HELP! Travelling with baby

raos

For those people who have travelled with kids, is it worth taking the car-seat on the plane? We are leaving Sunday evening with our two year old from Boston-Delhi. I'm of the opinion that the car seat is not worth the trouble because it is unlikely that our son will sleep in it. Pl share your experiences.

skell

If you do decide to take your carseat, just be sure that it's airline approved. It might be nice to have if you are doing a lot of driving in India.

Mainly, take lots of snacks and entertainment!

Bryan

Another travelling family ...Yeah!
Leave the car seat
We took our son for the first time when he was 2 flight was 12 hours with connections
No problems
if its a jumbo use all your wits and resources to get in the upstairs
PAI (Pakistan airlines) put us up there and it was absolutly amazing...cool quiet and comfortable...the wee man slept most of the way...
Make sure your kid drinks lots of water on the flight...take the fav teddy take some toys and some books or whatever your kid loves

If you want anymore info on travelling in India with a kid just ask
we've done two trips with our son now one was 6 weeks and the last when he was 4 -5 was for 6 months

I'd be glad to help in any way I can

Bryan

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raos

Thanks for all the advice, it's very helpful (we've decided not to take the seat) Next question I guess is whether to take a stroller? We weren't planning to.

SitaParityaga

probably more of a pain than its worth. I don't know if I've seen a stroller there....has anyone else? May-be it works and is just off my radar.

edwardseco

Having been there on this you are in an interesting position. If the creaky brain cells are correct under 2 qualify for free if on the mother's lap. Be sure to let the airline know the score in advance. They will tend to give you a bulkhead seat and at least on BA a bassinet that locks on the wall, wonderbar. Over 2 and its a pain as you have to buy the extra seat with slight discount. A child seat does add safety and it can be carried on in place of a carryon. I am ashamed to say I checked mine in instead. Its very useful if you are going to use cars with seat belts where you go. None of the cars I have ridden in in India had that. Cheers,

SydneyKate

Just wanted to agree with Edward, no car I have been in in India seemed to have seatbelts, so the child would probably sit on your lap anyway. Also I don't think a toddler would fit into one of the airline bassinette/cot thingies, I remember trying to shoehorn my 9 month old son into on, his legs and arms just dangled over the sides, they really are for tiny babies. Once my kids reached around 18 months their bottoms never hit the seats anyway, they just raced tirelessly around the plane for hour after hour or crawled under rows of seats eating dropped bits of food.. For takeoff & landing they make the toddlers sit on yr lap and give you an extension strap. Have fun in India!

ikimasho

a lot of the roads are badly paved/unpaved covered in sledge....do you have a 4x4 stroller?? with monster truck wheels?? hee hee!

I JUST REMEMBER STUMBLING BADLY OVER MANY A JUTTING ROCK....IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT.....

GOOD ON YOU FOR TAKING THE WEE ONE!! HAVE A GREAT TIME!

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edwardseco

Yes, strollers are useless in India but what is very usefull is a backpack carrier. Many people commented positively on that who would not normally talk to men. Another part of it might be seeing a man take that kind of responsibility. When they start hitting near 40 pounds though, no way! The blighters just keep growing..

eileen

I use a stroller in Delhi, but I have learned where I can take it and where I cannot. I took my son to a local market in our stoller once, when a car came within 1 inch of his our-streached hand, it was the end of that trip. We love out baby carriers! They also have the advantage of making it difficult for strangers to pick up your child (which is an every day happening). Be ready for the pinching of those little cheeks and the offering of candy. All of it is done in kindness, but it is very intrusive and can be frustrating. I knew a Westerner who acctually taught her 2 year old to say "no touch" to those that approached, and was then shocked when people did not listen. My son's doc assures us that it is not the health risk it looks like. Have a great trip!

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steven_ber

Absolutely agree, in our 2 weeks (with a 7-month old) we eventually lost our cool and had a full day where we refused to let anyone touch her, hold her or photograph her.

Everyone means well, but there are times when it can take 10 minutes to pass through one train carriage or walk a short distance.

We eventually lost our cool when our baby was sleeping and people wanted to wake her up, as any parent knows, you just don't wake a baby up when they want to sleep, there will always be a price to pay.

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