nipple and baby care in the himalayas.

January 8, 2007 3:14 AM

we're taking a four month old baby to north east india in two weeks. please give us some travel tips about travelling with a baby in india and keeping her warm and my nipples from getting frostbite.

we're going to dolangi if anyone has heard of it. near solan, or shimla, but shimla is a lot higher above sea level than dolangi.

i've been to india many times before, but never with a baby. and i've never travelled with a baby. she's part breast fed (hence my anxiety about the health of my nipples.... fascinating to you all, i'm sure) and part bottle.

i've got water purifying tablets and sterilising tablets (milton, if you've heard of it) and we're taking enough disposable diaper/nappies to sink a ship.....

we also can't remember what the electric sockets look like and they're all different all over india, of course.

i'm sure i have more questions that i haven't thought of, so any old advice or experience or educated guesses would be gratefully devoured.
desperate taff
not currently with frozen nipples.......in sunny downtown sydney by the sea

posted by taff to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

I have no experience with cold weather traveling but for all kinds of travel with babies a good baby carrier is really helpful.
posted by davar at 3:45 AM on January 8, 2007

A friend recommended a girdle-type wrap around your belly so that when you lift your shirt your skin isn't exposed, or else nursing shirts so you dont have to be lifting your shirt. But are you planning on nursing outside a lot? If not, I wouldn't worry about frostbite on the nipples.

Second the carrier or stroller.

Several people like a wrap-thingie that goes over the infant carrier or stroller so that you don't have to put a coat on the munchkin, just pop her into the car seat and she's already bundled up. Something like this , although that one won't ship to you.
posted by leahwrenn at 6:38 AM on January 8, 2007

I don't live in Northern India, but I do live in Montreal, Canada. As the other posters say the easiest way to get around (I've spent a few months in India) is probably going to be to carry her with you all the time. As you know nice flat sidewalks, suitable for pushing a pram/baby carriage are sometimes hard to come by in India!

I'd recommend an adjustable baby carrier (I have the Canadian made baby-trekker but I'm sure you have something similar in your neck of the woods). Just put a coat or shawl over the both of you so she is in your body heat. This will keep you warm while breastfeeding outside too, as you can breastfeed while she is in the carrier.
posted by Cuke at 7:01 AM on January 8, 2007

Counterintuitively, you don't need to carry as much baby gear when traveling in the developing world as you do at home. You can buy diapers one at a time in any corner store, for example; ditto for other standard supplies. Bulky strollers and carriers aren't much help on crowded sidewalks. Etc.

Frostbite per se won't happen to your nipples, unless you take up topless jogging. But chapping and chafing are a real concern in the cold, so bring some good ointment.

Consider talking to your doctor about putting together a "my baby has awful diarrhea" kit --- some infant rehydration solution, maybe some antibiotics, etc --- so that if it does happen you are prepared and it isn't as much of a crisis.
posted by Forktine at 7:17 AM on January 8, 2007

I've done plenty of breastfeeding outside in cold weather, and it really isn't a problem -- unzip your coat, pull up your shirt, pop the kid on and let her keep you warm.

I've never tried this, but one tip I read on misc.kids.breastfeeding was to take a tank top and cut out the boob area, leaving the belly, back, and straps. Wear it under your shirt. Then, when you lift up your shirt to nurse, your belly won't be exposed. But really, I don't think it'll be a problem.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:20 AM on January 8, 2007

Hmmm, would it be possible to exclusively breastfeed for the duration of the trip? It seems a lot safer than risking sickness from the water, regardless of your plans to purify.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 7:21 AM on January 8, 2007

I, or more accurately my wife, highly recommend using pure lanolin on your nipples. Seems to help prevent chafing, cracking, etc.
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:32 AM on January 8, 2007

I sencond the pure lanolin that cosmicbandito recommends. We have a product in the US called Lansinoh that is bar none the best topical treatment, and recommended by all the lactation consultants.

As for the cold, I live in Boston and did this last winter with my 6mo: buy a few really warm thermal shirts (maybe even in a men's size because it's nice to have them long in the back), then cut holes right where your nipples are. When it's time to nurse, you just open your coat and/or lift your sweater and, blammo, there's a nipple, with no nasty draft along they rest of your body.
posted by cocoagirl at 8:56 AM on January 8, 2007

Maybe a couple of sodium acetate heating packs? They can also be used to warm up hands or feet, and are reloaded in boiling water.

You can find them very cheaply, more than US$2 for a palm-sized one is a rip-off.
posted by stereo at 11:35 AM on January 8, 2007

When I couldn't find lanolin (and some people are allergic), olive oil works great (and good for baby's dry skin). Great advice above. I'd evaluate whether you have access to good drinking water to buy or carry. If not then a water filter and/or as mentioned above consider just breastfeeding (just because you've been often and may have good immune system, doesn't mean your little one does).

Other things to consider: alcohol gel to clean your hands, ziplock bags big enough for a diaper. When travelling (with twins) we carried a big ziplok with a couple of diapers, a small bottle of alcohol gel, a small bottle of water, pack of tissues, and several ziplocks for dirty diapers. If your medication oriented, then it wouldn't hurt to take some baby tylenol liquid and a syringe.

Just as you would for you travelling, take baby clothes that are easy to (hand) wash, and maybe some soap. I always found that having a baby meant that MY clothes got dirty faster, and so you may want more clothes than without a little one to mess them up (or clothes that you can wash spit up out of easily).

Having babies and no car in Canada, I agree with front pack. Make sure it fits with the heavy clothes you and the baby will wear. Some babies' outerwear had flip/flop or removable mitts/booties. While handy, I didn't like the drafts. We sometimes put adult socks on baby's hands/arms and feet/legs under snowsuit to keep out drafts.
posted by kch at 8:09 PM on January 8, 2007

And pack a few extra little gifts for people who help you by providing somewhere warm and comfortable to breastfeed, or who heat a bottle or whatever. You are less able to be self-sufficient with a baby to care for, but can make some good connections with other people.
posted by Idcoytco at 6:40 AM on January 9, 2007