My kids going to India for the first time...Need suggestions

Hi,
I have two kids. 4 yr old and 18 months old. I am going to India for the first time with them. I am really worried about their health once they go there. I am hearing about a lot of kids falling sick there and coming back sooner than expected. Have had people asking me how i am gonna take care of them since they dont have the immunity to take the change in weather, the pollution. Could anyone tell me or i would say help me with this ? any kind of input is welcome. any suggestions to keep them healthy enough to havea good time. cold and coughs are fine but no one wants anything serious than that. Appreciate suggestions, comments, inputs...anything.
Thanks

Hema

Make sure u get a prescription to prevent malaria from ur pediatrician. It is a tablet to be taken once every week. Other things to keep in mind is water, give them filtered boiled water. As it is hot in India give them plenty of liquids. Also take some insect repelent creams for your children, the last time i went i saw marked increase in mosquitoes and other bugs. Hope this info helps.

Hi,

no worries stay cool. It is quite common among kids. As you said suddenly being exposed to a polluted place their immunity gets confused and result in cold or fever. But we can protect ourselves better. As someone said try to give only boiled water or go for bottled waters (Good brand). Since it is quite hot in our place, due to sweat they may get cold, so see to that they do not sweat much and above all they must not have anything cold or take bath after sweating. So ask them to rest under fan and once their body temperature is ok and sweat is absorbed allow them to have bath or take any cold items.Better avoid cold items for sometime till they get adjusted. Likewise wash their hands and body well in luke warm water or hot water if at all they play and come. Avoid sacrine foods and colroing agents in foods like cakes from bakery or ice creams which induce cold.Will get back i have any updates.

hi,
thank u so much for ur suggestions and ideas. will keep all of them in mind and prepare for my trip accordingly. Really appreciate.

Hema

Here are some more tips:

1. I second the anti-malarial prescription
2. Load up on insect-repellent cream - get one on the concentration suitable for children (not more than 23% DEET). I personally found insect repellent wipes to be very useful especially to wipe on ankles, back of ears etc. I am from Kerala and you will not believe the number and intensity of mosquitoes there.
3. Be very careful about water - I was anal about this - only boiled (we had aquaguard), and I also took a Brita purifier from here or good quality bottled water
4. Try not to give outside food. If you must, give only hot, coked food. Avoid chutneys and other dips.
5. Bananas are a great food to have while travelling - safe and no ned to wash.
6. Take some familiar portable non-perishable foods for the kids while traveling etc (cereal bars, kiddie cereal, Horizon milk packets, dried fruits and nuts) If you have a steady supply of snacks then you will not need to buy food from outside (if travelling - we did extensively)

Otehr than that, enjoy all the attention, spoiling and all the fun that you can get from an India trip - my 3 year old loves trains and is probably the biggest fan of Indian Railways!

Forgot one more tip - carry a lot of the handy germicidal hand sanitizers. Very useful when travelling, especially with kids who love to touch everything.