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India with a DS!!

6 replies

Mumfortoddler · 20/06/2012 20:49

Hello all, been invited to a wedding in December in India. Would really love to go but afraid of taking my DS who is 3, single parent so will be trekking his and my things and him across India to the wedding- is this feasible?!!! Any advice from hardened travellers?

x

OP posts:
Pawan · 21/06/2012 17:52

My in-laws live in India, and we travel there around once a year. We usually fly into Delhi, and visit relatives there, as well as travelling further North (by train), and also into some countryside areas (by car/taxi).

I think it depends very much where you are going, and if you will have any help when you are there, and whose wedding it is - i.e. is it an Indian friend, or simply a friend from here travelling to get married there? As this makes it very different event.

Indian weddings tend to be huge (anything from 100 to 500 people) so it may be that your presence (or absence) might not be noticed, which might feel frustrating if you have made a big effort to be there. Do you have other friends going who will provide company, or would it just be you and DS? And will you know anyone else at the wedding?

On the plus side, children tend to be included in everything, so DS would be able to go along to everything without any problems. And people there love to give lots of attention to children.

But there is very little extra provision made for them - few playgrounds, few "safe" areas to play, no children's food, and lots of things that "feel" dangerous (open doors next to busy roads) and mean you need to have your eyes on your children all the time.

And now my children are bigger, (and as they look quite "white" and not obviously Indian) if we go to the market, then we get hassled all the time by beggars and people trying to sell us stuff - which I find really stressful.

But I guess my main concerns in India are road safety (crazy driving!) and staying healthy (bottled water, watching what you eat carefully, watching what other people give your child to eat, etc) - so maybe it depends how you view each of those?

Depending on where you stay, and how you travel, it is also reasonably affordable - although flights to get there are pretty expensive.

If you are an adventurous type, then I think it's quite do-able, but there are certainly plenty of challenges, and more so if you are travelling alone without another adult.

Grannylipstick · 21/06/2012 21:53

Awful driving. Definitely no seat belts for the little one. I don't think I would be brave enough to be travelling on my own with a 3 year old.

Sariska · 21/06/2012 22:26

Hmm. Where is the wedding? Would it involve much travelling within India? I absolutely agree with what the other posters say about driving: it's really not for the faint-hearted.

The other points about general lack of provision for children also seem valid to me. And I'd also add in heat (Dec isn't the hottest time in India but, assuming you'll not be in the hills somewhere, it'll probably still be hotter than your DS is used to) and hygiene issues. As an adult - and not one with a particularly delicate stomach - I have been ill each time I've been to India. As a 2 yo on a visit "home" to Pakistan, my DH got ill enough to need admitting to hospital.

Sorry. I sound discouraging, I know. It's just that much as I love India I long ago decided that I wouldn't take my own DC there when they were very small. And, so far Wink I've stuck to that.

If you do go, I'm sure you'll have fun (Asian weddings are great) but do make sure you stick to bottled water, no salad, no roadside dairy products (lassi etc). And get someone local who you trust to organise any cars and drivers needed. If you do any travelling by train, book in advance (you can do this from the UK) and go for first class air con.

threeisthemagicnumber · 22/06/2012 09:00

It depends where you're going. December can actually be a bit chilly in the North but the South will be lovely.

We took DD1 when she was 20 months and we had a fantastic time, and she didn't get ill. I do know the country well though and we were sensible about the precautions we took. We hired a car and driver (relatively cheap) for some of the time and made sure there were seatbelts! Trains are also good and relatively inexpensive.

Agree with most of Sariska's advice re precautions.

Feel free to PM me for more specific information, especially if you're flying into and travelling on from Delhi.

Mumfortoddler · 09/08/2012 09:19

Hey everyone,

The wedding is in Jaipur, and we could be picked up by car from the airport so this seems to make sense.

The wedding is of my English best friend, and her husband whose family are in Jaipur.

I echo everyone's concerns re: food poisoning/germs, guess there is not much of a way around this apart from taking necessary precautions!

Not sure if we'll risk it yet, but the alternative is not to go to the wedding, which would be rubbish as this is my best friend, and the godmother to my son!!
will
Grrrr... I don't know.

Thanks for all your advice :) I'm a little Confused but I will work it out...

Anna

OP posts:
daffyd · 12/08/2012 22:56

Just to add Im Indian and went when daughter was 18 mths initially and then every yera after that for 3 years! Avoid tap water, salad, stay in a good 5 star hotel,they are cheap, and they love kids, and no roadside food,make sure hitel has pool so your child can enjoy a good swim, at 3 they will find it fun.December can get quite chilly at nights in Jaipur, also dont forgot malarial proophylaxis if needed

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