. Other great resources packed with family travel tips include sites like Travel With Your Kids and Independent Traveler. Aside from health and security issues, there might be other things you need to do in order to bring your child abroad.

You may need to have a child travel consent form. It's a document needed when only one parent will be traveling with the child abroad. The form needs to be signed by both parents and notarized, because the government wants to make sure the child is not at risk for abduction; this is a big concern especially when divorce or custody issues are involved. Without the consent form, you won't be allowed to board the airplane.

The more prepared you are...the better off you'll be, so do your homework when it comes to taking a trip with the tots.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.