Family holidays are one of the great joys of raising children abroad - new cultures, new sights, and precious time together away from routine. But when you're travelling with young children, and especially when a nanny is joining the trip, a little planning goes a long way toward keeping the experience smooth rather than stressful. Here's what Dubai-based families should think through before boarding that flight.

Start with the Paperwork

International travel with children involves more documentation than most parents expect. Every child needs their own valid passport, and depending on the destination, a visa may be required well in advance. If only one parent is travelling with the child, many countries - and airlines - ask for a notarised letter of consent from the other parent, particularly relevant for UAE residents whose families are often spread across continents.

If a nanny is travelling as part of the trip, her documentation needs equal attention. Her passport, UAE residence visa, and any travel authorisation from her sponsor should be sorted well ahead of departure. Families working with a full-time nanny should confirm with their agency or Tadbeer centre exactly what travel consent documents are needed, since requirements can vary depending on the nanny's visa sponsorship and the destination country.

Health and Safety Preparation

A pre-travel visit to the paediatrician is worth the time, especially for destinations that require specific vaccinations or where malaria precautions apply. Pack a compact travel health kit with fever medication, rehydration salts, allergy medicine, and any prescriptions your child needs, along with copies of prescriptions in case you need a refill abroad.

Travel insurance that explicitly covers children - and, where applicable, the accompanying nanny is essential rather than optional. Confirm what the policy covers: emergency medical treatment, hospital transfers, and trip cancellation are the basics to check for.

Packing With a Toddler's Day in Mind

Rather than packing by outfit count, think through your child's actual day: naps, snacks, meltdowns, and the unpredictable moments in between. A well-stocked carry-on for young children typically includes a change of clothes, familiar snacks, a comfort item, entertainment that doesn't need charging, and any medication in its original packaging with documentation, since some countries have strict rules on bringing medicines across borders.

If a nanny is travelling too, involve her in the packing plan. She often knows the child's daily rhythms nap triggers, favourite distractions, comfort routines, better than a checklist ever could, and her input can save a lot of in-flight stress.

Clarifying the Nanny's Role While Travelling

One area families sometimes overlook is setting expectations for how the nanny's role shifts during travel. At home, duties and hours are usually well defined. On a trip, boundaries can blur is she on duty the entire holiday, or are there agreed breaks? Will she share a room with the children, and is that comfortable for everyone involved? These conversations are far easier to have before departure than to negotiate mid-trip.

Families who prefer built-in clarity on this front often opt for a live-in nanny arrangement, where round-the-clock childcare is already part of the working relationship at home. Even so, it's worth explicitly discussing rest periods, time off during the trip, and any additional compensation for travel duties, ideally documented in writing before you leave the UAE.

Adjusting to Time Zones and New Environments

Jet lag hits children harder than adults, and a nanny who understands the child's normal sleep and feeding schedule can be invaluable in easing the transition. Where possible, start shifting bedtime gradually a few days before departure, and once you arrive, get outside in natural daylight to help reset the body clock faster.

New environments also mean new safety considerations childproofing a hotel room, checking pool and balcony safety, and briefing everyone travelling on emergency contacts and the nearest hospital or clinic at the destination.

A Final Checklist Before You Fly

Before departure, parents should confirm: all passports and visas are valid and in hand, consent letters are signed and notarised if needed, travel insurance is active, medications are packed and documented, the nanny's travel authorisation is confirmed, and everyone involved understands the plan for the days ahead.

Travelling with children is rarely entirely predictable, but the families who prepare thoughtfully and who bring the right support along, whether that's a full-time nanny familiar with the child's routine or a live-in nanny used to sharing daily life with the family tend to find the whole trip far more enjoyable for everyone.