travelling to what you could call a developing country with a LO

Most of my mum's family lives in India including my grandmother whom I have only met a handful of times. She's getting on a bit and I'd really love to see her and for her to meet DH and DS, it might be the last opportunity I have. We're thinking of going for christmas so DS will be 1 and a half.
I'd love some advice from anyone who has travelled with kids either here or somewhere similar in terms of germs and whatnot (you know what I mean :D). Any tips in preventing them from getting super sick? Obviously the water and being careful where we eat. I think an upset stomach will be inevitable. Hints on how to make the trip more bearable? Keep him occupied?

Also vaccines...I'm pretty sure for India you get Hep A, typhoid and cholera. Can little ones have these and what about malaria tablets?

It seems like a good time to go as he'll be free (we'll be travelling with my mum, dad and sister so plenty of laps to sit on) and still in nappies so no having to worry about constantly looking for a toilet, little accidents etc
India isn't the cleanest of countries but my mum's family are fairly wealthy and live in a big city so we'll hardly be roughing it.

Just any advice in general would be greatly appreciated as DH and I are trying to decide whether this is sensible idea or not...I am worried about the onslaught on DS's little immune system but also really want to visit my family!

Absolutley no advice really. I have been to india a few years ago for a few months and did see a few people traveling with young children, about 5 yrs old. But not as young as yours, although im sure people do. I was already quite sick when i arrived (had been traveling in other countries before hand) and actually got a bit better while i was in india. And if you have family who are 'locals' they will know all the good places to eat/go etc and what to avoid! Hope someone comes and gives you some better advice and you end up having a great time, Have you been to india your self?? hugs to you

Hi Allycat

DD was born in Namibia, Africa and we lived there for the first 6 months of her life and all was ok and I have also backpacked around India so know what that is like. In regards to Malaria - you can't give malaria medication to children under 5 or pregnant woman, so if she did get malaria she can't have the medication to fight it and some forms of malaria are extremely serious. We were going to travel up to Tanzania when DD was 6 months old - a country where malaria was prevalent but our Doctor talked us out of it. It depends how bad malaria is where you will be going. In regards to the other stuff - food, water, nappies, germs - they sell bottled water so that should be okay, I guess you take enough nappies for the duration, not sure of what they sell in the supermarkets, I think the rest of it would be okay, I would just be worried about the malaria. I would talk to your doctor or travel doctor, to get a better idea about it.

good luck, sorry if I have rambled on.
Laurin

Hey Alicat,

We're moving to PNG where Malaria and many other diseases are rife. I have been seeing the travel clinic at the Royal Melbourne hospital. The dr has prescribed anti malarials for my two DD's, 2 years and 10 months. They are not going to take them long term, but just for the first few months until we are settled. The will inevitably get malaria over there, but until we are settled and find our feet, i think they will take the tablets. They can also be treated for Malaria if they do get sick. When we went over there recently i spoke at length with other expat mums and the staff at the local medical clinic. All of the mum's children had had Malaria and were treated immediately.
Maybe the medications have changed boo boo. :dunno:

My 2 year old has had typhoid and hep A, but my 10 month old hasn't, as they wont immunise under 1year. Other than that, they didn't have anything else extra. But obviously different things are recommended for different countries.

The travel Clinc at the Royal Melbourne is awesome. You need a referral from a GP but i highly recommend them. We spoke at length about the risks of each disease and came up with an immunisation plan that i was happy with. PM me if you would like the number.

Thanks for the feedback ladies! Whereabouts in India did you both go to?

I have been twice before to Bangalore, Mysore, Mumbai and Hyderabad but am yet to see the Taj Mahal, so I think a trip to Delhi maybe in order this time, I know DH is dying to see it too!
Thanks for the advice re malaria boo boo. I have thalassemia, a blood disorder which is a mutation against malaria, it's genetic so DS has a decent chance of having it too which could come in handy given his age. So only DH will have to take those horribly bitter pills!:D

Nappies is one thing I have to work out, DS is in cloth but we'd need a whole suitcase just for the nappies they're so bulky :lol: But we'd prob go for a month so that's ALOT of disposables as well. My cousin over there has a young daughter so might have to speak to her and suss out what nappies are like over there.

Interesting tid bit: I once read somewhere that thalassemia is a common disorder amongst people who live in countries prone to malaria, so they can't get sick. The wonders of evolution!

Wow...so you are unable to get Malaria...thats a pretty good disorder to have ;). I was givent malaria pills to take while we were there but they made me so sick....very bad dreams and hallucinations so i stopped taking them. just was careful and most of the trip we werent in high risk areas. we traveled from rajastan to kerrala. and only the south was high risk. but i was carful/lucky.
I know if i took DD there she would be ok with food cause she LOVES rice! :)

Taj Mahal was amazing...we went early...as soon as the doors open and it was amazing, every time you looked at it it was different with the changing light! So beautiful.

we went round rajastan for a month - flew into Delhi, then udaipur, saw the Taj - amazing - out to the Jasalmeer desert and went on a three day camel trek, great place, it will be an experience of a lifetime for you.

Sorry to hijack...but wow, Junglemum, what an exciting adventure for you and the children! What an experience it would be for them!

Allycat - in regards to the nappies, depending on availability, would you be able to wash the cloth's? And would they be washed hygenically enough? Although that doesn't solve the problem of them needing their own suitcase :lol:

The Lonely Planet website has a good forum called The Thorn Tree (I think, its been a while since I looked), but it used to have some great advice on travelling, and I'm sure someone on there might have been to India with a LO.

It is a bit exciting Sammy. Lots of adventures ahead. :D