Anyone gone to India with a baby - tips re health and safety

madamdarkin

We are traveling to India for about 3.5 months (July-Oct).

Our daughter will be 9 months when we start our journey. I've picked up some great tips on here (thank you everyone!) but thought it would be good to start a thread where other people can share experiences/advice.

Most concerns are:

* Milk Feeding: Even though I still mostly breastfeed, she does have the occasional bottle. If I use water purification tablets and then boil it afterwards for 20-30 minutes - is that over cautious? I will carry sterilizing tablets with me to clean bottles, teats, breastpump etc and also give them a good boil.

* Solids feeding: I make all my own babyfood (i.e. no jars) so she is used to non-commercial babyfood. She loves dal (with a bit of masala, yes now already just like her mum!) so i presume it would be ok getting boiled veggies and dal for her. What else do you suggest for feeding a baby foodwise? She enjoys youghurt but I am not sure re the safety issues in this regard?

* Nappies/Diapers: I am planning on taking some re-usables along for when we don't have disposables at hand. I believe Indian nappy sizes don't go very large and my baby is quiet big as is (at 7 months she fits into 12 months clothes)...

* General Hygiene: Will carry with at all times disinfectnant wipes (Milton ones are fab!)

* Mosquitos: I am very reluctant to give her anti-malarials. Any experiences with babies on anti-malarials? I know we must be super vigilaint against ANY bites as malaria is not the only concern!

I have spent a fair bit of time in India during my single,childfree days - so although I know what to expect re India, I am well aware that travelling with a baby opens an entire new set of concerns and issues.

If anyone has experiences, I am looking forward to hearing them!

Cheers and Happy Travels!!
Nicola

gaurav1441

You are un-necessary worried. India itself produces a lot more babies than any other country which imply that all critical things which a baby requires are easy available including medical help/nutrition etc etc

Saulteaux_woman

I agree, my son was born March 11th and he's been doing great. You can get everything here, my mom brought a ton of things from Canada, but all the same items were sold here for much cheaper! Just make sure your baby has all his/her shots and all will be well!

Nick-H

I think that a little worry is in order.

It is too easy to say how many Indian babies survive, one would have to point out that some don't. The little ones here also have immune systems that are already tuned to the minor bugs around them, and bodies that are tuned to the climate.

I am not a parent (only a step-grandparent of a native Indian babe!) but I would certainly take great care about any water or water-mixed milk. Obviously, breastfeading is the way to make sure that the fluids your baby gets are really safe for her.

If were to find myself in the unlikely situation (my wife and I are 50+) of touring with a baby, I think I would invest in one of the water-purifying devices with a filter. I'd start with bottled water, filter it --- and maybe boil it as well! Obviously, the usual sterilisation of utensils is required.

But nine months is not nine weeks, and maybe your little one is already strong enough to make my suggestions over-the-top.

As to Malaria: This really depends on what part of India you wil be visiting. My favourite reference on the subject is published by the British Health Authority, and can be downloaded from here. Please note that you have to see their site for updates to the risk areas, eg Goa is rated higher-risk than when the bookelt was published. Yes, there are anti-malarials that are safe for infants, but see the book, talk to a doctor, and then make up your own mind!

A major danger for very small people visiting India is dehydration, which can happen very quickly in babies, but I see you are coming from a place that is at least as hot as it is here, so I guess you know all about this one already.

EDIT: seeing one of your other threads, and noticing that Goa is on your itinerary, I think you should take the malaria risk seriously. I would take anti-malarials if I visited Goa.

madamdarkin

Thank you!! Yes, I am aware Goa is of higher risk than the other places we are going, so possibly I will giver her malaria meds just prior to and during the stay in goa. Still doing my research on that issue and am going to be speaking to our Dr here in Dubai plus the travel clinic in the UK....plus a homeopath to get some immune building med for her

Thanks again!!

Nick-H

I'm quite keen on homeopathy, but, although I've actually been prescribed anti-malarials by a professional homeopath in UK in the past, it is worth noting that the London Homeopathic Hospital has stated that they should not be used!

(I know you didn't say you would, but just thought I'd mention it anyway).

edwardseco

Wise policy in my opinion. Mine was a mosquito magnet. A net is great.


A little one sided given a fairly feirce infant mortality rate.

Actually, I think you have done pretty well in planning things out. My inlaws had the house floor wiped down twice a day with Dettol when we brought the shona baba as an infant (he istill the only male child in that branch of the family). He took his first steps there in the middle of the family. There is some risk regardless. I attended 2 funerals for infants over the years. However, I felt the connections to his relatives were worth the risk. All but his last trip he had some illness which creates some anxiety. But, he got by well with only one serious problem. I don't know any anti-malarial at that age so I think its trust in God & put up a net. The big advantage in India is that you can hire the best doctors (plural) and that really helps.

Tips:

Consider limiting the travel around or making it more relaxed.

One problem I did have at that age was the little one putting anything into its mouth and well meaning idiots putting such as well. Pay attention.

Cheers..


Just a note Indians love children so this will instantly make you the center ao attention. Its great fun. I used a backpack carrier that was widely admired..

machadinha

Neither a parent nor a medic, but:

I know no better than that boiling as such should sterilize it already. Ten minutes or so, little longer at higher altitudes; but don't quote me on the exact time, this is easy to find out about in e.g. travel guidebooks, medical manuals, or on the web no doubt. (Carrying some booklet on tropical health for children, and one for adults while you're at it, I'd certainly recommend.)

The only issue I can think of is if say you were trekking & you might run into water sources (wells, brooks, etc.) that may contain solid (not necessarily visible) contaminants. There exist filters to take those out (after which the water still needs to be filtered for germs and viruses and whatnot). These may or may not be called membrane filters, I forget. It's really not pertinent unless you're likely to make use of such water sources.

Other than that, to carry a (adequate, take good note what all it filters out -- and how it works, some are based on iodine, you'd want to check if that's OK for your baby) water filter as suggested by Nick would certainly give me some peace of mind.

You'll commonly run into pre-packaged dahi (yoghurt), I'd assume this were safe. With a baby, I'd probably pay some more attention as to where to get it, of course. As long as it's sealed, I don't think yoghurt goes off all that easily though.

Something I never noticed before, or it wasn't as common, is badam milk (almond milk), delicious & presumably healthy, widely available in bottled & normally cooled form. I've once had it boiled on a train (sold from what would otherwise be a chai container).

On that note, another thing I finally discovered is if someone's mysteriously churning a huge pan of some white stuff outside an eatery, it's not (necessarily) sweets they're making, but milk they're heating. It's nice and sweet (and cooling precisely because it's hot), and since it's boiled I'd say it ought to be safe again. Well, with a baby -- I don't know. Milk in Hindi is called dudh btw, pronounced "doodh."

There are areas where in restaurants you'll get your water boiled btw -- you could ask for this. It's an acquired taste (can't say I like it, one can let it cool off of course); they say though it cools you down again, after a hot meal too.

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

madamdarkin

Thanks everyone - this is great!

We live in Dubai, and everywhere we go the local/Arabic people stop to pinch Maia's cheeks! I know that in India we will get even more attention.

I see the trip as a project with a challenge included. My point is that yes there are risks, but its about identifying them and minimizing such risks accordingly. Its incredible how many people are so judgemental and make statements like " I would never ever do that with a baby...."

steven_ber

I've said that once, though we were discussing Juggling at the time.

BTW. if any members are waiting for me to contribute to this thread, you'll have a long wait, I've had PM contact with madamdarkin before this thread started, and I've nothing to add, she seems to have her head screwed on, and that's more than can be said for me most of the time.

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.


Train information.


RAC & Waitlists explained.

edwardseco

Well, consider that its a general statement and that there are a lot of people that are far, far less prepared and thoughtful than you are. We have seen some real doozies at times. So maybe one has to consider an average..


I'll add one more grammar error on top of my 3 previous typos..

madamdarkin

Thank you, Steven and Edwardseco.

Steven - that's a great compliment - means alot to me

namaste_cat

Nicola, I've traveled with my children (now 17 and 15) many times incl when they were babies. India is challenging even without worrying about kids, but with kids in tow, multiply that many times. On the plus side, both my children have never had a problem there (they were born in the U.S. and raised here) mostly because when it comes to my kids, I am quite prepared to be rude and raise my voice saying 'don't do this" or "don't touch him/her". One just has to be.

My biggest issue was lack of proper car seats, and keeping an eagle eye out for what well-meaning people did to my kids e.g. stuff food in their faces, pinch their cheeks really hard, wanting to rub kajal on their eyes, put oil on their hair etc.

I finally learned and bought a Mardi Gras mask with a handle, so as soon as someone made a move toward my kid, I'd loosely lay the mask over the face. They finally got the message I was serious about no touching. I'm talking about something like this, only mine of course were cat masks

When they were infants it was easier because I could shield them with my own body but as they got older and were walking, plus with 2 children, it got harder. Had to teach my kids before we left so they were prepared for all the questions, touching, etc. They still hate that part of their visits to India but they've gotten used to it now.

I always took a homeopathy travel kit with me, still do. For my kids, I use this:
http://www.herbalremedies.com/nathernatmos.html
Perhaps there is a similar product you can find locally. Another one I like is Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent in spray form. Really works.

Since your little one is still young, that has both pluses and minuses, but all in all, sounds like you have a handle on things. Good thing you've visisted before, so you have an idea what to expect and what not to expect too! Hope you and your child have a wonderful trip.

madamdarkin

Thanks Kitty! That mozzie spray sounds great, am checking online now to see if I can find it anywhere in the UK