[Kneeling Mom’s Essential Travel Guide]The biggest fear of traveling abroad with kids is them falling ill, but how can you stay calm when your child gets sick?

In this photo at Germany’s BMW Museum, our little bunny girl had a high fever, yet Kneeling Mom could still laugh!! Let Kneeling Mom teach you how to stay calm and handle your child’s illness while traveling abroad.

Kneeling Mom believes that in Taiwan, because medical resources are abundant, people often overreact and rush to see a doctor, even stockpiling extra medicine from clinics just in case. But this seems like a waste of medical resources—honestly, under Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system, we’re really spoiled. Kneeling Mom truly feels this every time she returns to Taiwan, where she cherishes every opportunity for health check-ups. In contrast, facing life abroad where medical resources aren’t as readily available, Kneeling Mom has now learned to calmly make basic judgments about Bunny Girl’s fevers and reduce her discomfort. Of course, if symptoms like poor appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or hand-foot-and-mouth
So, the current situation of Kneeling Mom is just like being abroad, except that she's lucky to be in Singapore where she can absorb a lot of experience sharing from Taiwanese moms. Additionally, during a Germany family trip, when Bunny Sister suddenly developed a high fever (roseola), they still managed to complete the 10-day self-guided Germany tour. This has also made Kneeling Mom more confident. Here, let Kneeling Mom share how to calmly handle sudden situations when children fall ill.

I saw an example in the US: During a trip to America, a child had tonsillitis and a high fever. After waiting two days, they finally got a doctor’s appointment. By then, the child already had over 10 blisters in the mouth. The doctor said antibiotics weren’t necessary. If uncomfortable, go to a pharmacy to buy over-the-counter fever and pain relief medicine. If the child couldn't eat, give them ice cream or iced tea. The whole illness would last 7 days, so no need to worry. True enough, the child recovered on the fifth day without medication. In Taiwan, that situation would have meant the child took a bunch of medications. As for consultation fees, the doctor didn’t prescribe any medicine, only diagnosed the illness. So, how much is that worth? 150 USD (3600 TWD)!!!! So before traveling abroad, please at least equip yourself with some common disease knowledge and basic medications!
Also, let me share a case from Kneeling Mom in Singapore: At clinics in Singapore, for general colds and flu, kids are mostly given only liquid medicine — a gentler approach — but it usually takes 3-5 days for symptoms to gradually improve. Also, in Taiwan, medication is often either ground whole pills or half doses of adult pills. Although recovery may be quicker, I believe there’s also considerable strain on the kidneys. So Kneeling Mom tries not to give her child medicine, instead relying on more rest to build up resistance. By the way, in terms of medical costs in Singapore, for general small clinics, consultation fees are around 22–27 SGD. Then it depends on your symptoms and what medication you take. A full treatment might cost about 50–70 SGD (under 2000 TWD). Though not as cheap as Taiwan’s 150 TWD registration fee, having the doctor explain the condition makes parents feel more at ease. Strictly speaking, this level of doctor’s fee is quite reasonable too.

If it happens in an unfamiliar place abroad, don’t panic and don’t rush to fly back to Taiwan to see a doctor. Moreover, the cost of changing hotel bookings and flight times will cost a lot — more than seeing a local doctor. Plus, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance provides subsidies. Keep the receipts and

On the fourth day of our ten-day family trip to Germany, Tùmèi (our daughter) suddenly developed a high fever in the middle of the night. Since she was sleeping in the same bed as us, I noticed in my sleep that her hands and feet were unusually hot—she had a fever!! The thermometer initially showed 37°C, but my mom instinct told me it couldn’t be just 37°C given how hot she felt. Later, I noticed some dust on the tip of the thermometer, wiped it off, and took another reading—38.6°C. My husband Tiefu panicked and called the hotel front desk. The staff said if needed, there was a nearby hospital and they could arrange an ambulance. I told Tiefu not to worry, as I had brought fever-reducing medicine. Thinking back, I’ve handled fevers in Singapore before, and this was just the same, only in a different place—Germany. At that moment, I decided to use a German home remedy: wrapping her legs in warm towels. Since Tiefu had to drive the next day, I asked him to rest while I monitored Tùmèi every hour. Her temperature hovered between 38.7°C and 39°C. I placed a plastic bag under the warm towels around her legs (I felt it helped control the fever from rising further, though later I switched to wiping her limbs with lukewarm water). But by morning, Tùmèi still had a fever. I hadn’t slept all night, and I knew I’d only get a short nap in the car later!!
Oh my goodness!! Thank you to the kind foreigners who took a family photo for us—judging by my exhausted look, it’s obvious I hadn’t slept all night~ haha!!
Dress according to how she feels, so I kept taking clothes off Tùmèi to help her cool down, but not too much in case she got cold.
I kept the ear thermometer handy and checked her temperature non-stop. That day’s plan was to visit the BMW Museum. Throughout, I continued to make sure Tùmèi stayed hydrated.
My little Tùmèi was zooming around the BMW Museum non-stop—even darted into the display car frames—and her appetite and energy levels were fairly normal. That made me a bit more at ease. If she had been extremely tired or lethargic, I would have taken her to the hospital.
You’d never guess Tùmèi was a child with a fever!! She was full of energy and even dancing~!!

But whenever her temperature rose above 39.3–39.8°C, I gave her fever-reducing syrup. It would go back down to 37–38°C, then rise again. This up-and-down pattern repeated, and I gave her the medicine twice. Later, when we headed to our next destination, the mural town, Tiefu immediately gave her a warm bath to help her rest. As a result, I didn’t see anything of the adorable mural town because I wanted Tùmèi to get proper rest. I went out to find food and quickly snapped a few photos for memories. When I returned with food, Tùmèi had finished her relaxing warm bath, eaten dinner, and was resting and sleeping. By around 11 PM, her temperature had dropped to 37°C and continued to fall steadily, which finally put my mind at ease. The next morning, she broke out in a full-body rash—could this be the legendary roseola? Am I that lucky?! But isn’t roseola supposed to involve a fever lasting 3–7 days? Maybe it’s just Tùmèi’s constitution, since she’s never had a fever after vaccinations. In any case, we got through the high fever incident without major issues. Actually, the right judgments can start at home—this way, no matter where you are, you can handle your child’s health calmly and confidently!!

Infantile roseola is a common infectious disease in children around one year old, often occurring in late spring and late autumn. Symptoms include sudden high fever for three to five days, along with loss of appetite and irritability. After the fever subsides, a rash appears, but usually no medication is required—the red rash will disappear on its own.

Before traveling abroad, take your child to a clinic and ask the doctor to prescribe some backup medications for the trip. (Pack them in your luggage for emergencies.)

2. Medicine syringe for feeding

3. Fever-reducing patches

4. Fever-reducing medicine

5. Multi-symptom cold syrup (for runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, phlegm)

6. Allergy relief syrup (for eczema, dermatitis, skin itching, allergic rhinitis)

7. Nasal relief drops (for runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes and throat)

8. Biofermin (divided into small packets)

9. Band-Aids & ointment (for minor injuries)

10. Simple nasal aspirator

Basic judgment and treatment

Symptom assessment

A body temperature of 38°C or higher indicates a fever
Observe other symptoms

Observe activity levels

Observe appetite

Check whether the above observations are normal.

Methods of handling

Handling when the child is sleeping
Let the child continue sleeping and get plenty of rest
Wipe the limbs with a warm towel
Take the ear temperature and monitor it to ensure it stays below 38–39°C
Handling when the child is awake
Take a warm bath for 30 minutes to 1 hour
Replenish with adequate fluids
Dress according to the body’s reaction—avoid overdressing to facilitate heat dissipation, but also don’t dress too lightly to prevent chilling.
Take a large amount of vitamin C
(Among fruits, guava has the highest content, in addition, oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, pomelos, mangoes, etc., are also excellent sources.)

Medication treatment

Start with the mildest options first
Fever-reducing patch (if the child refuses to wear it, you can place it on the back where the child can’t reach; suitable for use at night and during the day)
Fever-reducing syrup (do not use with the fever-reducing patch at the same time!! Drink the fever-reducing syrup if the temperature rises to 39°C!!)
Suppositories are the option that moms least want to use because they are the most harmful to a child’s body!!

Although they can rapidly reduce the temperature, the medication effect is too strong, which is bad for the child and only treats the symptoms, not the root cause,

and the temperature may rise again, so suppositories are a last-resort option.

All the above methods are for reducing fever. If the child’s activity level and appetite are both normal, there’s no need to worry too much.

Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe

Temperature exceeds 39°C and does not go down
Temperature remains above 38°C for over 4 hours
Also seek medical care if the child is continuously crying, has breathing difficulties, or experiences convulsions

Whether the level of activity has decreased
Whether the mouth is dry or tears are reduced
Whether the frequency of urination has decreased
Whether the urine appears dark yellow
Treatment methods

Replace formula milk with rice soup (keep meals light and avoid dairy products)
Eat small meals frequently
Stay hydrated
Change the baby’s diaper frequently
Medication management

Replenish electrolytes (dilute sports drinks with water)
Probiotics are foods made with live bacteria such as 'Bifidobacterium' (can be added to milk and consumed)
Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe

Diarrhea lasts over 24 hours without relief.
Please seek medical help promptly

Assess symptoms

Sudden vomiting after eating (check whether the food was spoiled, take a photo of the vomit, and if seeking medical attention, have the doctor observe it)
Treatment methods

Begin with fasting (allow the sensitive stomach to rest)
Eat small meals frequently (consume bland foods)
Electrolyte drinks are better than plain water
Some parents hold mistaken beliefs — seeing their baby crying may soften their hearts. After the baby vomits, they worry the child is thirsty or lacks fluids, so they immediately give large amounts of water, or fearing hunger and insufficient calories, they quickly feed milk. As a result, the vomiting worsens, prolonging the illness and possibly leading to dehydration in serious cases.

Vomiting is often an early symptom of many illnesses. As the body instinctively protects itself by expelling food, properly managing vomiting in coordination with a doctor’s diagnosis can lead to a speedy recovery.

Assess symptoms

Onset of runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion
Observe symptoms

If the child initially only has slight clear or white nasal discharge and no other symptoms, observation is acceptable.
Treatment methods

Provide appropriate warmth
Use a baby cotton swab to help clean the nasal discharge
Use a nasal aspirator to help clean the nose
When there is runny nose or nasal discharge, frequent cleaning makes the nasal walls more fragile and dry. To prevent nasal bleeding, use a spray to apply saline solution into the nasal cavity and maintain moisture. If no spray is available, a cup of warm salted water can be placed near the baby’s nose, allowing the rising steam to moisten the nasal passages — but be cautious to prevent tipping and burns.

Medication management

Medicines for nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing
Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe.

If it's just about soothing nasal discomfort, that’s fine; but if there are clear signs of a cold, medical treatment is necessary. As for children who are breathing rapidly, or babies who appear lethargic or disoriented, seek medical help immediately.

Initial Assessment

Bowel movements less than once a day
Observe the symptoms

Stool is very hard and dry, and bowel movements are strenuous and painful.
Stool resembles pebbles, the face turns red during defecation, legs pull up toward the abdomen, and there are streaks of blood around the feces.
Infrequent bowel movements, stool is very hard, and the baby seems to have a bloated and uncomfortable abdomen.
Treatment Methods

If possible, breastfeed as much as you can—formula-fed babies tend to experience more constipation.

If the baby is already on formula and no breast milk is available, in addition to regular feedings, you can give the baby some water (about 60–120cc per day). Note: do not give this water with meals; it's better to give it separately so it doesn’t affect calorie intake.

Foods high in fiber include oranges, papaya, pears, grapes, plums, peaches, bananas, etc. As for guava and apples, they are not very helpful.

Babies over 6 months old can eat various complementary foods. In cases of constipation, dietary adjustments can help (such as using yogurt), vegetables can be mashed and cooked with rice porridge, and fruit purees like banana, peach, strawberry, or orange can also be given.
Infant constipation is often diet-related, so avoid spicy, heating, or drying foods in daily life, and correct habits of picky eating and snacking.
Food-based fiber supplement—fiber stimulates intestinal movement and promotes bowel movements. In addition to vegetables and fruits, foods such as black fungus, mushrooms, oatmeal, nori, kelp, and dried fruits are all rich in fiber and minerals, and can be frequently included in your baby’s diet.
For juice, drink black jujube juice. It’s available at convenience stores.
Medication Treatment

Increasing gut probiotics refers to foods made with live bacteria, such as Biophormin.

Glycerin suppository: inserting a glycerin suppository into the child’s anus can stimulate the intestinal wall and induce bowel movements.
One mom shared: dip a cotton swab in olive oil (or petroleum jelly), insert it into the child’s anus and circle it around, lubricating and massaging the area, and the stool will come out!!

Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe.

If there has been no bowel movement for over 3 days, please seek medical examination.

[Hand, foot, and mouth disease (a type of enterovirus) is very common lately, and toddlers often put their hands in their mouths and bring in germs. Let’s first get to know enteroviruses!!]

http://blog.roodo.com/pedi_zone/archives/8697487.html

http://baike.baidu.com/view/1651545.htm

[Hand, foot, and mouth disease (also a type of enterovirus): The bunny girl had it—it looks like mosquito bites but feels hard in the middle. Let’s first get to know hand, foot, and mouth disease!!]

http://www.liangpin.com.tw/diseasea6.php

http://baike.baidu.com/view/242529.htm

Tips from a mom:
1. The above basic assessments and simple treatments can actually start being applied regularly—you’ll find you can calmly handle some minor issues without panic, which can improve your child’s immune function. Overusing medications may weaken immunity, making viruses harder to kill.

2. Medications prescribed by doctors should be kept [for use only when needed]. The goal of medication is just to make the child more comfortable—if there’s no discomfort or crying, there’s no need to force medication. This allows the child to build more antibodies to fight the germs and say goodbye to being a “medicine kid”!! ^^

With these two points in mind, you really can handle things calmly even when traveling abroad with your little one!!

What to do if you need to take your child to the hospital abroad

Emergency Numbers

Whenever you're about to depart from a place, please be sure to jot down the local emergency phone number just in case!!

Kneeling Mom has posted a link to Taiwan's emergency contact information website at the very bottom for your convenience—feel free to look up the numbers and fill them in the form yourself!!

Seeking Medical Treatment and Communicating with Doctors
Generally speaking, English is the international language around the world, so doctors in most countries can communicate in English!!

So Kneeling Mom has put together these simple words and items for you—fill in the basic info before you travel, print it out, and keep it in your bag just in case!! Hopefully, you won’t need to use it~

Travel Destination
Name
Fever
Runny Nose
Headache
Diarrhea
Vomit
Cough
Dizziness
Sore Throat
Stuffy Nose
Sneeze
Constipation
Child’s Medical History: (Please translate into English yourself)
Local Emergency Phone Number:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Emergency Assistance Hotline:
Overseas Embassy/Consulate Emergency Contact Number:
Global Toll-Free Emergency Assistance Line for Travelers Abroad:
P.S. Remember to bring your passport when seeing a doctor
Also bring any medication you took before seeking medical help

No matter where you receive medical treatment, always bring the medications you were taking beforehand to show the doctor, and never mix any new medication prescribed by the doctor with your old ones!!

Please keep the National Health Insurance reimbursement receipts (apply within 6 months)

Keep all receipts for medical expenses incurred overseas, as Taiwan offers thoughtful subsidy services!!

1. Application for Medical Expense Reimbursement (can be downloaded from the NHI Bureau’s official website).

2. Original medical expense receipts and itemized bills.

3. Diagnosis certificate or supporting documents.

4. Photocopy of the entry/exit stamps in the passport for that trip.

Reimbursement ceiling from July to September of year 100: NT$1,645 per outpatient visit, NT$2,787 per emergency visit, and NT$7,254 per day for hospitalization. The National Health Insurance Administration will also complete the refund within three months of receiving the application as per regulations.

For details, please refer to the URL.

Overseas Travel Insurance

If moms are worried, you can purchase travel insurance with additional accidental medical coverage, as insurance policies vary by company (prices range from NT$250 to NT$1,500)!! This mom won’t go into further detail Up!! But if I find a good overseas insurance plan, I’ll share it with everyone ASAP!!

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs Emergency Hotline]

[Inquiry for Emergency Contact Numbers of Overseas Offices]: (If you encounter an emergency while abroad)

[Emergency Assistance Hotline for Taiwanese Abroad]

To strengthen the protection of overseas nationals and ensure their safety, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the “MOFA Emergency Contact Center” at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Office of the Bureau of Consular Affairs on January 1, 2009 (Year 98 in the Republic of China calendar). It introduced a simple and memorable toll-free domestic hotline “Overseas Emergency Service Hotline” at 0800-085-095 (homophone for ‘you help me, you rescue me’). Calls from abroad are subject to international call charges. The dialing method is: (your country’s international dialing code) +886-800-085-095. In addition, the MOFA set up a “Global Toll-Free Emergency Assistance Hotline for Taiwanese Abroad” at 800-0885-0885 (homophone for ‘you

When Chinese nationals encounter emergencies abroad and are unable to reach the nearest overseas mission, they can call either of the two hotlines above to seek assistance from the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs Emergency Contact Center.” These hotlines are intended solely for use by Chinese citizens facing urgent emergencies overseas. Do not dial them for non-emergency situations to avoid overloading the lines and delaying responses to genuine emergencies. For issues related to passports, visas, or document certification, please call the Consular Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at (02)2343-2888 during office hours. For general inquiries about ministry services, please call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs main line at (02)2348-2999 during office hours.

Due to telecommunications technical limitations, the current “Global Toll-Free Emergency Hotline for Chinese Travelers Abroad”: 800 – 0885 – 0885 is only available in the 22 countries or regions listed in the table below. Calling method as follows: [URL]