1

I don't see what the difference would be. Talk to your ped and discuss vaccines.

What are your choices of location?

Make sure your healthcare coverage works where you're going. What countries can you live in for that long?

The biggest hurdle is getting a place to live for such a short term. You might do better with some sort of house exchange.

2

Bali and other Asian countries would be great!

3

there is the issue of vaccinations; what your baby gets when varies, but taking it to places with higher infection rates is obviously more risky. Can you wait until it has had the first jabs, which will be better both for it and the locals?

4

eclipsepearl: That's actually the question I am looking to have answered. What countries meet the specifications in my OP.

Vaccinations will definitely be a consideration - I will have to find out the specifics but basic vaccinations occur after about 15 - 16 weeks? And then there's regional specific vaccinations and whether or not baby can get them.

5

sounds to me like you need to wait until the baby is vaccinated. As for the rest, budget and visas are other issues, although the latter shouldn't be too difficult for a stay of up to 3 months.

6

I live in India and my kids pediatrician considered the actual travel between places to be among the most risky things for a baby that has not received all its vaccines. She gave a couple early for this reason, but not at such a young age. IYour baby probably won't need any extra vaccinations, but sometimes schedules in risky countries is accelerated (given earlier) and this should be checked. (in India my kids are given typhoid and Hep A, but not until much older.)

There are some good options in Asia, but how suitable they may be will also depend on what time of year you are going. Monsoon time isn't a good time since dengue usually becomes a big problem then, and outbreaks of malaria can occur in many (even well developed) places. Just before the monsoon the weather tends to be very hot and humid. This doesn't necessarily need to cause any major problems though. My kids have never been really bothered by 40+ degrees, even as babies. Do take dengue seriously though. I know many people who have had it - and know of too many that died. I hate my kids being exposed to it every single year.

You could look at Thailand and Malaysia. Plenty of expat communities, good infrastructure and medical care. Bali is OK as well. As for the age you travel. This is probably best decided after the birth. 2-3 months is OK if everything has gone well and you feel comfortable. I had a rough time bringing my first child to India at 2 months, but India really isn't the place to bring a young baby!

7

Api - thanks for the thoughtful reply. I have a "Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa and South America" book which I should consult. And maybe a first step is a trip to the travel doctor before we choose as opposed to after would also provide some good input. Our travel doctor seems to be very reasonable. I've consulted the CDC site (U.S.) before visiting him and have found him very realistic about what he recommends, so I trust that he would give us the straight goods. Of course, we should also speak with the host of pre-natal and post-natal resources at our disposal but I worry about the lack of understanding about realities in other countries.

I like the suggestion of Malaysia because we are also thinking about places my husband might be able to scuba dive (I don't dive myself). Having recently traveled during monsoon season in Thailand and Nepal, I should remind myself of the level of heat we experienced - good point.Thanks!