Hi Aarti and all,

This is the first time i am posting a message ( although i have always been an active reader ever since i got pregnant with my baby - dec 2005 club) and I really need all your valuable opinion and tips reg India trip.

First of all, with much confusion and thoughts going back and forth , we have decided that i being the mom travel alone with my baby boy( 6.5 months now: 8 months at the time of India travel and 11.5 months at the time of return)to Chennai from Detroit, USA.

Here are my first list of questions ( sorry for the elaborate mail)

- What vaccinations i should ask the PED to give ( I go to American Peds) before going to India at 8 months? Is Anti- Malaria vaccine a must ? What are the pros and cons of taking it?? What about some gamma globin ( i am not sure of the name) to prevent babies against diarrhea??

- What important medicines, bug repellents ( i need the brand names) ,sunscream creams/lotions ( is it a must that my baby always has to apply these creams before going out in the sun? )i should take to India??

- Any referrals to some Peds in Chennai who knows about US also???

- Reg Food - So far i have been very conservative and giving him only BM, and gerber cereal and fruits/veggies and occasionally some formula..I have not tried any home made food and was planning to start when he turns 7 or 7.5 months. Now we have this India trip in Aug 1st week, I thought its better to directly start home made food in India rather than trying something new 15 days before air travel..anyways, last 3 -4 days before travel and during travel, i have to give him gerber food and formula only.
Is it ok to try home made foods for the first time in India and is it ok if i start at 8 months?? Tips on the amounts and varieties of gerber food to carry to India?


- Reg Airlines - I am travelling alone by British via London to Chennai..I am not allowed any stroller in Transit and main stroller will be givven only after i land, which is of no use. However I can take umbrella stroller instead (which is not sturdy ) in the flight as a carry -on .
Tips on how to travel light and list of imp must things to pack and how should my packing be? as i have to carry the baby,plus all the luggages by myself.

-About Britrish Airways, how is the service and the transit at Heathrow?? any weird and bad experiences in BA w.r.t travelling with an infant?? I am not sure since my baby is very tall and he will be 8 months, whether i can surely get a bassinet ??what are the chances of getting? Will they surely give bassinet and friontseat becas i am travelling alone and helpless? I am not confident how i can have him in my lap all the time and how to prepare food /take something and feed him in the lap?? Any tips for the oevrall flight journey with an infant?? I cannot even visualise how it will be ? I need to build some confidence that i can manage the travel very well..

-Is there something like an cart ( or a small mobile car) which i can request to transport me to the other gate , if i am not confident i can walk with e'thing?? Where to request and how to request??

- Can i feed my baby BM on the plane and transit provided i get the front-seat? If i cannot, is it ok to skip 2 days?? will my milk supply stop after reaching India?? I would like to continue BM for some time in India and slowly wean him by 1 year?? Is there any lactation rooms or private rooms to feed my baby at the Heathrow airport??


I think this is all i can think about right now..We would be booking the ticket this week and this is my first time with BA, i have always been travelling with Lfthansa , hence i am doubly worried about travelling with an infant alone..
I have exactly a month to prepare and buy things for the travel..I am happy that i am going to India where theres a lot of help, but at the same time, i have loads of tension about the whole travel..
Also i would appreciate your tips, reg travelling within India, as i have to take my baby to tirupathi and few other religious places to offer thanks to all the Gods for giving us a wonderful baby after a highly complicated high-risk pregnancy( thatswhy i was always the silent reader)

Thanks in advance . Please reply in detail when ever you all have time and help me out with as much info as possible.

SM replied. Hi,

I am really sorry.It was a typo mistake..

my id is smmamtha@yahoo.co.in

regards,
sm DS replied. Hey SM,
I just saw ur reply..Can you give me ur correct email id as it bounced?? I sent a big mail to ur id
I need to contact you asap.

Thanks
DS supriyasanoj replied. Hai! you have really nice message from Arthi to all your queries.for pediatrition you can go to Dr Prem kumar.he is based in Surya hospital.his son is working in Us so he has been here and he has all the information about the food and medicines here.i took my son to him in my last visit.
have a nice trip.enjoy. SM replied. Hi DS,

I am planning for India trip on Aug from detroit. I am too travelling alone with my 8 month old baby boy. But i going thro Lufthansa. When are planning to go (dates) Have u bought the tickets? Where are u in Detroit?

Here's my mail id..If u want u can mail me.. smmmatha@yahoo.co.in

thanks,
sm

Hi aarti,

Thanks a lot for ur tips..It will be very helpful to me..
thanks,
sm
Aarti replied. Vaccinations: Don't worry about malaria. The docs here will frighten you but ignore them. You are going to Chennai which is a big city. Take normal precautions and you will be fine. Use mosquito net if you son will stay under it (unlikely!). Odomos, coil etc will work. Also, shut off all doors and windows of the house at dusk time. It works great.

I have not heard about gamma globulin for diarrhoea. I have been to Chennai and Blore thrice with my son (ages 5 months, 14 months, 33 months). Knock on wood there was no problem with it. Take precautions - boiling all water which comes into contact with him. My mom would wash his face and brush teeth with aquaguard water!!

Bug repellents:
You could try Avon's 'skin-so-soft' as a bug cream. But I find the new Odomos to be just fine. It smells great and is gentle for babies. I never bothered about sunscreen in Madras. We did not stay out for extended periods and I figured that what works for our people there will work for my son too! But I did make sure to put large sized hats for him when we went out.

Medications:
Take some Tylenol, maybe one bottle of Pediasure for the flight. During my stay I used only Indian meds. They are just fine. Except for my son's asthma all his meds were from India.

Referrals to some Peds in Chennai:
Sorry, not sure. My uncle was my ped. But look for younger pediatricians. I found my ped in Blore to be more aware of US meds than my uncle in Chennai who is older. The younger ones listen to you better!

Food:

\";I thought its better to directly start home made food in India rather than trying something new 15 days before air travel\";

Great thinking. I started home cooked food at 8 months when I was in India. Your family will be the best judge. Just listen to your mom or MIL for the best tips. Give him formula on the flight. You can give cereal if it is easy. But with you alone it will be difficult to hold him and mix cereal on the flight. You can give him the cereal on the stopover. Tip: Slightly underfeed during the flight. This is to prevent throwing up problems. Sorry to frighten you, but wanted to warn in advance.

Gerber food to carry to India:
Take just enough for the flight. You can take some if you intend to travel within India by train/plane. For the flight back, I bought it in Chennai. The stores - Maya plaza
in T. Nagar, Naidu hall, Amma Naana near Adyar Gate. I remember carrying two fruits and one rice cereal packet for the flight. This was when my son was 11 months (on the way back). I mainly gave him formula. He was fully on BM when he was 5 months.

Packing:
When my friends and I travelled alone, the only carry-on bag we used was a backpack style diaper bag. I bought the biggest one available at babiesrus. The brands have changed now. It is very hard to manage with any other type of carry-on bag. You need both hands free for the baby. Your back will kill you by the time you reach Chennai! But I dont know any other way. I carried three dress changes for baby and one extra top for myself.

Airlines:
I have never travelled BA. You are right - do not assume you will get a bassinet. Worst case, ask for a front row seat. Place baby on the floor in front of you when you have to mix. Sassy has a four partitioned container in which you can add pre-measured cereal or formula. That way you dont have to worry about measuring spoon by spoon. Once the four partitions are used, refill them during the stopover. That's why I suggest you don't bother with cereal during the flight.

Cart which i can request to transport me to the other gate:
Have no idea about it. Sorry.

BM on the plane:
Go ahead and practice at home using a shawl or duppatta. whether it is good for your son or not, I am not sure how your body will accept if you skip for 2 days. For some women it ends up getting engorged and hurts if the child does not suck at the usual intervals. I really think BM is much better than handling formula on the plane. It is quick and easy. Make sure you practice with the same outfit which you intend to wear on the plane. I was very concerned about flashing on the plane. But many others with me really did not bother and nobody cares.

\";Is there any lactation rooms or private rooms to feed my baby at the Heathrow airport??\";
Check on their website. Worst case, do it in the ladies room.

Reg travelling within India:
Try to finish off those trips while you are still breastfeeding. I did the same pilgrimage thing with a 5 month old. It was very easy due to the breastfeeding. No need to worry
about hygiene. It is great to do in a sari. Your family will be very supportive.

\";i have loads of tension about the whole travel..\";
I perfectly understand. make a big list and work on everything one by one. Lots of women have done it and survived ;-)


During takeoff and landing: make sure your son is sucking on a bottle or pacifier during both times. He needs to suck to prevent his ears from hurting. If he refuses keep some sugar handy. Give him two-three crystals at a time so that the sucking action continues. Keep the sugar at ready reach. Maybe in your pocket. It can also help during turbulence when air pressure can change and you might not have time to whip up a bottle.

Now for some unwanted advice. But here it goes. You will hear horror stories about airhostesses. But from what I have experienced, they are nice if you are considerate to them. Too often I have seen moms rush to them in the last minute and just shove a bottle to warm or some other request. That works against you. Just time your needs in advance, smile and say thank you a lot. I know this will sound servile, but you want the best service for yourself and your son. Inspite of all this there will be those bad apple airhostesses that are bigoted and rude. To those, I usually have strong words just as I leave the plane. I tell it to their face loudly. Sounds childish I know, but I just want them to know that we will not just take it lightly.

Don't bother if passengers stare or make comments when your son cries. You will never see those passengers again in your life! Just ignore it.

Have fun! Don;t worry - it will be okay.

Aarti