Family
On Holiday with a Coeliac Child: A Step-by-Step Checklist for Parents
From biscuits at the kids’ club to ice cream by the pool: a before, during and after checklist for families with a coeliac child.
Planning a holiday with a coeliac child takes more preparation than a holiday for an adult with coeliac disease. Children don’t always question what they are eating, they may share food with friends, and they spend time in places where a parent isn’t always at their side, such as the kids’ club, the pool and the entertainment programme. The good news is that with the right hotel and the right preparation, your child can enjoy the holiday just like any other child.
Before you go
- Ask about the children’s buffet when choosing a hotel. Gluten-free options on the main buffet don’t mean there are any on the children’s buffet or at the kids’ club.
- Find out what snacks the kids’ club hands out. Biscuits, cake, crackers and play dough (yes, most play dough contains wheat flour) are the risks you will meet most often.
- Have a written note added to your booking. Your child’s name, age and a note saying “coeliac disease, separate preparation needed”.
- Talk to your doctor. Agree in advance what to do if there is a reaction and what you should carry with you.
- Pack a snack bag. Enough gluten-free snacks for the journey and the first day, choosing ones that meet the liquids rules for flying.
On the day you arrive
- Meet the chef or the person in charge, and introduce your child too. Meeting “the cook who makes my special plate” gives a child confidence.
- Speak to the kids’ club manager. Ask them to check with you before giving your child any snacks.
- Use a wristband or a badge. Some hotels provide allergy or dietary wristbands. If not, a simple card will do the job.
During the holiday
- Be careful with ice cream. Cones contain gluten, and some flavours include biscuit pieces, malt or cookie dough. Plain flavours served in a tub are safer.
- Set a sharing rule. “Ask me before you take food from a friend” works even with young children.
- Birthdays and parties. For cake celebrations run by the hotel’s entertainment team, arrange a gluten-free slice in advance so your child doesn’t feel left out.
- Keep an eye on symptoms. Tummy ache, diarrhoea, tiredness or irritability may appear some time later. Jotting down what your child has eaten makes it easier to find the cause.
After the holiday
Tell us about your experience. Feedback on how the children’s buffet and kids’ club handled things is especially valuable: it feeds directly into our inspections and helps other families choose well.
For a coeliac child, a good holiday is one where they can play without worrying about food.
