Would you take a 11 month old to Goa?

[goababy]

We are thinking of taking a trip to Goa when our baby is 11 months old.

She's our first baby, so not really sure what to expect from that age, and wanted to get some thoughts and considerations from the wonderful Mumsnet hive mind.

Two things on my mind are sun protection and food.

She's breastfed and at the moment we're still in the fairly early stages of weaning, but by 11 months I imagine she'll be a lot more dependent on solids. On our previous trips to India we've always suffered with upset stomachs, so I'd be nervous about DD experiencing that. Would it be ok to give her pre-packaged food pooches etc for the trip (10 days) or would that not be sufficient food for her at 11 months? I know they're full of sugar and wouldn't normally give them regularly, but needs must?

For sun protection, I'm thinking accommodation with a pool/shade would be more suitable than just access to the beach?

Is there anything we should consider that I haven't thought of?

if they are veg pouches then not full of sugar , you should take pre packaged snacks too (baby crisps etc) and before 1 milk is still a big part of their diet so should be ok

Yes definitely. She's the perfect age to travel. She'll be able to eat bananas, and you can take milton to soak any veg/fruit you buy. And keep breastfeeding as that will help protect against upset stomachs. I wouldn't worry too much about sun if she has a good hat, take a large light scarf/muslins - there will be lots of shade - I imagine you could get a parasol for the beach there?

It won't be a very relaxing holiday for you, particularly if she's crawling/walking. Poolside you're going to constantly be on your guard as they can move very fast when you take your eyes off them, and she will need a lot of entertaining. Her body clock will be disrupted too, with the time difference, so you may find that difficult to deal with, and again when you get home.

Will she need to have any vaccinations to travel to Goa?

And how do you think she'll cope with the local food?

I cant see how she would need more entertaining in Goa than anywhere else. Have you get a sling? She'll be able to see everything around her, while staying very close to you & inyeracting with you. My kids loved travelling - they require less entertainment than sat at home with nothing going on.

At 11 months are they into entertainment? Why Goa? So many easier places to go to! We stayed in Europe when dc were young. Food was easy and we drove so took pushchair!

I cant see how she would need more entertaining in Goa than anywhere else.

I meant that it won't be a relaxing holiday for the parents, should that be what they want.
But also, at home you can restrict the area a baby can crawl/walk to quite easily, you can't at the side of the pool

You might find the time difference means nobody sleeps much.

Also vaccinations. It’s been a while since I went to India but I seem to recall extra vaccines were needed/highly recommended (eg typhoid). I wouldn’t be in a hurry to give extra jabs to an 11 month old when there’s lots of other places you could go.

Beaches aren’t great at that age as they are crawling and their hands get covered in sand
= sand in mouth = unhappy baby.

I think I’d consider it but would need to be reassured about what the hospitals are like in case of emergency. Obviously I’d very much hope you wouldn’t need it but if she did get D&V she might need hospital treatment, plus kids have a knack for getting ill at the worst possible time and I’d want to make sure there are some decent options nearby and that my insurance covered it.

Definitely check health care. We took our so far always healthy two year old to Florida and he was blue lighted to hospital on the second night unable to breathe. Turned out to be very severe croup which he then had further trips to A&E with in the UK for the next three years.

Also, check required vaccinations.

As long as you're still breastfeeding, she'll be OK. Pack muslin for shade and a good sling. I think most of Goa is fairly easy these days. You'll definitely be able to pick things up for her to snack on; packs of Parle-G can be found in the most remote roadside stalls and are just the right size for a little baby fist. She should be able to nibble away at roti while you have dinner etc.
Just make sure she doesn't get nappy rash as it'll be hot and sweaty; let her have nappy free time when you can.

In all honestly I wouldn't take her at that age. I LOVE India and have spent amazing times in different parts of Goa, but I've decided I won't take mine when they're young.

It's the anxiety of them drinking tap water from your glass or getting hold of food from your plate. Or touching stuff and then chewing their fingers. Hospitals in India aren't likely worse than your average NHS one, but still, I wouldn't want to risk picking up bugs that could hit a young immune system badly.

We took DD when she was 3, so a bit older, but she'd already been to a few similar places. Had such a good time we went back the following year!

Goa is more developed than most of India, it is much more like a holiday resort, but still very Indian. I've had dodgy stomachs backpacking round India but fine in Goa and we ate out at lots of different restaurants.

We had problems getting her to take malaria tablets the first time, I'm not sure if they are still recommended (we went over 10 years ago).

Our main issue was the attention DD got. Blond, big blue eyes and very smiley. She had people constantly wanting to talk to her, touch her, take photos. It got a bit draining at times.

But overall we had a fantastic time.

Lots to think about, thank you all for your thoughts.

I did worry about the sand with crawling so helpful to hear that's not unfounded.

Not overly bothered about it being "relaxing", we have already taken a few trips with her and just tag team so we both get a bit of chilled out sun lounger time but also lots of family time.

The vaccinations I had forgotten about, looks like she'd need Hep A and Typhoid, but anti malaria tablets not required in Goa.

The access to healthcare does worry me, although Goa is Westernised it can be quite remote.

Europe probably not an option as we'd be going in February and would want somewhere where she can be mobile and doesn't have to be strapped into a sling/buggy all day. We are considering Dubai, but actually Florida could be a great alternative with less sand.

I wouldn’t tbh. I did do a holiday when one of mine was 11 months and it wasn’t particularly enjoyable. I had a much better time with mine when they were 2 plus. At that age I found naps quite restrictive as she was still on two naps and she couldn’t stay in the pool that long. It was much easier when they moved to having one long post lunch nap which gave a chunk of time to relax and then the older mine have got, the more enjoyable holidays have become .

By 11 months mine were on proper meals 3x a day- we never did pouches so not sure how filling they’d be or not.

I was also so ill when I went to India I just wouldn’t want to take the risk with a baby. I can visibly see the weight loss between day 1 and day 21 in my holiday photos. I am properly gaunt by the end. It is hard enough dealing with a poorly baby in this country but so many people get Delhi belly you would be upping the risk compared to many other countries.

Too young. Think of ear pressure as it an effect on my brother when he was very young. I hear babies screaming and crying for most of the journey on long haul flights. Why can't you wait till baby understands and can enjoy the far away destination holiday?
"When an airplane climbs or descends, the air pressure changes rapidly. The eustachian tube often can't react fast enough, which causes the symptoms of airplane ear. Swallowing or yawning opens the eustachian tube and allows the middle ear to get more air, equalizing the air pressure."

I enjoyed holidays a lot more when children were a bit older. You will be changing nappies, feeding all day on your hols. It takes time to recover from jet lag and time zone after a long journey. People can be dehydrated, exhausted and that includes developing babies. For now, a shorter journey time would be advisable.

Hi OP, I'd do Miami over Goa at that age.

We stayed at a lovely apartment complex with pools, loungers, and a kiddie pool with splashy fountains.

We barely left the complex, February weather was balmy 24-25 every day, some rain showers but they always seemed to coincide with naptime!

There were loads of restaurant options and everything was easy breezy, plus no vaccines needed.

I don't think I would and we travel a lot. It's not a cheap holiday and jet lag is a pita with small kids.

We went to France when Dts were that age and it was a bloody nightmare. They were scared of the sand (!), refused to sleep in travel cots, then they got sick, ear infections and croup. Hardly slept for three weeks.

I've heard and seen of these kids that will sleep in a pushchair while you have a nice meal - I wasn't blessed with that type!

I wouldn't be too concerned about sun protection if I was to go, in suit, hats and spf same as anywhere else and for ease for a few weeks I wouldn't worry about giving pouches / jars.

I’d wait until she’s one and had her 12 month vaccinations.

I think @WoolyMammoth55 probably has the right idea.

But really, how well Goa would go probably depends how into trance your 11 month old is 🤔

The vaccinations would bother me a bit, no doubt they are safe but it just seems a bit unnecessary.

I ended up in a Goan “hospital” (moped crash) and my boyfriend was so concerned by the hygiene he drove back to our shack to fetch the sterile needles we had. It was 25 years ago and the resorts and region have grown enormously since, but I’d want to check that out before taking a small child.

I’m usually of the mind “they have babies in other countries so why would you not” when it comes to holidays, but I wouldn’t take a baby somewhere where vaccines would be needed (I’ve had the typhoid vaccine a couple of times and it was BRUTAL), if it’s just a holiday.
I was going to suggest the Canaries for winter sun, but Florida sounds even better

Depending on when you plan to go, goa will either be very very hot or wet but I'm sure you know this!

I would make sure you get a hotel with air conditioning as this will make it much more comfortable for the baby and doesn't come as standard. I would also take all my own food as they don't really have proper supermarkets there and although they do cater to European tastes quite well, you don't want to be stressed trying to find somewhere.

To be honest, as someone who used to love going to goa(pre kids), it's not somewhere I would want to take my kids when they are very young. The heat, the flight, the jet lag is a big no from me!

February sun ideas : Canaries, Caribbean, Cancun, Florida, Dubai, Oman, Mauritius.

Mauritius in particular is very relaxed and easy with small kids (once you get through the flight anyway!) as no jetlag to speak of.