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Ask Shelly: Should we travel to Nepal with a 4-month-old baby?
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Prayer flags in front of the Monkey Temple (Swoyambhunath) in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo by McKay Savage.
I received a note from a father who had just ordered Travels with Baby and was deciding with his wife whether or not to plan a trip to Nepal with their 4-month-old baby. Understandably, he has some reservations.
While Travels with Baby (the book) will certainly help with preparing an appropriate travel kit, packing considerations, overseas flight planning, travel shot and vaccination information, getting the first time passport for an infant (and photo), etc., I thought it would be good to further address some of the issues of planning overseas “exotic” travel of this nature with a young infant.
First, I would just say that if you’re going to travel to Nepal at any time in your child’s first few years, 4 months may actually be one of the best times to undertake the trip, provided that you avoid visiting the malaria risk arias in Nepal, which the CDC currently defines as:
“Risk in rural areas at altitudes below 1,200 m (<3,937 ft) in the Tarai and Hill districts bordering India and in the areas of the inner Tarai valley areas of Udaypur Sindhupalchowk, Makwanpur, Chitwan, and Dang. No risk in Kathmandu or on typical Himalayan treks.”(Click here for more information.)
Here’s why:
Track record of overall infant health:
At 4 months old, your infant will hopefully have established a good track record of health and growth, he or she will have already received most of the vaccinations that are especially important for protection in underdeveloped regions of the world (verify with your doctor), and your pediatrician will be familiar with your child’s overall health situation and be able to give you the thumbs up for long-distance travel. Make sure you discuss the prospect of this trip with your child’s doctor ASAP, however, as most vaccinations take some time to become fully effective.
At 4 months old, your infant will hopefully have established a good track record of health and growth, he or she will have already received most of the vaccinations that are especially important for protection in underdeveloped regions of the world (verify with your doctor), and your pediatrician will be familiar with your child’s overall health situation and be able to give you the thumbs up for long-distance travel. Make sure you discuss the prospect of this trip with your child’s doctor ASAP, however, as most vaccinations take some time to become fully effective.
Established and successful breastfeeding:
Also, breastfeeding will hopefully be well-established for both baby and mom, which will help give everyone confidence for travel and the added immunity benefits for baby (to whichever germs mom’s exposed to along the way) as you all travel.
Food and water safety advantages:
Provided the infant is still exclusively breastfed at this stage, you won’t have the worries of food and water safety to deal with, particularly since young children don’t routinely receive the Hepatitis A vaccination (an important “travel shot”) until 2 years. Since your infant isn’t yet mobile, you also won’t have the worry that he or she has found or accepted a snack without your approval. As the caregivers for your child, however, it will be especially important that you both observe strict food and water safety practices to hopefully prevent becoming ill yourselves, and mom will need to stay extremely well hydrated to keep up with the demands of nursing in the climate and at higher elevations.
Sleep patterns and napping:
With any luck, your baby will also be sleeping longer stretches now, which will make it easier to get the rest you need along the way, though you will still have the benefit of your baby taking multiple naps per day, which make it much easier for mom and dad to sight see and for everyone to adjust to a radically different time zone. You’ll also be able to take advantage of an airline bassinet on at least your overseas flight, while your child is still young enough to snooze in flight without being too distracted by other passengers, noises, and lights, as older babies and toddlers often are.
With any luck, your baby will also be sleeping longer stretches now, which will make it easier to get the rest you need along the way, though you will still have the benefit of your baby taking multiple naps per day, which make it much easier for mom and dad to sight see and for everyone to adjust to a radically different time zone. You’ll also be able to take advantage of an airline bassinet on at least your overseas flight, while your child is still young enough to snooze in flight without being too distracted by other passengers, noises, and lights, as older babies and toddlers often are.
Ease of portability and protection:
At 4 months, you will each be able to wear your child close to you in a sling or wrap nearly all of the time you are traveling (you may want to each bring your favorite and enjoy the versatility), which will give your baby added protection from the many friendly hands that will come after her (read “Cultural Considerations” in Part 3 of Travels with Baby) in this part of the world, and keep her elevated above the street dogs, dust, and curious children you’ll likely encounter in more crowded settings. (It’s not easy explaining to American toddlers the prevalence of rabies and other diseases among dogs in some parts of the world.)
At 4 months, you will each be able to wear your child close to you in a sling or wrap nearly all of the time you are traveling (you may want to each bring your favorite and enjoy the versatility), which will give your baby added protection from the many friendly hands that will come after her (read “Cultural Considerations” in Part 3 of Travels with Baby) in this part of the world, and keep her elevated above the street dogs, dust, and curious children you’ll likely encounter in more crowded settings. (It’s not easy explaining to American toddlers the prevalence of rabies and other diseases among dogs in some parts of the world.)
Final considerations:
Still, it’s a long way from Western medical facilities to travel with a person just a few months old, and I’m not sure how remote you plan to get during your stay. Your comfort level in traveling with your baby is extremely important, and there are plenty of interesting places to see in the world, if given the opportunity.
It’s not just about proving you’re brave or courageous to set out traveling with an infant, it’s also about planning a smart, safe trip with your back-ups and plans B & C well thought out in advance. For example, if your infant developed a fever that hadn’t broken in 2 days, what would you do? Would you be somewhere you could help manage the fever and get the help you need—for an infant? You may find after some discussion that another destination feels like a better fit at this time, and if so, honor it.
If you both decide to go to Nepal, or to a similar destination with your baby, here are a few extra tips I hope you’ll consider with links to additional information. (You’ll also find more information on these topics in Travels with Baby.)
> Discuss your travel plans with a professional at a Travel Medicine Clinic who can give the latest advice on health concerns in the areas you plan to visit, including any special considerations for infants and children.
> Make sure your travel shots and other vaccinations are up to date and include all recommended vaccinations for the destination you’ll visit (click here for Nepal, or here to find Traveler’s Health information for other countries).
> Get travel insurance for trip cancellation, interruption, etc. Your infant may even be free.
> Consider medical evacuation coverage in the event that any one of you needed to be hospitalized.
> Register with IAMAT for help finding an English-speaking, Western-trained doctor.
> Check for any current Travel Warnings to be aware of before your trip.
Wherever you decide to go, I wish your family an amazing, safe adventure. Happy travels!
Shelly Rivoli is the author of the award-winning guide Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children.
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Questions for Shelly? Send an email to examiner (at sign) travelswithbaby (dot) com.
For more help planning overseas travel with babies and young children: Check out Shelly's award-winning book Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children, and visit www.travelswithbaby.com.
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