Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

My BIL was telling me he and my SIL are taking their 5 mo. old to Beaches Turks and Caicos in a couple of months. DH and I didnt say anything at the time and won't but we are ourselves dont think we would do it.

One, b/c I wouldn't want to bring an infant on a plane not having at least the 1st, some 2nd rounds of all vaccines, especially after the guy with TB got on the plane a couple of months ago and now the infant who traveled on a plane apparently with Measles to our area.

Second, they are going to a place, which like many of the caribbean islands dont have medical facilities like we do, dont have the same immunization standards that we do and aren't always the cleanest of areas.

He also mentioned leaving the baby in their day care facility during the day which freaked me out b/c what if someone took your baby (I know probably wouldnt happen but you never know). They dont have laws and police like we do either.

Maybe we're just paranoid...


ETA: I just remembered another reason. DS was around the same age last summer and my ped. told me not to take him out in the sun for too long or to the beach yet b/c I shouldnt use sunscreen on him that young...it's not good for babies skin b/c of the chemicals. And the sun is so strong down there I can't imagine them not putting sunscreen on her...I guess their ped. doesnt have the same opinion about sunscreen.

Message edited 4/7/2008 5:22:01 PM.

Re: Would you bring an infant to another country?

I would. I'd have no problems doing so. I believe that you run a risk anywhere you go. Look at the measle scare and that's here in the states.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

Honestly, I probably wouldn't want to spend the money, because I wouldn't be able to fully enjoy it if I left my DC's in the daycare. JMO!

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

No, I wouldn't travel with an infant to the caribbean. That's why we left Jared with my parents when we went. I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself.

JMHO...

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

yes I would...I wish I would go to Aruba...it's full of babies and chidren....

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

Absolutely- IMO the best time to travel with them is when they are infants because they are so easy...

I took DS to Jamaica right after he turned one- We had an awesome time!!!


ETA- I have never and would never leave my child in care of a stranger.. no resort daycare for me- If I choose to take my child on vacation with us- its because I want to spend time with them, not so he could spend time with someone else...

Message edited 4/7/2008 5:45:06 PM.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

we were told its not great to have them in the sun that much. but I had cadi in the pool and on the beach at 3 months. So i guess I would. I mean we are going on a cruise this summer with cadi but we will have my mom to make sure she is nto in the sun a lot

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

I would have said yes with no hesitation...but after having to make an emergency 911 call, I don't know anymore.

I would never feel comfortable with a daycare service. Too many stories of those nutty cruise ship workers gone bad.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

Depends where.

I thought about it with DS and was reminded that medical facilities for children in some of the Carribeans are not always up to par with what we are used to in the US in case of emergencies.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

no for me. 5 months is too young. jmo.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

I personally wouldn't because 5 mos. is too young. Plus all the stuff you would need to bring for the baby alone is just a lot of stuff.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

We took our DD to the bahamas at 7 months and it was great!!

Personally I am not too comfy with the daycare there and still at 2.5 I am not sure I would leave her...but the good thing about a smaller baby is that they aren't mobile and it makes it a lot more relaxing for mom and dad.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

We took DS to Curacao when he was 3 mo and it was fantastic! He was in the pool and absolutely loved it. I would not have left him inday care though. The reason we like to travel with DS is because we like to travel with DS! Our ped. was OK with it and recommended a sunscreen that was safe for DS's skin. DS did not have sensitive skin so it was OK.
I am due in September and we are planning another trip at the end of December. So I will again be traveling with a 3 mo

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

i would and didwhen ds was 8 months. we took him too aruba and he was awesome and had the best time. i'd wait till 6 months when you can apply sunblock though.

we had no problems keeping bugs and sun away from ds at all times. you also gotta remember that although things aren't the same as here, carribean islands have babies too.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

DD was 7 months when we went to Beaches in Turks and Caicos and it was a BLAST!!! She LOVED every minute of it!!! Pics are in my album if you want to see...She was a GREAT traveler! And the daycare and facilities they have there are fine, IMO. I didn't use them, but met lots of people who did and they raved about them. One woman had her 8 week old there and had her in daycare throughout the day.

Message edited 4/7/2008 6:28:45 PM.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

i did. we took dd on a caribbean cruise when she was 6 months old. I never left her in daycare facilities but I wouldnt if we were going to atlantic city either so thats just me. In terms of medical...that I found hard. DD got the stomach virus on the ship and there is NOTHING they could do for her and i felt trapped. They told me to get her off enfamil and put her on isomil which I totally couldnt find in the caribbean. I sought out so many drug stores.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

Posted by Stefanie

No, I wouldn't travel with an infant to the caribbean. That's why we left Jared with my parents when we went. I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself.

JMHO...

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

I am taking Kristina to Mexico this year... she'll be late 5 months early 6 months... We can't wait!

I actually asked my ped about the sunscreen thing, and he told me that the reason why they have the 6 month restriction on the sunscreens is to deter parents from bringing babies into sunlight thinking that just b/c they have sunscreen on they are safe. He said that she would be fine in Mexico.

Also.... at that point she will have 2 visits worth of vaccinations in her - they get at 2 mos, and 4 mos, so I'm not sure why you are concerned about that, unless the childs parents aren't interested in getting their child vaccinated.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

I would go to some of the wealthier Islands without a problem.

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

Yep. And we did. DS was 8 months old when we went on a cruise.

No offense, but I think you are being a little judgmental. It isn't like they are taking a 1 week old! We went to a family reunion with DS when he was 3 months old and he had only had the first of his shots and we stayed in a house with 20+ people!

Do you really think someone keep their infant in their house til they are 1? Because that is when the MMR is given

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?

I would do it in a HEARTBEAT!!!! He's 5 mts and they are going in a few months? So he will probably be about 7-8 mts old? I would do it at 3 mts!!!

Re: Would you travel with an infant to the Caribbean?