Travelling to India with a baby / toddler (17 month old)

Hi Aarushi,

Nice to know you are going home. Is this Diya's first time? You have already got some nice inputs by Meeta, Gayathri and Vidhya. So here is my take on it:

Seats: If you are not getting a separate seat for her, then my advice is don't go for the bulk head seat. Agreed that leg space is more. But the biggest disadvantage ( if you don't get bassinet) is that you cannot lift up the arm rest between two seats. Also , if KLM has individual TV screens, then those are stored under the seats in the bulk head row. And they become a nuisance when one wants to get up and go out. So my suggestion would be to go for a two seater or 3 seater , since your hubby is coming with you. Since it is the lean season , i am sure the flight may not be full, so they can accomodate your request for adjacent empty seats if any.

Stroller: Do take an umbrella stroller. If you are coming back alone, its a great help . You will not have to carry Diya as well as your hand luggage.

Food: Read that you want to carry a flask. Skip it . All of the airlines do provide good quality water. Most carry low fat milk too. So do ask KLM . Else just take some milk powder. Like others have said, take all her favorite snacks, some cheese, paratha's etc..... And yes travel light .

Hope this helps.

Vandhana

Thanks so much Vandhana!!! I have been feeling bad about not getting a bulkhead seat..but yr answer has made me feel tons better... Right now in a couple of legs, I have got the 2 seater seats and in 2 legs the aisle and middle seats. Hopefully she'll be able to sleep on both our laps this way...

Will go ahead and buy a lightweight umbrella stroller ( I have the bulky graco one currently like Gayathri's)...

One more question - did you get any shots done for her like hepatitis A etc?

And yes, this is her first time.. everybody at home is so excited about meeting her..and us too...

love,
Aarushi

Aarushi,

Yes. contact your ped ASAP. They will give travel shots. Hep A, also any boosters that are due around 18 months and malaria pills( which you can crush, mix with honey and give).
Also if there are mosquitoes around where you are going. Please get this product from Himalaya Herbal " mosquito repellent cream" Fully herbal, no side effects, and safe for kids. The ones from here are no use in India.

Vandhana

Aarushi,

Glad to know that you are going to travel home with Diya. I am sure lots of people out there are waiting to pamper Diya .

Many IL'ites here have given you valuable inputs. I just wanted to add based on my experience of travelling with Kavya to India when she was 10months old.

Don't worry about not getting bulk head seats. If you don't get a bassinet (or) if Diya is not liking to stay in the bassinet, that row is going to be more a pain than comfort.
Instead a 3 row or 2 row seats are far better to manage.

Only thing you need to worry about is getting Diya to stay in your lap/arms during the long flights. Don't forget to give her something to chew or drink while the flight lands and takes off. That will ease the ears blocking or hurting. Most of the kids cry for this reason.

Regarding milk, you get 2% in most of the flights. Don't carry flask, as V said you can ask flight attendants for warm water and take milk powder for safety sake. Try to give less solid foods (may be only 3 meals) and rest give her liquids (water, juice & milk) to keep her hydrated.

Take Diya's favorite blanket or quilt, if she is used to something like that. That will help getting them to sleep easily. Take a few soft toys. Do not check-in the umbrella stroller. Hand it over in the gates so that it comes handy during changing flights. Remember to take diaper rash cream and apply it once or twice while changing even if she hasn't got rashes on a safety measure.

Regarding medication, I got flu shots for Kavya whichever was due at that time. Travel clinic gave her a compounded medicine for malaria (very expensive). Otherwise, a tylenol or motrin in the diaper bag might be good for an emergency.

Rest you and your DH should be prepared to carry her and go for plenty of walks within the flight.

Don't worry much (that too almost 2 months ahead :), Diya is a sweetie pie and she will be all good in the flights.

Malathy

Thanks Vandhana about the shots info!! I'll contact my ped first thing tomorrow morning.

Thanks Malathy for the gate check idea. Will do that. Actually we are leaving 2nd March, so its just 5 weeks... Will follow all your advise about the milk, meals and snacks..and also about keeping her hydrated....and something for her to chew/drink while taking off or landing...

I'm so relieved today after reading all your messages...all your first hand experience and advise is making me feel not so tensed...

love,
Aarushi

Hi Aarushi,
It is upto you whether you carry a flask or not. I was just relating my experience with a 1 yr old. Sometimes the flight attendants will not respond quickly and the child will be howling in hunger. Anyway plan according to the temperament of your child. And hot water was useful for mixing formula while waiting (3 hours) at Doha for flight change. You can carry liquids when you get down for flight changes. No one checks while de-boarding.

My son was prescribed malaria doses by his pediatrician in powder form once a week for 9 weeks. We started 1 week before the trip and continued after we came back. It is a special formulation and required pre-authorization from the Medical Insurance Co. I am not aware of the travel clinic Malathy is referring to.

Again do check with the airline on whether your umbrella stroller will be provided to you during flight changes and immediately on landing in India. My cousin travelled by British Airways and she was given her umbrella stroller in London but it only came to her in the baggage claim at Chennai. In the meantime she and her in-laws had to carry their twins through immigration, etc.

Anyway good luck with the trip.

Gayathri

Thanks Gayathri for the tip and info! Knowing Diya, I better be prepared for anything and everything!

I'll call up the airlines and find out about the stroller...Thanks again!

love,
Aarushi

Hey Aarushi,

Just thought of one more thing... you probably have this covered.
Are you and your child citizens of USA and have the required Visa/OCI papers for the India visit?

Gayathri

Gayathri: Both hubby and I are covered. I've applied for PIO card for the baby sometime back..hopefully we should get it in the next 2 weeks or so.

One more question to all of you- did you carry powdered milk (or toddler formula) from here or give her the regular milk over there?

Right now Diya is taking whole milk...and I want to continue that..but I heard that most times the milk over there causes diarrohea in babies or has a laxative effect...so its better to carry powdered version..what do you suggest?

love,
Aarushi

Aarushi,

I did not carry any milk powder for Kavya. She was 10months when I travelled to India. She turned 12 months in India and I directly started with aavin/heritage milk that we get there. You also get some pasteurized milk that come in cartons which has less lactative effect is what I heard from other moms who had travelled. I would suggest you travel light, if required get milk powder in India.

Travel clinic that I referred to is part of the Pediatric clinic that I take Kavya to. They look into travel medication needs depending on the age of the child.

When you call the airlines to ask about stroller, ask them whether they allow stroller till the gate. Then you can get it in the gate while you change flights. Do not check-in, then you will get it only during baggage claim. But airlines to airlines they differ.

Regards,
Malathy