Guide · Health and safety
Family health and safety in Thailand
The main risks for children in Thailand are everyday ones: heat and sun, stomach bugs from water or food, dengue from daytime mosquito bites, swimming in rough sea, traffic, and bites from dogs and monkeys. Each has a simple routine, and the emergency number for an ambulance is 1669.
Updated · Health advice from the CDC and WHO; numbers from the Thai government
How do you protect children from the heat?
Plan outdoor sightseeing for the early morning and late afternoon, and keep the middle of the day for shade, pools and air-conditioning. The hot season, mid-February to mid-May, is the hardest; even in the cool season the midday sun is strong.
- Wide-brimmed hats, rash guards for swimming, and sunscreen reapplied after every swim.
- A water bottle for each child, refilled from bottled or filtered water.
- Watch for early signs of heat exhaustion: unusual tiredness, headache, flushed skin, fewer toilet trips or wet diapers. Move to the shade, cool down and give fluids.
- Never leave a child in a parked car.
Is the water and food safe for kids?
The CDC advises travelers not to drink tap water in Thailand; use bottled or filtered water, including for formula and toothbrushing. Freshly cooked, hot food is generally the safest choice, and fruit you peel yourself is a good snack.
- Wash or sanitize hands before eating, especially after zoos, markets and boat rides.
- Carry oral rehydration salts, which pharmacies sell, for diarrhea or vomiting.
- See a doctor if a child cannot keep fluids down, has a high fever or blood in the stool, or shows signs of dehydration.
- Ask for food "mai phet" (not spicy) for young children.
How serious is dengue for children, and how do you avoid it?
Dengue is present throughout Thailand all year, with a peak in the rainy season, roughly May to October, so it deserves real attention. The mosquitoes that spread it bite during the day, which means repellent at breakfast matters as much as a net at night. In 2026 the Department of Disease Control counted 21,620 cases and 31 deaths up to 19 August, below 2025 but still rising in August.
- Repellent suited to each child's age, reapplied as the label says.
- Light long sleeves and trousers at dawn and dusk, near water and in gardens.
- Air-conditioned or screened rooms, and nets over cots and strollers.
- Any fever during or after the trip: see a doctor and mention where you traveled.
There is no US-licensed dengue vaccine for travelers, and UK guidance offers the vaccine only to people aged 4 and over who have had dengue before. Malaria tablets are recommended only for rural, forested border areas, not for Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket.
Are Thai beaches safe for children to swim?
Often, yes, but the sea changes with the season. The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) is at its wettest from May to October, and the southern Gulf around Koh Samui from about October to December; those are the months when waves and currents are most likely to keep children out of the water.
- Swim where there are flags and lifeguards, and stay out when a red flag is flying.
- Keep an adult within arm's reach of non-swimmers, in the sea and in hotel pools.
- Teach older children that if a current pulls them out, they should swim parallel to the shore, not against it.
- On long-tail boats, speedboats and ferries, ask for children's life jackets before you leave; at waterfalls such as Erawan, keep life jackets on in the pools.
How do you stay safe on Thai roads with kids?
Traffic is the risk parents most often underestimate. Thailand drives on the left, and crossing roads with children needs more care than at home.
- Seatbelts in every seat. The Land Traffic Act requires them for the driver and every passenger, front and back.
- Child seats. Required for children aged 6 or under in private cars. Taxis are exempt, so request a seat when you pre-book a transfer (see taxis with car seats) or bring your own.
- No motorbikes with small children. Do not carry young children on a motorbike or scooter, and skip motorbike taxis with kids.
- Tuk-tuks and songthaews have no seatbelts: short, slow rides only, holding small children securely.
- Walking: hold hands at crossings and do not assume vehicles will stop at a zebra crossing.
The full rules, including exemptions and fines, are in our Thailand car seat law guide.
What should you do if a dog or monkey bites or scratches your child?
Wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, then see a doctor the same day, even for a small scratch. That is the World Health Organization's first-aid advice for any possible rabies exposure; the doctor will decide whether your child needs a course of rabies vaccine and, sometimes, immunoglobulin.
WHO notes that dog bites and scratches cause 99% of human rabies cases and that children aged 5 to 14 are frequent victims, because they approach animals and may not report a scratch. The CDC recommends considering rabies vaccination before the trip depending on your activities.
- Do not pet or feed street dogs, temple dogs or cats, however friendly they look.
- Do not feed monkeys or carry food or plastic bags openly where they gather.
- Do not let children run up to animals at temples, beaches or viewpoints.
Where do you take a sick child in Thailand?
In an emergency, call 1669. For other problems, private hospitals in Bangkok and the main tourist areas are used to foreign patients; Bumrungrad International, Samitivej and Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok are well-known examples, not endorsements. Private care is expensive, so carry proof of insurance.
- Buy travel insurance that names every child and covers hospital care and medical evacuation.
- Save the insurer's emergency number, your hotel's address in Thai and your passports' photo pages on your phone.
- Bring your children's regular medicines with dosing notes; brands and strengths differ in Thai pharmacies.
| Number | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1669 | Medical emergency and ambulance | Nationwide |
| 191 | Police emergency | Nationwide |
| 1155 | Tourist Police | 24 hours, for emergencies |
| 199 | Fire and rescue | Nationwide |
| 1672 | TAT tourist information | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 0 2134 4077 | Tourist Assistance Center | 24 hours, at Suvarnabhumi |
Which vaccines do children need for Thailand?
See your doctor or a travel clinic well before the trip. The CDC's list for Thailand:
| Vaccine | Who |
|---|---|
| Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR) | Everyone; a global measles notice is in place |
| Hepatitis A | Unvaccinated travelers aged 1 and over |
| Typhoid | Most travelers |
| Hepatitis B | Unvaccinated travelers under 60 |
| Japanese encephalitis | Stays of a month or more, or rural exposure |
| Rabies | Depending on activities, such as contact with animals |
| Yellow fever certificate | Only if arriving from, or transiting over 12 hours in, a country with yellow fever; from 9 months of age |
If yellow fever applies to you, declare the countries you visited in the last 14 days on the Thailand Digital Arrival Card and upload the certificate if asked; the vaccine is not recommended for Thailand itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thailand safe for a family holiday with kids?
Yes, for most families, with a few routines: shade and fluids in the heat, bottled or filtered water, repellent against daytime mosquitoes, care in the sea and on the roads, and no touching stray animals. Travel insurance and the number 1669 cover the rest.
Can children drink tap water in Thailand?
No. The CDC advises all travelers to drink bottled or filtered water in Thailand. Use it for formula, bottles and toothbrushing too.
What should I do if a monkey scratches my child?
Wash the scratch with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, then see a doctor the same day, even if it looks minor. The doctor decides whether rabies vaccination is needed, following WHO guidance.
Is dengue dangerous for children?
It can be serious, which is why prevention matters. Dengue occurs all year in Thailand and peaks in the rainy season; the Department of Disease Control counted 31 deaths among 21,620 cases in 2026 up to 19 August. Protect children from daytime bites and see a doctor for any fever.
What number do I call for an ambulance in Thailand?
Call 1669 for a medical emergency or ambulance. For police call 191, and the Tourist Police on 1155 help visitors 24 hours a day.
Do kids need any special vaccines for Thailand?
Most need only their routine vaccines plus hepatitis A (from age 1) and, for most travelers, typhoid, according to the CDC. Japanese encephalitis and rabies depend on the length of stay and activities; ask a travel clinic well before you go.
Planning the trip itself? See the best time to visit and Thailand with a baby.
Sources
- Travelers' Health: Thailand — CDC, checked 27 Sep 2026
- CDC Yellow Book 2026: Thailand — CDC, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Rabies fact sheet — World Health Organization, 17 Sep 2026, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Dengue cases and deaths in 2026, citing the Department of Disease Control — The Thaiger, 26 Aug 2026, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Thailand's tourist assistance contact numbers — Government Public Relations Department, 25 Nov 2025, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Useful contact numbers in Thailand — Embassy of Singapore in Bangkok, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Announcement on yellow fever vaccination requirement — Royal Thai Embassy, Buenos Aires, 6 Aug 2025, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Amended Land Traffic Act s.123 (seatbelts and child seats) — The Standard (Thai), checked 27 Sep 2026