...to think it's possible to go on holiday with a 6/7 month old?

[naranciata]

Expecting DC1 in April. Friend getting married in India in November and has invited me, DH and baby to be. I am very keen to go and have wanted to go to India for years and years. DH is trepidacious (understandably) but he's naturally much more risk averse than I am. I think it will be hard and scary but mainly an adventure. DH is Googling stats on road traffic accidents in India and saying I should go on my own.

Can I have your experiences of holidaying with small babies?

[babyunicornvomit]

Not got any advice as I'm currently pregnant with first DD but joining as I want to go away around Christmas time and want to know what people's experiences are!

Only thing I would say is that everyone I know who's been to India has suffered with awful stomach flu for up to 2 weeks, I can't imagine looking after a baby and being that poorly!

[Biffsboys]

I've been on holiday with both my ds at that age , not India mind you ? Just typical package holiday - I found it much easier because they are so young ?

[birdladyfromhomealone]

Do you intend to breastfeed? I found it very easy on holiday with babies if they were breastfed before weaning, safe and not having to worry about sterilizing etc!

[KateAdiesEarrings]

I travelled to India with work and wasn't ill. Not that its relevant to travelling with a baby but I just wanted to provide an alternative perspective from the PP whose friends all got sick.
Babies are very portable but they're also all different so its impossible to guess how your baby will respond to a longhaul flight and hot temperatures. I took DS on trips from a young age but not as far as India.

[Wando1986]

Is this a wind-up? Sod looking after others when you might get quite poorly, I'd be more concerned about how poorly the baby might get!

[hibbledobble]

Of course it's possible to holiday with a baby this age, but I wouldn't to India. I would be too worried about infectious diseases and the possible lack of good quality health care.

[BaronessBomburst]

DS was 4 months old when we first went away, but that was to Cornwall. It was short bursts of doing something touristy followed by hours of changing, feeding, napping, and generally being dictated to by the needs of a small person. I can't honestly say it was that much fun.
I've also been to India and I definitely wouldn't fancy that with a baby, especially one who was starting to crawl and stick things in their mouth. It's going to be hell on a long haul flight, hot, dusty, dirty, you won't have the facilities you're used to, even the tap water can be a source of contamination. I love India but you need to be pretty bloody robust to cope with the place.

[pieceofpurplesky]

Took DS to Sicily at that age. Wouldn't do India with a baby though. Have you been op? Where would you be staying?

[brasty]

www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-indian-subcontinent/india/travelling-in-india-with-a-baby

[BaronessBomburst]

I didn't get a stomach bug in India either; I ate so well I actually put on weight.

[naranciata]

Yes - do intend to breastfeed so hopefully that will make baby more portable. Temperature will be high 20s/low 30s so maybe will need to supplement with (bottled) water to avoid dehydration?

It just seems to me that it's a pretty good age for them to travel, esp if breastfed. Also the wedding would last for 3 days so plenty of time to attend/not attend bits of it and still be able to socialise with everyone. Then hopefully stay for 4 days more and do our own thing in spa hotel.

[brasty]

Some practical advice here
www.path2usa.com/tips-for-traveling-to-india-with-infants

[angelikacpickles]

We went on holidays when DD was 6 months old and it was easy, but that was to Spain so quite different. I'm not sure I would have gone to India, but I think it can be done. If the baby was still exclusively breastfed, I would feel happier about it as very little risk of illness (to baby) I would think. I would probably avoid solids until after the trip for that reason.

[naranciata]

I've been to South Asia and African countries alone before and (luckily, touch wood, etc etc) only ever suffered with mild upset stomach. This is DC1 so no experience at all of travelling with baby/child.

If it will be totally awful I do want to know, but I just think it might not be so bad.

[BackforGood]

I wouldn't.
Of course it's possible you'll have a really easy baby, and that you have no problems with illness in India, and that they won't be bothered by the pressure on their ears on flights, and that you'll have had an easy birth and then a child that sleeps a lot and you'll have taken to it like a duck to water...........

but, then again, it's far more likely you won't get all those things combined.

[Moanyoldcow]

I found Cornwall hard enough with a 6 month old! I'd not go I'm afraid but I'm not very brace!

[Moanyoldcow]

Brave!

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

It's not the worst age as they're not mobile, and just taking small amounts of solids. They're still fairly simple to entertain with milk, sleep and simple toys.

I did get food poisoning in India. I'd successfully travelled around Asia for 3 months, but it was the chicken burger in Mumbai airport that got me. It was an internal flight, and the first stage had been heavily delayed by fog and I'd been stuck in a local airport with no access to food for hours and had become desperate enough accept the burger. Eating fresh food at local restaurants and only using bottled/ boiled water had been fine.

[KateAdiesEarrings]

From a practical pov, if your friend lives in India (rather than just having a 'destination' wedding) then ask for advice on the best local healthcare so you can be confident there is treatment available if your baby was to become sick.
Think about whether it will stress you if your baby is upset on the flight and other passengers are impatient.
I think it's important to address your DH's fears. You're both going to be parents. Travelling to India with a baby would be a big decision for lots of parents so resist the temptation to downplay his concerns. You both need to be in agreement on this.

[TittyGolightly]

You absolutely should not supplement a breastfed baby with bottled water. Extremely dangerous. Breast milk is all they need, for one, and most bottled water isn't suitable for small babies.

[DramaAlpaca]

I got so ill when I was in India that I'd have to say don't risk it.

[BaronessBomburst]

You won't need to supplement with bottled water, but you might need to feed more often. The foremilk is more watery anyway so with a few extra short feeds the baby will be drinking more. Although at 6-7 months you'll be weaning anyway.

I can see why you want to go. I would want to too, desperately. But remembering what DS was like at that age.....we went to Spain. It was hell, and that was staying with family. India would have turned me into a sobbing mess. I also wouldn't have wanted to leave DS for a week to go alone though.
Mind you, if we build it up to be utterly impossible and you decide to go, it can only be better than expected! Result!

[brasty]

You will get very different answers here. There are people who would not travel a few hours for a wedding with a small baby, and those who would happily travel across the world. It really depends how adventurous you are.
But do not supplement feed. Babies breastfed will not get dehydrated. And it is easily the safest way of feeding your baby.

[AYankinSpanx]

You absolutely should not supplement a breastfed baby with bottled water. Extremely dangerous. Breast milk is all they need, for one, and most bottled water isn't suitable for small babies.

My understanding is that small amounts of cooled boiled water is perfectly acceptable in exceptionally high temps, even for otherwise fully bf babies.

[38cody]

Hi
I went to India with 3 children - aged 12, 10, 3 and a baby of 8 weeks. No problems, I ate a mainly vegitarian diet and breastfed. We were all fine - no sickness at all. We ate locally but we were in touristy Goa rather than eating streetfood. You'll be fine - go for it.