help--I'm taking the kids this time!

murphyd

Hi everyone

I am getting ready ready for a 3 month trip starting in mid-november; but this time my 6 year old daughter and 21 month old son are coming - as well as my wife!
we have budget travelled a few times before--- last time was just over six years ago --the result was a daughter...!

does anyone have any experience of travelling with children this age and any thoughts bout some extra useful items for chil dren
(i'm getting help writing this from my daughter )

we are'nt going to be moving around all the time and hope to have base somewhere.

also any thoughts about innoculations would be great. I think we are all going to have all the jabs..

Thanks

sadhuji

with children around, it is essential that you carry some medicines (for headache, sprains, cough/cold, indigestion etc.), disinfectants, ready made medicated bandages and other such items.

getgopi1

'tis a good thing you are going in November If you had gone in the hotter months, your kids will most likely start to complain about the heat and dust...atleast that is what the kids (born and brought up here in the US) of one of my Indian friends here did when he and his wife finally took them to India for the first time.

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usha

Hi Where all are u planning to visit\stay?. If u need any help in the southern most part of india let me know. I belong to 'The God's Own country', Kerala.

One adivce is that never drink or give kids the water which are NOT in a sealed bottle with ISI mark.

usha

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murphyd

thanks for kind replies,
yes its not by chance we're going in November!! I think the children should be able to cope wth the heat around this time.

Usha, we are thinking of staying around Cochin for a while, we hope to rent a house from the beginning of December - hopefully with a garden and not far from the beach etcetc, is this in your area of speciality?

thanks for the advice about medicines, i have made up a kit that should cover most eventualities,, except i cant find antibiotic powder (which I found very useful in the hot weather last time i was there) I know i will be able to get it in India tho.

thanks again all
david

usha

Sorry david ,

I stay in Trivandrum. Well U r welcome here . If u want i can find out the details for u about kochi. From when u require a house in kochi? for how long? let me know.
usha

murphyd

hi Usha,

we are ging to be there at the beginning of Demeber, for amnth and a half to two moths.

Prehaps it would be best if i get back in touch when we get to India.we will have a better idea whats up then,

thanks so much for your interest

david

SydneyKate

I have 2 kids currently aged 10 and 13 and we have travelled extensively with them since they were babies. I have to say you will find it hard work with a toddler unless you establish a base and some kind of routine. Our "worst" trip was when our son was about 16 months and daughter 3, we backpacked on trains around Japan. They (the kids) would wake around 5am each day and we would have to take them outside so as to not wake up everyone else where we were staying. As we didn't have a home base there was nowhere to spend the afternoon when the kids needed to nap, hence they were exhausted and grumpy...When we found an inn for the night the kids thought it great fun to poke their fingers through the paper walls of the room... And now of course neither of them remembers a thing about this educational trip!! Actually one good thing was that they were too young to have food fads and I remember them cheerfully hoeing into raw horse and pickled grasshoppers. The next few years we just packed buckets & spades and headed an hour up the coast here, much more relaxing! Don't want to put you off, just make sure you have a base and if possible find a pool (most big hotels allow visitors for a fee) where the kids can have a little fun each day. Make sure you have all the innoculations, you don't need too many medicines apart from the usual paracetamol, something for itchy mozzie bites, sunscreen, antiseptic cream. Hope I have not been too negative, go and have a great time!

murphyd

hi Sydney Kate,

great to hear from you , i was beginning to wonder if any one else had taken the kids with them. glad to hear you had some positive xperiences amongst the tricky bits. A base is our main plan, a nice walled garden preferably maybe 10 -15 mins from the beach ( i mean closer would be great but i'm trying to stay realisic on that). U at 5.30 is the norm at the moment and is a tad wearing but at least it will be sunny there.
our nippers seem at bit food shy so i'm not sure what their diet is going to be .bananas bananas bananas i expect.
anyway we're going on Sunday week and am getting pretty darn excited

all the best

sudheer poppa

As you are planning to set up a base, it may be a good idea to hire a house maid. Make sure it is someone trustable even if a lil towards the expensive side. Thats shall help out a good deal.

Moving from place to place is buses would be difficult as kids tend to feel bored sooner. So you may need to carry enough things to keep their attention fixed. If the little one is still on baby food, then you may need loads of them packed up before coming to India.

Dont bother with packing too many clothes, you can buy good quality moderatly priced ones in most of the cities/towns in India. Same applies to nappies and other essentials.

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murphyd

thanks Sudheer,

the youngest is on solids / nrmal food.
Do you know what Indian children eat , I mean i suppose it the same as the adults but maybe the spicier stuff may a little much for youngters.
also i m glad you mention nappies, what is the dispoal like for nappies. we try to use the more enviromentally friendly ones but im interested to know if Pampers are a common sight in the shops. ..I was 'nt looking in that aisle last time I was there!!

if you have any thoughts I'd be glad to hear them -- i will know myself in a week but forwarned is forarmed or fornappied ,
many thanks

mpr732

We'll be going to India for the first time with our 16-month old daughter. We're leaving on Friday and she can't walk or speak yet and we are worried about her getting ill there. We'll be in Mumbai and Ahmedabad for about 6 months. We've been there many times, but never with a child. Does anyone know of any good pediatricians, in case she gets sick? Also, do you recommend malaria pills for her? Are diapers and baby food available there? Any suggestions, comments, or recommendations, please email me.