Hi all,
I wouldn't give safety a second thought, your daughter will attract lots of attention and only in a good way. Indians are warm and friendly and very inquisitive. The only issue I could see you having is regarding food. The standards of hygiene are not what we are use to in the west and consequently you are running a greater risk of bacterial problems. I'm not even convinced this is a bad thing. I think in the west our food is "cleaned" to the point of loosing most of the nutrients, so which is worse? You do harden up to the bacteria's. Some people faster than others and some seem to be immune from the start.
Ok so with that in mind. As a general rule higher end restaurants and guest houses will have food that is on par with western restaurants. They have the internet, they arnt stupid, they know what westerners want and need. Ive seen familys with tiny babys out on the Annapurna trail in Nepal and they were having a great time. It just takes a bit more planning. There are safer areas of India that would be easier. Goa not only is very use to the western tourists, it was up until the 70's in Portuguese hands for 500 years. So they well know how to take care of you. Id say on the whole the south of India is easier to travel in. But some of the places in the far north just shouldnt be missed. Depends on how much time you have. Weather is pretty extreme in India and is always a factor in planing your trip. research research!
I think there is no problem, but you just have to take care of her. If her mother go along, it is quite ok. Maybe it is a new exciting experience on traveling. isn't it? Have a good journey.[snip]
I completely understand where are you coming from, but I would strongly suggest that you wait 1-2 years.
Your daughter should have a chance to have all the possible vaccines (typhoid, hepatitis, polio,...) plus built up some immunity to everyday germs. At 18 months there are many bugs out there which cause an adult some discomfort but can kill a small child.
I have never understood people who took their babies to Egypt just because it was a package holiday on the beach - Egypt is a tropical, third-world country, the youngest age I would take a child there would be at 4 or 5 years. Similar applies to India I would say. Sure there might be places where the hygiene and medical care is good in India - but India will still be there when your daughter is a bit older, so why rush it?
BTW, just because you have a baby to consider does not need you have to stay at the Costa del Sol - Europe is big and exciting and safe for a small child. Travelling with a campervan is a good and inexpensive way to see Europe and quite practical too.
I completely understand where are you coming from, but I would strongly suggest that you wait 1-2 years.
Your daughter should have a chance to have all the possible vaccines (typhoid, hepatitis, polio,...) plus built up some immunity to everyday germs. At 18 months there are many bugs out there which cause an adult some discomfort but can kill a small child.
I have never understood people who took their babies to Egypt just because it was a package holiday on the beach - Egypt is a tropical, third-world country, the youngest age I would take a child there would be at 4 or 5 years. Similar applies to India I would say. Sure there might be places where the hygiene and medical care is good in India - but India will still be there when your daughter is a bit older, so why rush it?
BTW, just because you have a baby to consider does not need you have to stay at the Costa del Sol - Europe is big and exciting and safe for a small child. Travelling with a campervan is a good and inexpensive way to see Europe and quite practical too.
I spent the best part of a year in a campervan travelling round NZ & OZ and absolutely loved the freedom, although we would need a quite large van for the three of us, thanks for reminding me I feel quite inspired!
i , too, would be very wary. a suggestion: whilst it is not india, it is still possible to go off the beaten track in bali and have a great experience with your little one. it is not without risks, i admit, but might suit your purposes.
Hi all,
Would it be wise to take my 18 month old daughter to India?
I have a burning desire to travel to India and have an 18 month old daughter to consider, is this sensible? Are there better parts for children of that particular age? I refuse to accept that as a father my holidays must be of the Costa del sol variety!
Thanks in advance.
"I refuse to accept that as a father my holidays must be of the Costa del sol variety!"
Oh you poor man, how terrible. That's what happens when we become parents, it is no longer about "I", it is "We".
Very often parents find that there are limitations in their lives, they are responsible not just for themselves, but for another human being. And that little person is solely dependent on them and has no say.
Your profile says you're from the UK - India's climate is vastly different to a country that has grey skies, lots of rain and very mild summers. I should think that taking the poor little tyke to India wouldn't be much fun for her. Babies feel the heat much more than us adults.
So what if you are relegated to the Costa del sol variety - big whoopee do. The earth won't stop revolving if you don't get to the sub-continent for a while. It'll still be there when your daughter's a little older. Try considering her needs before your own and go somewhere where she won't be miserable.
[ 26-Apr-2010, at 17:19 by Whistler 2 ]
"I refuse to accept that as a father my holidays must be of the Costa del sol variety!"
Oh you poor man, how terrible. That's what happens when we become parents, it is no longer about "I", it is "We".
Very often parents find that there are limitations in their lives, they are responsible not just for themselves, but for another human being. And that little person is solely dependent on them and has no say.Your profile says you're from the UK - India's climate is vastly different to a country that has grey skies, lots of rain and very mild summers. I should think that taking the poor little tyke to India wouldn't be much fun for her. Babies feel the heat much more than us adults.
So what if you are relegated to the Costa del sol variety - big whoopee do. The earth won't stop revolving if you don't get to the sub-continent for a while. It'll still be there when your daughter's a little older. Try considering her needs before your own and go somewhere where she won't be miserable.
Absolutely - couldn't agree more.
Furthermore, as t-maia says, your daughter's immune system will not be fully developed, so why risk it? There is far more risk of your daughter picking something up in India than there is in your home country, and the standard of medical care and facilities is almost certainly not going to be as good. I got quite sick in Indonesia recently and had to see a doctor; it was scary being sick in an unfamiliar country where I wasn't sure about the standard of the medical facilities, and surely it would be even more stressful for a parent if this happened to a child.
Your holidays certainly don't need to be limited to the Costa Del Sol from now on but there are plenty of other interesting destinations you could visit without putting your daughter at risk.
I think exposing your child to somewhere so radically different as India is a fantastic idea. By all means, do it. However, I would agree with people that you should wait maybe 2 more years to take your little one- First of all, even in big cities such as Delhi, there is rarely a sidewalk and the streets in alot of areas are very poor quality and full of potholes, making pushing a stroller (or pram I think you'd call it?) difficult/impossible and very very uncomfortable for your daughter. (I know this because I visited with a friend who'd broken her foot and had to wheelchair about for a portion of the journey!) So if she's not completely self-sufficient walking-wise, you should be prepared to carry her through much of the country.
Definitely think you should take her eventually, but I do agree with others about the food issue. If you do take her, don't let her eat any meat products as a majority of Indians are vegetarian, and you don't know how long that meat has been sitting out waiting for a foreigner to eat it. If she does get sick, there are some very good hospitals, but why risk?
She will be the subject of ALOT of good attention, Indian people love foreigners and especially foreign children. Wait until she's old enough to remember the trip though! It will be such a positive impact on her for life.
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