Swimming with your baby or toddler is many parents favourite activity. There is no set age to start swimming with your baby, but most classes in swimming pools start at around 12 weeks, so this can be used as a good guideline. As your child develops and becomes more independent, simple buoyancy aids will help further develop their skills.

The reason children need to be protected from the harmful effects of the sun is that a child’s skin is simply thinner the younger they are. A child’s skin only needs 10 minutes in strong sunlight to suffer potentially severe burns.

It is an unfortunate reality, but very few holiday companies cater for young toddlers who are starting to explore the world around them. More understandably but still no less of a concern, is that the homes of families and friends will almost certainly not be prepared for your little one’s inquisitive ways. An unguarded stair case or sharp edge at toddler head height, will be something overlooked by your hosts, but a potential danger to your child.

It is very difficult to find a hotel, let alone a friend or family’s home which is equipped with specialist baby or toddler baths which have been designed to contain your child within a manageable space whilst cleaning them. If you are not familiar with the family size bath, the irregular flow of hot and cold water as well as the temperature of the spout could be a potential scalding danger.

Most holiday destinations will have local supermarkets which will stock most of the well known brand of baby nappies; however it is a good idea to check first. Obviously you will not want to take your baby’s changing station from their nursery so a light weight, compact travel changing mat is a must.

If you are travelling with your baby you should try to keep to as similar a feeding routine as you have at home. If you are travelling abroad to a different time zone, you can make short adjustments to their feeding times before you leave therefore making it easier to adjust on arrival.