A lady in my church says I am going to KILL my baby!!!

[Terra]

Originally Posted by paintedbison Unlike most posters, I would totally go and take a four month old with me! Of course, DH and I would like to do career missions in the future... I have never been to South America, but I don't see the big deal. Malaria would probably be the biggest concern, and you addressed that in another post. I think as long as you drink to thirst and continue feeding baby on demand, you'll be fine. I don't think the heat will be a big deal. Keep him in the shade. It's not like he'll be laying tile. Working in the heat is probably what made the men the lady knew pass out. And the fact that men are stubborn and probably weren't drinking enough water. I think four months old is really a pretty good age to take a baby. He's not eating solids so no risk there. He's not old enough to crawl so he won't be wanting down on nasty floors. He's not going to be walking around sticking everything in his mouth. I just don't really see anything that can happen with him riding around in a sling breastfeeding. Have a good time. Mission trips are life changing experiences!

I want to get back into missions as well. And I would have no problem taking my 1 1/2 year old and soon to be newborn!!

Kudos to you for hearing and heeding the call of the Lord anyway!!
First, sounds like that lady is just spoiled and selfish in her thinking. I won't go into long theological reasons, but I think it's wonderful that you are including the whole family on this wonderful adventure!!! [who cares if he won't remember it, he'll see pictures and that will be awesome!].

Originally Posted by shanree YEP I am taking old ratty PF's though, nothing fancy. I know that they CD at the orphanage there, so it would be kind of unfair if I come in with sposies anyway In my mind cloth woul be the easier option anyway, taking enough sposies to last a week would be a whole other luggage bag in itself.

Glad to hear they CD and you're going to still do it too!!!!!
I did take a missions trip to Honduras about 10 years ago and they of course CD'ed or did nothing because they were so poor. Shoot some of them only had one outfit to where all the time. Many children ran around with out diapers at all....talk about EC'ing!!

Blessings on your trip mama!!!!! I hope that you see and experience many wonderful Spirit-led moments!!

[soonerfan]

I personally would not do this. You said you will be in a rural, remote area meaning that your access to medical care will be extremely limited.

Regardless of whether or not the specific area you will be in has instances of certain diseases, whether spread by insect or humans, you will still have to travel to get there. This means your LO will be exposed to all sorts of people, not only the ones in the remote village you will be in.

By eating the local food and drinking the local water, you will almost *certainly* have some sort of digestive issue- not because the water or food is bad, but because it is different than what your system is used to. While unlikely, the same thing can happen traveling in the U.S. It will be hard enough to keep yourself hydrated.

If a 4 month old gets diarrhea, they can most certainly die. I'm not saying that you are putting a death sentence on your child (or whatever the crazy woman said), but seemingly little concerns like a stomach bug are a BIG deal in third world countries.

It doesn't sound like you are going to the safest area, and I would not put my very small child in that position.

I have traveled extensively, both before and after kids. When they are that young, I would be very, very cautious about where I took them - - and a remote, rural village in a third world country would not be a place I took a 4 month old.
Just my thoughts.

[Lisa_m]

I don't think it's a good idea. If I was in that situation, I wouldn't go. The children that live there have always lived there and are used to the climate, your baby is not. I've heard that babies are poor at regulating their body temperature and if he is overheated he might be lethargic and not want to nurse even though he needs to. Also, there are probably bugs and illnesses there that you don't have at home. I wouldn't want the baby to get bit by something or come down with something and not be able to get proper medical care. I don't agree with what that woman said, but I don't think it's as simple as you think it is going to be.

ETA: I just remembered my husband's aunt went on a missions trip to the DR 3 years ago. They were robbed by a gang of men with machetes! There are a lot of things to consider here and even if you lost money, I still think it's better not to go. Maybe you can find someone to take your place.

[haydn'smommy]

Originally Posted by Rosella I question why you feel you have to go on this mission trip right now with Aiden at this age. Surely there will be opportunities for you to go at a later time, when your son's ability to tolerate the climate or environment of your destination will not be an issue - or even when you are able to leave him for 6 days to go by yourself. Personally, I would not consider taking my 4.5 month old, and I would not go on the trip. Do I think you will kill him? No, but I do think you are very much underestimating the kind of stress that sort of heat will be on both of you, especially since you will need to adequately hydrate both him and yourself.

I agree with this.

[EBentley]

I don't know what I'd do. But I'd make sure of two things:

1: You're going to be very dehydrated, so drink plenty so you can keep up your supply.

2: If he won't bottle feed, take a supplemental feeder and potable water and/or formula. He's probably going to eat like crazy. Better to be prepared.

ETA: as PP's said, most people that go to other countries get vaccinated prior, to things he can't be vaccinated against right now. And most people that go to areas like this end up with intestinal parasites of some sort. It's almost unavoiable and while an adult may not even notice, it could really be a problem with that, lethargy, poor eating, and so on. The risk is real. People who bring their children on extended trips would have a network established, but you're not going to have that as much. He might be perfectly fine, but you have to ask yourself if you've really considered the possibilities and truly understand what life there is like.

[HeidiMarie]

Originally Posted by Rosella I question why you feel you have to go on this mission trip right now with Aiden at this age. Surely there will be opportunities for you to go at a later time, when your son's ability to tolerate the climate or environment of your destination will not be an issue - or even when you are able to leave him for 6 days to go by yourself. Personally, I would not consider taking my 4.5 month old, and I would not go on the trip. Do I think you will kill him? No, but I do think you are very much underestimating the kind of stress that sort of heat will be on both of you, especially since you will need to adequately hydrate both him and yourself.

I agree with this poster, mama. Though, in the end, it is your decsion and you have to do what you feel is right in your heart. Good luck and to you!

[Kelolsen-and-Padawan]

I wouldn't take my baby and go to a third world country. I know missionaries have babies in countries like that all th etime, but I wouldn't go.

That being said, the lady needed tos hut her mouth. Its NOT her place and I'd tell her so.

[mum2James&Julia]

Originally Posted by Rosella I question why you feel you have to go on this mission trip right now with Aiden at this age. Surely there will be opportunities for you to go at a later time, when your son's ability to tolerate the climate or environment of your destination will not be an issue - or even when you are able to leave him for 6 days to go by yourself. Personally, I would not consider taking my 4.5 month old, and I would not go on the trip. Do I think you will kill him? No, but I do think you are very much underestimating the kind of stress that sort of heat will be on both of you, especially since you will need to adequately hydrate both him and yourself.

Sorry, I wish I could say differently... I also question exactly how much work you'll be able to accomplish with baby in tow (especially one who is hot and uncomfortable and may be a lot more cranky for it).

BUT at the same time, if I were in your situation and that lady had said that to me, I would now HAVE to go just to prove her wrong! How awful is that?

[sourpatch_babe]

I haven't read any of the other replies yet but here's my
1. you need to reject what this woman has said over your child. the spoken word has a lot of power and as Aiden's mommy you need to reject those words and speak blessings over your child.

now that the spiritual's taken care of, I come from that 3rd world country and it's not as bad as some people claim it to be (weather wise). As long as you don't have him in long sleeve clothing during the day and he's drinking plenty of BM, he'll be fine. The average heat and humidity there doesn't account for the nice cool breezes you'd get during the day or the fact that it cools down during the night(for the most part, unless there's a heatwave). I personally wouldn't take my kid for six days in a missions trip (our church does them too) only because I wouldn't have access to a washing machine and I'd hate to put him in sposies....(wait a minute....I can handwash flats in no time, never mind, I take that back. I would take my kid there)

either buy bottled water or boil your water before drinking it just to be on the safe side although the risk of parasites is basically the same as staying here even though they "don't exist" in the US. Regarding vax, the greater majority of children in the DR(about 90% if not more) is vaxed so your risk of catching something from there is very small. GL with the trip and eat some mango for me.

PS. you just might be pleasantly surprised by what you find there.

[Jonesy]

Well, I was raised most of my childhood in third world countries. My father was a missionary. And I take my children with me on mission trips/traveling when I go now.
If you feel led to go now, then go. The heat will be uncomfortable...but you know this going and and you know how to stay safe in it. The vax thing has been brought up. That would be/is my main concern. NOT the heat. I have my children vax'd (although I still pick and choose which ones and when as needed) because we DO travel outside the U.S. quite a lot.

As long as you stay hydrated with so-called "clean" water that YOUR body is used to (i.e. bottled water) then you should be just fine. If you start drinking the water there your body would most likely react in some way (not necessarily because it's "contaminated" or anything like that...but it's not treated the way ours is and your body will recognize that)...and you'd be passing it on to your baby thru your milk.

But mama, if you have prayed about this and feel led that this is what you should be doing...then by all means, GO. It certainly is NOT a death sentence...any more than driving with your child here in the states. hehe.