Traveling to Pakistan with kids and need helpppp!!!!

[Aafi]

Hi all beautiful moms out there. I'm traveling to Pakistan in the end of October with my kid (3 years old) and an infant (16 months old) I'm really worried for their health because of the water quality there. My both kids really love milk and yoghurt and I'm unsure what to do because all that I've heard is their milk is contaminated with very high doses of oxytocin ( injections to increase milk production) and because of that the live bacteria in yoghurts just make their tummies worse. I'm so lost at to what to do and how can I keep my kids safe throughout. Any tips would be highly appreciated.

Yes you are right to be worried but if you are careful you will all be fine. The main thing is don't listen to relatives or people saying we live here and we are fine, yes they are but our stomachs can't handle it.

Use nestle water for everything, even brushing teeth.

You didn't say which city or village you are going to. Or how long you are going for. If you let me know I can guide you if you can get milk and yogurts from other countries.

My DB used to take all sort for his kids but it worked for them. Biscuits, bread, pancakes, yogurts, crisps even fresh milk, which he froze when he got there. And took out a litre at a time, same with the bread.

I'll be living in Karachi. I'm there for 2 months. I know our kids just can't cope with the food there. I'm more concerned for the milk and yoghurt, which brand is safer if any idea? I'm planning to take on 32 litres of water in luggage, I'll be traveling with Oman air and they are just not answering my emails if that amount of water is alright to be checking in.

Regarding taking the water that will be extremely heavy. I think its technically allowed but your baggage limit will be about 20kilos. I've not been to Pakistan but am fairly sure you'll be able to get safe bottled water?

I think it would be crazy to carry all that water with you. Surely they will sell bottled water there

propakistani.pk/2018/01/05/safe-milk-brands-use-pakistan/

Might be best to stick to uht milk

Surely you can boil the water? I'd be more inclined to skip packing the water and pack uht milk instead.

You’ll find most milk is UHT as milk isn’t chilled during transportation.

Just buy bottled water, it’s very cheap and available everywhere as no one drinks tap water.

I can get volvic and Evian brands water there , I'll stick to it and yes packing these bottles for travel was giving me sweats already.

Definitely don't take the water. I tend to stick with Nestle. If u r unsure just boil it. I would take a box of snacks and other foods rather than the water.

You tend to get imported items from Al-fatah, you can get everything there, nappies to fresh milk, just check on the item, I think they have milk from Australia.

There is also a Carrefour in Karachi which is a European hyper market brand. So I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just check individual items and where they are made.

I have always found the main problem is relatives giving food to kids so you need to be extra vigilant. Or when eating out.

Hi OP, I travelled to Pakistan (Islamabad) a few years ago with children aged 2 to 6.
We stuck with bottled water bought in Pakistan.

The supermarkets stocked most of the (imported) brands that we use here, just a lot more expensive as they are considered luxury items there and are heavily taxed but I had to purchase so my kids could eat something!
Try not to let the kids eat meat. My kids only ate (buttered) roti and no curry and they were fine. I ate meat and I was not fine! We only went for 10 days, it was hot and my kids don’t like spicy foods so were quite happy with roti alone.

I remember my family making special purchases for milk in a carton for my 2 year old and he was fine with it.

I call the milk a special purchase because family didnt normally buy that - they bought it for the duration of my stay. I didnt recognise the brand but know that it was imported.

I'll skip water and pack food instead. Already planning to take some food like seeded bloomers(kids love it) , almond butter, cheese etc. Things that can be frozen or are long life. Any other suggestions?? I should be buying tetra pack milk and yoghurts for kids from Pakistan itself.

Can I use bottled water bought from Pakistan just as it is or need to boil that too?

Also can anyone kindly share their experiences with kids in Pakistan, for my reassurance....I can't stress it enough the amount of mental pressure I'm dealing with although there's still 2 months to my travel. I'm traveling in Nov to Dec so expecting good weather and husband/family is reassuring me that things will be good but urgh!! I'm such a pessimist 😭😭😭

I've never been to Pakistan but I'd perhaps phone the airport before packing cheese etc in your luggage, I do recall seeing on one of these "border force" type programmes that cheese, milk, vegetables etc were being confiscated from people's luggage for H&S reasons.

That's all okay when it comes to Pakistan 😅 family traveling from here took these stuff so all is fine.

It's fine to take all that sort of food. As I said family have taken milk and also cheese and yogurts. Just take what you know your kids like. The bread there is quite sweet so I would maybe take bread with you and freeze it. Pancakes, croissants, cheese, biscuits even yogurts.

There is no need to boil bottled water just ensure it's a reliable brand and don't let kids drink squash or water when visiting anyone's house as you won't know if it's bottled water. Keep a small bottle with you at all times.

Don't drink fresh juices outside at all. I remember being forced by relatives to have some while out on a shopping trip and within a half an hour I had a dodgy stomach.

Another thing to avoid is salads even the likes of potato salad at Pizza Hut. Try not to eat any raw fruit or veg, no harm in eating cooked veg.

And remember don't make a big deal of things in front of relatives as they won't understand how quickly we get ill and will say but we eat/drink this and we are fine.

No need to buy tetra pack milk as I said as you can get imported fresh milk. Which will taste a lot better. It will be more expensive but worth it for kids.

I would check which supermarkets are near where you will be staying. Just go online and search Carrefour and Al-Fatah Karachi to see if they are nearby. I think there is another one called Metro or Makro.

Remember to take all medication with you and the likes of calpol, Imodium etc.

Have you got you vaccinations sorted out? There is quite a few needed and some need 2-3 doses which need to be done at least 6 weeks before you go.

Yeah I've got an appointment for our vaccinations in a week's time. Thank you ladies for your help. I'll keep a good check on kids water consumption and food.

You do not need to buy huge bottles of water & take it on a plane !
Buy bottled water from supermarket when you are there
Don't buy from street vendors, because some people refill empty bottles with unfresh water

I haven't been to Pakistan but travelled regularly to a not-very-Westernised Arab country as a child. For the milk/yoghurt, you may as well let them have it; their intestinal flora will adapt. I suggest letting them have a tiny amount per day to start with; this may give them diarrhoea initially but that will calm down. I'd also suggest not too much fruit/veg initially; stick to cooked things. Maybe take along some children's probiotics as well, to ease them in at the start.

Have a fab time :D

Thank you , I hope I do have a good time there 🧘

Hi everyone.

Needed some tips pls. Took my 4 month old to Turkey in August and she was fine. Bearing in mind it was quite hot. We had breaks in our room with AC on and she was ok. Slight temperature when we came back but otherwise all ok.

My husband wants to go Pakistan in December when baby will be 8 months. She’ll be having her own food and milk & I’ll be careful to sanitise her bottles etc. just wondered if anyone has travelled to Pakistan with their little ones? Any tips? I’m thinking as she’s been on holiday somewhere hot she may be ok with this trip too? It’ll be their cold season. Others have commented saying I’m being “brave” to take her to Pakistan. Just feeling doubtful :(