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

Aarushi,
I carried all of the required formula for my son. He is severely allergic to dairy - so soy based formula.
We do get good quality milk in India now. As Malathi mentioned in Chennai - Aavin and Heritage are quite good.

I guess a little bit of loose stools and some initial diarrhoea is expected for all kids going to India. If some one said this to me prior to my India trip I would have freaked out but it is true. Its something in the very air itself that is so different from here. My son had some loose bowel movement when we landed in Chennai - for 2 days, then he was fine. 10 days later we visited Bangalore for a day and on return again loose bowel movements for my son!!

It is good that you have already applied for your daughter's PIO card. My hubby and I make our life exciting and nail biting! We applied so late that it reached us a week before we left for India!!!

Gayathri

Hi Ladies

Each one of your mails was so encouraging to read, as I have been freaking out the last couple of weeks travelling to India with my 14 month old daughter. Iam still freaked out, but hope to get more encouragement from you ladies. I am gonna be bugging you for answers in the days to come.

Thanks
Gayathri (Toronto, Canada)

Hi Aarushi, Gayathri, I travelled alone with my boy one way back (from India to Europe) after his first birthday. So I suppose the journey is not long as compared with US. I carried milk powder (portioned... i bought the plastic portioners available), his fav biscuits, rusks, juice (in tetra pack) and also ready-to-drink milk drinks (like gerber). I also carried a flask with hot water but the air-hostess are very obliging. But I must tell you don't think about scooping out milk powder with a baby in lap (my son was given a basinett but he preferred my lap.. he's a bit tall for his age so he must have been uncomfortable). I saw a fellow passenger with a baby of same age scooping out milk powder, spilling them all over and getting stressed out! To visit the loo i took him inside the loo as well:( But most of the time he slept. Again I travelled alone last year (he was 22 months.. more active). He sat on my lap but the seat next to me was free so i could seat him. He ate whatever was offered, played with his fav toy and slept. I did carry the ready-to-drink again and milk powder and fruits. Also made him walk now n then. Actually he was quiet and not like I feared. Once the lights were switched off he slept. I must add that our transit was a bit tight and he actually carried his little back pack and ran with me to catch the flight... very sweet:) Make sure to make them drink something (or suck on something) while take-off and landing. coz if the pressure hits their ears they go ers! And if they're not eating much fine, but they shd drink a lot else urination becomes another source of irritation. I also carried some bread coz he likes them a lot. Carry additional clothes... i ended up changing my boy twice... and i also carried his house-shoe and changed it once the flight took off that way they are comfortable and also the feet stays warm. I don't remember sleeping at all due to unnecessary worries:( Latha

Gayathri and Latha, Thanks a lot!! You guys have given invaluable tips and info...I'm feeling much better after reading all your messages...

love,
Aarushi

hi all,

Good to see the tips flowing about India travel.

I gave my kid Hepatatis A shot. It should be given two times in the interval of 6 months. I gave one before going to India and one after coming back. Check with your pediatrician, mine suggested that.

Hope my suggestions are also of little help. Give only boiled or bottled water in India, take mosquito repellent with you and apply that before dusk.

Umbrella strollers are handy, taking blanket is a excellent suggestion. You get whole milk, juice, crackers etc on board. I took extra empty bottles/sippy cups and I'll fill them by requesting the airline attendent 1h before landing. So I always had enough supplies on hand during the transit (5hrs @ amsterdam).

Minimize your hand baggage as much as possible as we'll be already like porters carrying baby, stroller, diaperbag etc.,

Take snacks as they really come handy. I remember taking one whole ziplock of cheerios, gerber graduates etc., Other than that you can have their books, toys etc.,

MAYA

Maya, Mosquito repellent that's the most important tip I totally forgot:) My boy developed some rashes just the next day after we landed in Chennai. The paediatrician said just one mosquito bite is enough to start those rashes for children coming from abroad:) So when we went last year I took a mosquito repellent for children from here itself and applied it before landing. I wonder if we get any special repellents for children in India! That's a very important point... Latha

Hi Ladies



As some of you already know that I am travelling to India with my 14 month old daughter in the middle of Feb from Toronto , canada . I do intend to take a cab to the airport and obviously we do not intend to take the car seat. Does anyone know of a cab service that will provide car seat to tavel to and from the airport? I asked a few people and was suggested that "Oh, you could ask your friends or family to drop you off"............. etc. .But.......... with all the baggage and stuff , we prefer a taxi service. Please ladies, if u know any service that will provide car seats, iam so eager to hear from you.



Thanks

Gayathri

Hi Gayathri,
There are Airport Shuttles, these are just vans.......they used to provide car seat. You have to book that some1/2 days before your travell day, we did booked that 5 days earlier. They have a form and everything is there. These are a little costlier, but its a very good one. You can also book both way journey so that you will get some discount.
They used to call you just before their arrival and are very good.
You can try for that.
Regards.

Thanks so much Maya and Latha for your suggestions!! I'll get her shots done before we leave and also get a mosquito repellent cream...

Will also carry empty bottles and do what you suggested for the transit time...

Thanks again ladies!! You guys are awesome!!:)

love,
Aarushi

Well, this forum is very good to read. I'm travelling to India this January with 12 month infant. I just wanted to find out what kind of mosquito repellent i need to carry to india. Any pointers would help out.

Has anyone travelled on British Airways to india with infant? How are the seatings and which is the good seat to select?

Thanks
AishVijay