It’s generally safe and fun to travel with children in India. The nation is very fond of kids and they’ll always receive a warm welcome, which can provide a great opportunity to interact more with the local people. However, extra care should be taken when travelling with children, as they’re typically more vulnerable and susceptible to tummy bugs and other health issues. It’s especially important that you follow the tips below. I also advise checking out this section of the website (health and safety) to ensure your kids stay bright and healthy when travelling in India…

Getting a bit of Delhi Belly can be nothing more than an irritation for adults, but can be fatal for children if not treated properly. In this way make sure you take a good amount of rehydration salts along with you. The electrolytes in India tend to taste a bit funny, so I always make sure I purchase some Dioralyte before traveling.

Playing with animals is definitely not advisable as rabies is a common problem and can be contracted from something as slight as an animal’s lick on a small scratch or graze. It might therefore be worth considering getting a rabies vaccination for your children prior to travel, especially if they’re likely to play with pets and animals. Rabies jabs are usually given over a course that takes several weeks, so make sure you plan ahead if you do decide to take this route and always seek medical advice upfront.

Of course keeping kids well hydrated and out of the sunshine is also particularly important. Try to avoid being outdoors during midday and always use sunscreen. Don’t rely on inferior quality sunscreens available in India and make sure you take a good brand such as Nivea For Kids from home before you travel. Keep well covered during sunset and sleeping times to avoid biting mosquitoes. I’ve written a more detailed post on dealing with mosquitoes in India which you can read here.

You might find eating-out a slight challenge with kids, as spice is used almost throughout India in most dishes. If your children are particularly fussy when it comes to food, then taking some familiar packaged dry foods from home could be a good idea. My friend’s kids love pot noodles for example and she always brings a tonne of these when travelling in India to provide a quick, easy and fuss-free meal! On the other hand, India has become quite modernised in recent times and many of the big cities and tourist areas now provide a wide variety of foods to choose from, so you’re not necessarily restricted to local dishes anymore.

Another good tip when travelling with children is to avoid taking any unnecessary luggage and try to travel as light as you possibly can, so you can handle the kids more easily. Traveling in India can be hard work at times (as can travelling with children) so make sure you’re well prepared by ensuring you don’t additionally have lots of heavy luggage to drag around.

I’ve met several foreigners traveling with babies in India before. One mother even made the point that for her it was actually the best time to travel! You have no water or food concerns for the baby, they don’t put everything in their mouths just yet, and they can’t move around and get into trouble. Traveling with babies should be fine, as long as you don’t intend to go too far off the beaten track. Disposable nappies are widely available in most big cities and tourist areas, but do take some spare packs along with you to be on the safe side. Breastfeeding is most convenient if possible, but probably best done discreetly or privately. You will find powdered milk and safe baby foods available in most big cities, but the taste might not be the same as what your child is used to.