[shien]

Hi, I'm seeking encouragement, advice, tales and tips from anyone who may have experienced India with a toddler in tow. I've travelled pretty extensively through the country over the years with my trusty backpack and no agenda but this year I'm bringing my partner and little boy along for the ride.

The problem is that no one seems to have done it or no one will admit to it for fear of having the wrath of society (minority society) fall on their sorry e-heads. I quote from a book I'm reading, "So you want to take a toddler on holiday? Get someone to lash you to a chair until the feeling passes." Gave me a giggle, but I know what other people think and fear and now I just would love some nutritious advice.

We're thinking six weeks in September- October. Staying in the northwest states to keep travel to a minimum. Maybe just three destinations where we can get into the swing of life before moving on - Haridwar, McLeod Ganj and Pushkar???? Flying in and out of Delhi.

Our boy will be 19 months old. Tips on food, (besides not consuming water, unwashed fruit, cow dung, paan spittle...obvious ones), nappies (thinking cloth and washing?), sleeping tips (should we bring a light travel cot?) and loads of questions I haven't even considered yet. I guess I'm most worried about health and safety. Love to hear any thoughts y'all may have.

[Judi]

Being child-free, I can' answer this - but I'm sure there will be someone out there who can!

[Strawberry_Blonde]

I don't have kids either but I would say go for it!! I have many friends here who have either actually had their babies in hospitals here or have bought them out here and cope fine so I can't see it would be a massive problem. I guess its slightly different for them in the fact a lot of them are permanantly based rather than travelling around other than the odd weekend here and there.
In the local supermarkets here (Bangalore) there are tonnes of baby products, foods, nappies the full Johnson & Johnson range so I don't think that would be a huge issue and there are also a load of toys, cots, clothes shops etc for babies. Maybe someone else can reply on the shops etc they know of in the areas you are going to.

The main drawback I can see if the probably difficulties navigating pushchairs/prams etc across the land! So you might want to condsider the fact you might have to carry him + suitcase wherever you venture!

HTH
SB

[BlueRose]

Firstly, I would talk to your Pediatrician and see what he or she advises.  All the rest is secondary to that.

[Seventies'Neil]

Not me but, more & more people seem to be taking young children on their travels, And why not,,,,,,,,,!
A little forward planning will be fine, apart from the medical side of things, perhaps one of those backtype frames for carrying him in occasionally would be useful, and a favourite teddy or two.Indian people just love kids & he'll break the ice & make you welcome wherever you go.
Don't know about a travelcot! though some kind of sleeping back would be good. as you're only basing yourself in a few places you'll soon get to know the local eateries, stores who'll serve your needs.

I hope someone here who has done this will reply too, as anything I've ever read elsewhere has been positive. I'm sure the negative views are from people who wouldn't even go to India themselves,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[choledochus]

hi
Is it going to be difficult ? YES
Will it be scary ? YES
Should you go ahead and do it ? YES


The problems you are scared of are probably -

1) Infectious disease - At 19 months your child would have recieved most of the basic immunisation shots, and so should be protected against the common bacterial and viral diseases. Talk to your Pediatrician about the specific shots for Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Chicken pox... its controversial at  what age these can be first given so you need to have a long discussion with the Ped to see the risks vs benefits.
    Mosquito bite prevention is a must and I am sure you know of all the means to prevent this.
Also, if you can finalise your destinations, I will be able to tell you the best hospitals and Pediatricians in that area for any emergencies.
     You need to remember that children are actually very hardy and tough and fight disease and infections much better than most adults.
    So keep cool.

2) Weather - Its not going to be very hot during your planned trip, so thats a major plus point. Dehydration is still possible on long train / bus journeys if thats what youre planning. If so, plenty of liquids with electrolytes will counter that problem.
3) Food and water - I am sure you have read and researched enough on this issue.If you have anyspecific query about this I would be glad to answer.
Some basic rules--- Always Bottled water (BISLERI, AQUAFINA, KINLEY brands), VEG FOOD better than NON VEG as a general rule...Lots of baby food and supplement available in all supermarkets in Major cities, so be prepared.
4) Travel - Plan early, book early - if travelling by train opt for 3AC or 2AC, they are very comfortable and kid can move around... Buses are not a very good option with a small child. Flights should not be a problem.
5) The nappy question - For this I have taken my wifes input and she feels you need to go with Pampers / Snuggy / Huggy etc in the day time and cloth at night... I confess I am at a loss when it comes to these matters... still thats what we did with our kid when we travellled and ...not a bit of nappy rash ...
6) other unnamed fears ??? - identify the fear and name it and post it here....hopefully we will solve it for you  

   When we travelled , we were just as scared as you, our kid was 9 months old and we even carried a portable gas stove and cooked all her food and boiled water etc ourselves.. and it was a real pain... the next time we did not do that ,Kid was 18 months old and we had a perfectly good holiday and nothing untoward happened...

Take care
Have a nice holiday

[Judi]

One of the things that impressed me most in India ( actually, I noticed it on the plane before we even got there) was the Indians seem to adore children.

I never saw a child being shouted at or smacked - and people seemed to go out of their way to be kind and pleasant to them.  OK, some of you will say that is a huge generalisation, and of course, it is - but that was my experience.

I feel certain that with such an attitude from a society in general, any practical problems travelling with a small child will be overcome  

[Sudheer Poppa]

Excellant points Choledocus...

I would go on to add that you should try to bring in as much as the fav baby food your toddler likes to have. Incase of infections or indigestion, you can always fall back on the known. In addition to water try to give a heathly mix of fruits and juices.

Within cities, suggest you to avoid public transport and rely more on Autos and Taxi's. Make sure the long jornery's are comfortable and he gets adequate sleep.

And be completely at ease to knock the door of any Indian family and ask for help. They would 9 out of 10 times, go out of their way to help you out in any situation.

I used to take my daughter while travelling a fair deal. But then, slowly realised that she hardly enjoys the journeys and I am getting her to go through the trouble because I enjoy the trip. So these days, I dont really travel taking her anymore unless it is somewhere she wants to go.

[priya]

Quote

And be completely at ease to knock the door of any Indian family and ask for help. They would 9 out of 10 times, go out of their way to help you out in any situation.

Sudheer is right when he states that most Indian families would be delighted to help out with a toddler if the need arose.  Babies are also a great conversation starter and a good way to interact with the people.  You've been given some good advice here.....take it all in and enjoy your trip!!!  

Just my 2¢ worth - push-chairs aren't a good idea because of road/pavement conditions.  A baby carrier will be a much better option for you.

[Somerset]

We've been bringing our children to India since the youngest was one year old. In fact, one trip was made when both children were in diapers. Not easy, but certainly do-able. In those days, our bags were loaded with disposable diapers, wet wipes, and baby food. As mentioned above, baby items are much more readily available at local supermarkets and the trip should not be too bad as long as you are careful. Use common sense about sanitation and eating, and be prepared for delays while traveling. Plan ahead for all trips within the country. For inspiration, check out Dervla Murphy's "On a shoestring to Coorg."

[Seventies'Neil]

Judi, on May 16 2006, 08:58 AM, said:

.I never saw a child being shouted at or smacked - and people seemed to go out of their way to be kind and pleasant to them.  OK, some of you will say that is a huge generalisation, and of course, it is - but that was my experience.

0

Indian babies don't seem to cry for nothing/attention like western babies, or so it seems,,,,,,,,,,

[Somerset]

Seventies, on May 16 2006, 06:22 PM, said:

Indian babies don't seem to cry for nothing/attention like western babies, or so it seems,,,,,,,,,,

I've just spent two consecutive weekends with different babies of Indian origin, and wished you were right about them. Maybe being born in the US to Indian parents is the exception.

[shien]

Thank you all so much for your replies! I'm smiling and feel very heartened by all the well-wishes! Very glad I stumbled upon this website.

We won't take a stroller with us but a couple of slings and cloth backpack-style carrier for getting around. Miro's walking and when we're not in a hurry or in a dangerous place, I'd love to let him get around for himself. From memory, the streets in McLeod Ganj and Pushkar will be fine for this. Does anyone have thoughts to the contrary?

I've been to our doctor and Miro's shots are up to date and I have a prescription for Hep A shots once we confirm our trip. Has anyone heard of any negatives to immunising young children for hep A (side effects etc?) Is Hep A common in India?

We'll be travelling in Sep/Oct, and I'm wondering how busy the rail system gets around that time. Is is okay to book once we arrive somewhere for the next destination or should I be more organised than that?

Choledochus, thanks so much for your tips! Would love to get your list of hospitals and paediatricians when we finalise our itinerary, I can send you a PM with my email address!

Finally, it's true about how beautiful people in India are with their children! I think it will be a wonderful experience for us as parents, for the people we meet and most of all, for Miro to learn about the world!

I'm sure to have more questions as the preparation continues so will keep you all posted.  

[Hyderabadi]

Somerset, on May 16 2006, 02:28 PM, said:

I've just spent two consecutive weekends with different babies of Indian origin, and wished you were right about them. Maybe being born in the US to Indian parents is the exception.

It does make a difference. Both our boys were born in India, came here when they were 9 and 7 years old, and there are plenty of Desis around here whose reactions when they meet them range between 'Wah!What wonderful quiet kids you have! ' to 'Kya,Are they retarded? !'

  

[choledochus]

shien, on May 17 2006, 07:32 AM, said:

Thank you all so much for your replies! I'm smiling and feel very heartened by all the well-wishes! Very glad I stumbled upon this website.

We won't take a stroller with us but a couple of slings and cloth backpack-style carrier for getting around. Miro's walking and when we're not in a hurry or in a dangerous place, I'd love to let him get around for himself. From memory, the streets in McLeod Ganj and Pushkar will be fine for this. Does anyone have thoughts to the contrary?

I've been to our doctor and Miro's shots are up to date and I have a prescription for Hep A shots once we confirm our trip. Has anyone heard of any negatives to immunising young children for hep A (side effects etc?) Is Hep A common in India?

We'll be travelling in Sep/Oct, and I'm wondering how busy the rail system gets around that time. Is is okay to book once we arrive somewhere for the next destination or should I be more organised than that?

Choledochus, thanks so much for your tips! Would love to get your list of hospitals and paediatricians when we finalise our itinerary, I can send you a PM with my email address!

Finally, it's true about how beautiful people in India are with their children! I think it will be a wonderful experience for us as parents, for the people we meet and most of all, for Miro to learn about the world!

I'm sure to have more questions as the preparation continues so will keep you all posted.  

hi,
Hep A vaccine is very safe and I have not heard any bad eports about it other than the odd anecdotal incident... so dont worry. Has he got H.influenzae shots?
I will definitely get you a list of hospitals and doctors. You can PM me with the details once confirmed.
Hope you and esp Miro have a good time in India...and if you plan to visit the South...well...drop in and meet my family
bye

[WonderWomanUSA]

Judi, on May 16 2006, 12:58 AM, said:

I never saw a child being shouted at or smacked - and people seemed to go out of their way to be kind and pleasant to them.  OK, some of you will say that is a huge generalisation, and of course, it is - but that was my experience.

I have seen a few unpleasant things when hyperactive children would just NOT sit still. One man grabbed his son's face and pulled and pulled the skin out to the side; it obviously hurt a great deal, and the kid had red marks for hours. Another packed up all the child's toys and made him sit in the corner of the car, on the floor, for an hour. It was very distressing.

[edwardseco]

The number one thing to be concerned about is dehydration and I carried those special fluids with me. Dysentary is not just a nuissance for infants but a quick killer. Later, my boy did indeed contract baccillary and had to be hospitalized. Fortunately, we had good connections into the medical scene. When you use the term motherland I presume you are from India. The cost/benefit ratio favors taking an infant in my opinion in that case. People will faint at this line from me. However, this is a different case from some dippy tourist dragging their brat along so the parents fun won't be interrupted. Its important in the Indian context to make the family connection. This has been a huge value to my son and still continues to provide a strong emotional connection today. On the other hand, there is some definite risk. I had a friend whose child did die at about 20 months doing so. It haunted me when I saw my son on an IV in an Indian hospital. My wife said she first saw gray hair on me after that. But, last trip out no illnesses!!