I know there are a few MNers in Nairobi so I'm hoping I can get some advice.
A friend is fostering a baby from an orphanage and if she can, she will be adopting the baby when the 6 month period is up (they are looking for his family to give consent but the deadline is nearly up).
She has lived in Nairobi for quite a few years now but as she was a single woman she doesn't really know any families with small babies, and has very little experience with babies in general. Hence she has no idea what she needs or where to get it in Nairobi! I asked if she needs me to send her Sudocrem or Calpol and she had no idea what either of them were. She had never heard of washable nappies either which could save her a bob or two.
Anyway it looks like my mum and I are probably going out there to help out for a few weeks and I'll bring my 4 month old with me. He's all up to date with his UK jabs, exclusively breastfed, and we won't be leaving Muthaiga so I didn't think we needed all the laundry lists of jabs - I have been to Kenya many times before and never had any special jabs or took anti-malarials, so I'm not sure what to do for DS.
So, question 1 : if you are in Nairobi, what is difficult to obtain or prohibitively expensive that I should bring with me? I thought maybe formula, a set of washable nappies, calpol, sudocrem, a good sling and possibly a good all terrain buggy (though I don't remember doing much walking in Nairobi!!)
And question 2 : should I get any additional jabs for DS, considering we will be in Muthaiga the whole time and he won't be coming into contact with any food other than my breastmilk?
Finally question 3 : she will be needing an ayah when she goes back to work (she is on leave at the moment). Any advice on how to find a good one?
Thanks, wise MNers!!