Traveling to India with an 11 month old
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Anonymous
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I am Indian and spent a month there with my then 10-mo son over the winter break. He was TOTALLY FINE. I was the one that got mildly sick just from being run-down (sleepless nights helping him deal with jet lag, etc) but he didn't. In fact he had a blast there because he really enjoyed interacting with the constant stream of people that come by!
Here are some specifics: Sleep: We took a Baby Bjorn travel crib and had him sleep in it under a mosquito net. Jet lag - it is what it is. 9.5 hour time difference now. My son was back to sleeping through the night on the 5th night, both on the way over and when we came back. Try taping trash bags up to the windows to keep the room dark as Indian curtains are often very lightweight and flimsy (unless you're in a hotel). While he was still jetlagged there were frequent night wakings but I would have to wake him up from naps. Once he settled in to the time zone he didn't nap as well during the day, I think it was too exciting/ noisy despite the white noise and everything. But he made up for it by sleeping 12.5-13 hours at night. Medical stuff: No malaria prophylaxis, our ped didn't recommend it cos of side effects. Do not take baby out at dusk when it's buggy, and use a bug net if you must. Spray with DEET bug spray if needed because the natural ones don't work. They gave him MMR at the 9-mo visit (repeated at 12-mo) and also tested him for TB at the 12-mo visit. We bought travel medical insurance as we do for all foreign trips, though medical care in the cities is fine. Car Seat - we had mixed luck with it. He wasn't able to sleep in it on the way over, maybe because of the daytime flight. On the way back we just gate checked it and put him on the seat between us. He did great but it was also a flight that departed at night. We did use the car seat for city driving and one long road trip, and he was able to sleep in it for that one. Food: I took some pouches of purees for the first few days while we were getting settled in. After that, my mother cooked him amazing baby food that he loved - khichri (rice & lentils, traditional baby food in India), idli (rice & lentil steamed cakes), dal & roti, soft-cooked vegetables - sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, peas etc. He also went to town on the delicious varieties of bananas (only available in South India, though) and tried other tropical fruit like papaya, jackfruit and sitaphal (don't know the English name). Just make sure you wash everything well, and yes, boiled water is best. Everything should be either fully cooked or peeled as appropriate. I was breastfeeding exclusively for milk but if you are giving formula boiled water is best. I also gave him fresh coconut water to drink instead of water and he loved that. It may seem obvious but you both need to be very careful about food and water too, not just the baby. I'd eat vegetarian if I were you. (I am one anyway) Washing: You can wash dishes in tap water, just make sure they are completely dry when you use them. I did brush his teeth in bottled water though. Gear - Aside from the travel crib and car seat, I took the baby monitor, a travel booster, and the front carrier. No stroller as Indian cities are not really walkable anyway. I also took lots of diapers and wipes because I needed to wipe everything down before he touched it. Good luck! And enjoy the time with family, that's what's most important about the visit. |
Anonymous
| Can the trip be delayed? I wouldn't be ready for that at 11 months, and I love India. |
Anonymous
| OP here - wow, thank you for so much wonderful advice! Some asked if the trip could be delayed, unfortunately no.... grandparents are not in good health so may be the only opportunity to meet their grandchild. Also reminds me that maybe we should introduce some indian food while we are here, even though my husband is Indian we really don't eat any indian food at home but that should be easy enough to change. Thanks again everyone! |
Anonymous
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I just did this trip (in Dec) with my then 11 mo. Car seat on plane is a good idea (and hopefully they'll give you a bulkhead seat). You can pre-plan all you want, lots of food/snacks/toys, extra bottles (and ways to clean such as Medela wipes) if you formula feed, etc...but be prepared to go with the flow. It can be awesome and baby will sleep the whole way, or baby may scream the whole way. If you're prepared for anything, you'll be in a better mindset to handle it.
We were in New Delhi, so less concern on amenities. We didn't do much packaged baby food, but DD didn't do much by then int he US either. A few things for a pinch are great. No major risk of malaria in Delhi in December, but strongly recommend visiting a travel clinic to learn specific risks and prevention for the area and time of year you are traveling. You will almost certainly be advised to do the MMR early...and you definitely should. I really wouldn't worry about feeding Indian food early. Most Indians are not giving their 11 month old babies spicy food anyway. As it turns out, my relatives were much more into giving DD plain, boiled veggies...and it wasn't until we gave her seasoned food that she really started eating. This is family specific, but DD eats a lot of chicken and egg...but my grandmother's house is strictly vegetarian. The hardest part was getting her to eat enough without eggs and chicken! Jetlag is what it is...accept that you'll have a weird schedule and not be able to get out as much, and you'll be fine. The thing that was hardest is that most cars dont have back seatbelts...so no way to install carseat. You pretty much just have to accept it or go nowhere. Overall you'll all be fine...unless you're not  But you'll still be okay in the end.
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Anonymous
| I haven't been to India in years but when I was there (10 yrs ago) the supermarkets sold pasta and other western food. If imagine that still the case? And plenty of veggies and butter and rice. So, I'd bring some pouches to tide you over but don't feel like you need to stockpile for the entire time. Best wishes for your trip. My kids are 8 and 6 and we still haven't taken them as most of DH'snfamily is in the US and his mother (!) doesn't think we should take them (fear of illness, pollution etc). We really should though soon! |
Anonymous
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OP, you have already got some great advice. This trip will be easy, interesting, fun as long as you don't see Indian food and India as something "different, other, spicy". Precautions need to be taken, so I am not saying that you can act as though you are in the U.S. But not being terrorized by the differences and the precautions will really help your trip and your child's eventual attitude to India. I know this isn't really what you are asking. I am Indian and I have seen many American friends treat a trip to India as though they are going to some wasteland, and their attitudes influenced how the trip went. It is a complex interplay. It is worth thinking through because I am sure neither you nor your DH want your child to treat India like it is a horrible, scary place.
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Anonymous
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OMG. So much good advice here. There isn't much I can add.
If you have access to a kitchen , borrow a big stock pot and boil water for use in formula. Most kitchens are fitted with a gadget that completely purifies water for you. My kids and i have had no issues drinking that water. Bottled water didn't cause any issues either. Your child can have bland pressure cooked food like khichri( rice, dal , veggies) or steamed foods like idli which are perfectly safe. Anything boiled, hot off the stove, like veggie soups, dal Etc won't cause issues. If you are traveling , take home cooked food with you to be on the safer side, including boiled water. You may want to buy a water sterilizing pen, if you want to use it on bottled water. Personally our family had no issues with bottled water Take plenty of toilet paper and your favorite antibacterial spray , so you can clean surfaces and easily dispose. Carry wet wipes for travel , cleaning hands. Sunscreen is a must. |
Anonymous
OP here - I want her to love India, I certainly fell in love with the country, especially the people, when I visited for the first time a few years back. I am just having severe anxiety about keeping her safe (sleeping and food in particular) and the lengthy travel to get there. I know so many adults that get ill, I can't imagine having an issue with a small child. Again, really appreciate the wonderful advice received here, I feel a lot more confident that I can prepare us to have a safe and healthy trip so we can enjoy introducing her to her indian side of the family. |
Anonymous
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We travel with our kids to India every year to see family. We've been doing it since they were babies. It really is all in the attitude and keeping the risks in perspective. Our children love the long haul flights because they watch movies, play video games, and eat junk without limits! Don't bother with the car seat. Snuggle and enjoy, snuggle and complain with your DH. Or do both. Our kids would not sit in the car seat when they were babies so it ended up being a burden and we didn't do it twice. When they wanted to sleep, they snuggled in our arms. Or they stood or sat in the airline seat and did whatever babies do.
Once you are in India, your baby will be fine if he or she sleeps in your bed for a few weeks. Our kids do on almost all holidays, and it never changes what they do at home on a regular basis. A habit is not built on one holiday or indeed on any holidays. Its OK for holidays to be different. Re food safety, your baby may indeed get travelers diarrhea in India. No matter what people say and what you do, this may happen. It won't be the end of the world if that happens (although a pain in the neck.) Carry some powdered pedialyte with you. You can get all medications in India from the reputable pharmacies but its a good idea to take a broad spectrum antibiotic with you as well. You can buy some travel medical insurance if that helps you feel better - there are some that will locate a good Indian doctor to come to your home or hotel if the baby or you need help. Fortunately house calls are still common, and remember basically any medication is easy to obtain. Your DH's relatives probably have a doctor who would visit if needed too if you don't want to pay for the special medical insurance. Last but not least, your baby truly can eat food from India and be OK. There is nothing magical or right about American baby food or American food, and I am not saying that in a nasty way. You just seem overly anxious about a non-issue. Its not as if Indians are mashing green chillies into their rice and feeding that to the little children. Its just rice. Its just lentils. Vegetables, cooked differently than what you are used to. Nothing that will shock your or any child's system. |
Anonymous
| Why hasn't your baby tried. Indian food yet if he/she is 1/2 Indian?? You seem very negative about going to India and exposing your child to it. I hope you don't demonstrate that attitude there. Odds are all your husband's family will be so thrilled to see you all and honored that you made the trip. I hope you don't hurt them with your attitude. |
Anonymous
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Take CDC recommendation and vaccinate. We are Indians (kids born here) and we do that when we travel to India.
Swine Flu is very prevalent right now as well, so be aware. Boil water. Use boiled water for even brushing your teeth. I use mosquito netting to physically keep away mosquitoes. I have a trick to make bedroom and bathroom relatively free of mosquitoes (if the need arises). I get the rooms swept after 1/2 hour of using mosquito plug-ins. These knock the bugs unconscious, but they revive after sometime, so sweeping allows you to physically remove them. Then I unplug it, because I am not sure how harmful it is to humans. Stay at a good hotel - it is absolutely worth the money and the service is the best in the world. Bring your food pouches. I would also take diapers from here. Diapers in India are not good quality and they are terribly expensive as well. |
Anonymous
Oh STFU! I am Indian and I stress taking my kids there because they fall sick there unless I take a lot of precautions. Why should she be feeding her kid Indian foods? Her husband is Indian, he can make Indian food and feed the child. |
Anonymous
Where are you going? There are a lot of good western hotels in the major cities that have clean filtered water which makes everything SO much easier. If you're staying with family, please please boil all water. Please also check with your pediatrician about recommended vaccines - as an adult there will be a series of shots you'll need to get, I can't imagine what they will recommend for your baby. There are a lot of good progressive hospitals all around India, so locate the closest one to where you will be just in case. I have travelled to India quite a few times and know two people who I have travelled with that got ridiculously ill - one from food poisoning and one from having tea (she was hospitalized for a month). |
Anonymous
This is good advice for travel in general, but many parts of India are very, very dangerous. I have been several times and will not walk around alone. |
Anonymous
| You would not walk around alone in S.E. DC either. Indian crime rates are actually far lower than the U.S. It truly is not considered a dangerous country. But suburban Potomac it is not. |