Rural stay (with toddler) near Coimbatore this summer - thoughts or advice?

JillC

My husband, 19-month-old daughter (Meg), and I will be living in a rural village (called Chavadipudur) about an hour from Coimbatore from about May 1 to July 1. After our stay in Chavadipudur, we'll be traveling northward for six weeks visiting various religious sites, then flying out from Delhi on August 18. We will be going with a group of 6 other students and will be living with a host family (during the stay in the village). I wanted to just sort of lay out our plans, thoughts, and questions, and see if anyone had any ideas or advice.

First, we know it will be extraordinarily hot and humid. We aren't expecting a tropical vacation, and are prepared to deal with the weather.

We are planning to take:
A large Berkey water filter so we'll always have plenty of clean water
Sunscreen, after-sun lotion, comprehensive first-aid kit, toiletries, hand sanitizer, medications (Multivitamins, Ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc.)
One change of clothes (each)
Two pairs of shoes (for daughter)
One pair of Chaco sandals (for us)
Mosquito repellent (100% DEET for us, only 10% for her) **Does anyone have any suggestions for a good bedding/clothing wash that's safe to use with children? I've read about Neem oil, Permethren, etc.**
Wide-brimmed hats
Sunglasses
Eco-friendly diapers with biodegradable liners (for dumping down the squatter)
Books & research materials
Laptop computer (advice on where to find good converters/portable surge protection?)

We are planning to purchase upon arrival:
Sleeping mats (room just has a concrete floor)
Several more changes of clothing
Mosquito nets

Health preparations:
Immunizations for all: Polio, Tetanus, HepA, HepB, MMR
Immunizations for mom & dad: Typhoid
(Meg can't get the typhoid vaccine because she's under 2. Any thoughts?)
We are planning to take an antibiotic instead of an anti-malarial since we'll be gone so long. We just can't afford Malarone or any of those for 3 people for 3 months.
We didn't get the rabies or Japanese Encephalitis vaccines (again, because of the cost). Peak season for JE is Oct. to Jan. in Tamil Nadu. Are we safe to assume we'll be okay as long as we take serious anti-mosquito measures?

Our daughter is a tough girl who isn't afraid of anything new, though just timid enough to stay close to mom and dad in unfamiliar territory (thank heavens). We know this adventure is going to be difficult, and we aren't expecting a vacation as much as an "experience." Just thought I'd clear that up.

Okay, it's getting late and that's all I can think of for now. I look forward to, and really appreciate, any advice or tips you can give.

Thanks,

Jill

machadinha

Hi, and welcome to IndiaMike. I've no real comments, other than this thread that springs to mind and which you might want to read: My trip with a Baby.

Good luck with your plans, hopefully some others will be around with their comments.

(btw A few comments then: You indicate you mean to substitute antibiotics for antimalarials. I can't really see how that would work. I'm not a pro- (nor necessarily anti-) antimalarials person myself, I just don't think antibiotics will help you out if you should get malaria. But maybe I'm overlooking something. Seek adequate medical attention with any possible symptoms of course, but I assume you know that. Living somewhere for two months, it can't hurt to find a doctor or clinic you're comfortable with before anything's up, whether in your village or in a nearby town, or possibly in Coimbatore then.

Diapers even if biodegradable I don't think you'll flush down the squatter no, but you'll figure it out on the ground, it's not very important. There'll be a bucket or something.

Water: If you're stationary, you can just boil water & let it cool down again to drink and cook of course. A filter or other such tool will obviously come in handy no matter what.

Shoes: I'd bring one pair of decent walking shoes. Handy for trundling through the undergrowth in a rural setting as well, with a view to various critters.

Converters and stuff: try
Electric Supply Pins Plugs Adapter etc explained
configuring broadband/PC power protection/cable-satellite TV in India...

The village name throws up some interesting web hits btw, I guess there are regular student/development programs here? If so, you'd think/hope some medical and other assistance would be in place too (?) )

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Madhu10

Jill

My first thought was also about the diapers..I doubt you can flush em down. In the villages I doubt that the sewer system is sophisticated enough to take that. I would highly recommend another kind of disposable or start training Meg for potty training. You can actually find a nice reasonable kids potty once you land in India.

Couple of things that came to my mind was some familiar food/treats for your daughter...in case she has trouble adjusting to the food.

Take some hand saniters (natural ones for your little one). Help keep some of those germs away.

Once in India you can buy a bottle of Detol...you can use that after a wash it acts as a antiseptic.

You might want to research the Antibiotics for malaria...humm never really heard of that. I'm not pro or anti malaria pills but do you research on what kind of strains might be there in the area. Anti malaria drugs work on some and not others.

Good luck on your adventure.

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Brisso

Please don't do this if connected to a sewerage system - they are not designed for such items ...

Nick-H

Well, you'll certainly be getting a tropical vacation! Dehydration will be the main danger, especially for your child; small bodies get dehydrated very quickly.

One or two comments, some agreeing with, or even repeating, what has already been said...

Most everyday stuff available there, probably even in your village, certainly in the city before you set off. Make sure you include rehydration salts, not only against the possibility of tummy upsets, but also that of heat exhaustion.

How rural is this? sandals won't protect against snakes, leaches, etc. Not that you want to be treading on snakes anyway!

Buy the ones with high SPF fabric if you can afford them. Also buy umbrellas when you get there. They won't keep the UV out, so wear the hats anyway, but they will give you a little shade.

High quality, and the most resiliant you can get. It is a pain if they get scratched or broken in the first week!

Old-fashioned terry towelling might be more appropriate. I wouldn't want you putting the other things down my toilet, and I live in a city!

Have you done this before? An Indian sleeping mat is a thin layer, like rush matting. It provides little or no resilience between bone and floor. Cotton-stuffed mattresses are available for a few hundred rupees, but are not easily portable for your later travels. Consider taking yoga or camping mats.

You may need more than one a day!

One of the anti-malarials is an antibiotic; I forget which one (lots of malaria threads on this site), but only specific anti-malarials will protect you
Seriously, you can't afford to catch malaria, especially not your child. I'm not commenting on any of the other immunisation stuff, I really don't know enough about it. Professional advise essential. If you must, get it when you arrive, but preferably before you leave.

No. If mosquitoes like your smell they'll find a way. In the daytime you can use locally available stuff, eg Odomos, which is a much lower percentage DEET, just apply more often. The higher percentage (100% is for camping in rain forests, isn't it? I suspect 50% is ample) should see you through the night. Remember that if you lie against the net you can be bitten. I always sleep under a net (without repellent) and they regularly get my hands or feet this way. They bite through clothes too.

What else? A couple of good torches. Must be more... ...

Do you have more information on how rural/isolated you are going to be? You may be surprised by the availability of mod cons!

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federica

The area around Coimbatore has a pleasant climate, but the sun is very strong.

There are good medical websites, check on the Malaria topic very well. Maybe you can use Malarone as a stand-by medication for emergency case? Just check if you really need permanent Anti-Malaria medication in this area! (when I was there, I didn't, but you need updated information)

Regarding Rabies: if you are living in a rural area and in touch with animals, maybe consider the vaccination again. If you get bitten, sometimes even a scratch will be enough, go immediately to a hospital and get the immunizatiion there, Rabies is fatal.

Don't flush anything in your toilet (paper can be ok, but better get used to the paper free system )
Usually people burn this stuff in their backyard. Not a very eco-friendly solution if plastic is involved, so think about other solutions.

You need more than one change of clothes. You can buy them in Coimbatore, light cotton clothes are perfect for wearing and washing, and normally you'll need fresh clothes daily.

Bring good mosquito nets, they are much better than any chemical stuff. Besides Odomos I had no good experience.

dhans

For some more tips, follow the links below.

Hans

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Nick-H

The basic hang-up type are cheap here, whereas the ones I've seen outside UK are rather expensive, and they are going to need at least two.

federica

Although I was told that they are widely available, I have only spotted one or two during one year in Kerala, and the mesh was very wide. Maybe I went to the wrong shops, but I've never been to a house where they used nets, so I guess they are not so common. (Oh no, wrong, one guest house had them) That's why I suggested to bring some... I was very happy to have my own with me.

Most people used these plug-in anti mosquito things, and I have to admit it is quite efficient. I just doubt that it is as harmless to your body as a bednet...

nayan

mosquito nets are very common.... you have to ask for them in "bedding stores"

Nick-H

It is a case of knowing which shop sells them, and for Chennai, yes I do know. I also know where to get net off the roll, if anyone needs that info.

<cross-pposted with Nayan> Thanks! I never thought of that, but found them in a general store.

It took me a couple of days to find out where to buy, but, ask in a general store.

The mesh is ok for keeping mosquitoes out, but it will not stop ants or other smaller bugs.

If money was no object, I'd suggest the free-standing tent-like net, which has it's own, finer-mesh 'ground-sheet' bottom net, so you are surrounded and protected against bed bugs.

Check the prices, and consider that an ordinary net here is probably less than Rs200.

edwardseco

Hopefully, its a suburban type village since a toilet is hard to find in "real' villages. In that case find out which fields are for women. Nick's #5 is dot on so study it carefully. The antibiotic and the only one that should be consumed is doxycycline. Its an anti-malarial and seems to do a lot more for me as well. Make sure you study carefully instructions and conditions for this and any other malarial. Its not indicated for children under the age of 10-12 due to a dramatic impact on teeth under development. Some women find it can cause yeast infection. My family tolerates it well but we take it strictly by the directions. This goes triple for anyone with ulcers, esophogitis or heartburn. Done right no problemo (I do have esophogitis).

Disposible diapers are available in bigger cities I know. The impact on a village ecology by a rare foren visitor is laughable. I guess not many turistas get out to villages. A small hand shovel was useful for disposal of waste in the fields.

I am a big net user since all other measures have limitations (was going to say "had holes in them" but too many bad puns here lately)..

machadinha

How rural would that be though? I can't remember it being a problem. (Although reading this had me wondering how did we go about it at that one festival. I honestly can't remember, but a loo there probably wasn't no.)

Hey, doing your thing in the fields never hurt no one anyway.

Hm, as I indicated above, from a web search the village in question would seem quite well-visited by similar students. I'd suggest burning your burnables yes, my reason not to before was I wasn't sure if that's how it's done in India. It was where I grew up. The rest you can occasionally take to the dump. Or burying might be suitable, of course. I reckon it will take just a bit of observation to see how it's done.

ps And re: Dehydration, checking a while ago I think I read something about this being possibly lethal in infants in a matter of hours (if not an hour). Take good note of this.

I've been wondering actually if those two sedentary months don't sound like the easier bit, maybe the six weeks travel after it would require closer attention. Which is not to say it's impossible, other people do it. But you'll naturally have to adapt to your child's capacities of course. Could very well mean less traveling, more staying in one place at a time.

edwardseco

Precisely, it did mean getting up at the crack of dawn for privacy. Take a can or small bucket even if you are using toilet paper so as not to offend sentiments. Its a hassle if you get the runs and you might have to do that literally. The only real problem I had, aside from wandering into the women's area, was just at the onset of the monsoon. All the nearby bushes had been cut for fodder and it was a long trudge in the rain and mud.

edwardseco

Hit enter twice quickly and it posted oofallah.

Very important advice above. Very well put Mach. Know a good hospital in an urban area in advance as all hades breaks out when emergencies erupt (had this happen). Carry some Pedialyte or equivalent flavored electrolyte solution as a minimum. Still, I can't believe that they are going to put the OP in a remote village. Its almost certainly a suburban area where amenities will be,if modest, quite doable. I would bet on that. 'Course I have $500 on Hillary, (evil rules, live with it). Still, I should stick to sports bets.

Try not to travel too hard as Mach says given you have an infant/toddler. The weather will play a big part as well, both rain and heat. You are going to experience both in the Indian summer! I suggest an electric table fan and a small battery powered one as a backup for when the power fails as it usually does when it gets hottest.

A village experience is wonderful. I am just a little concerned about the child..