Hi. My husband , 2 year old son and i are planning a trip to China in 2 weeks. We would love to take the train to Tibet. Has anyone taken this train with a 2 year old or small child? Was the altitude a problem? Was there a problem with altitude once in Tibet? Any info on this would be greatly appreciated, as am slightly worried.
Our son has travelled loads with us in his short life..already to 4 continents, and loves it as much as we do!
We have never had any problems health wise but we have never been to a high altitude destination with him.
There doesn't seem to be too much info on Children and altitude on the net, so first hand knowledge would be great.
Another alternative would be for my husband to take the train and we would fly.
Thanks for any help on this.
Maddie x
Hi,
Since writing this, i have searched related topics on past thorn tree posts and the overwhelming concensus is not to take children to these levels of altitude.
We will stay and have a fabulous time in China. Any tips for travel with toddlers in China would be great! Thanks so much.
Maddie x
I was going to suggest that you search further on the internet as taking children this young to these altitudes is definitely NOT recommended. I don't think even flying to this altitude with young children is recommended.
I can't answer about specific places for toddlers in China but I can tell you that beginning about 2 or 3 years of age children need time to get regular large muscle exercise so I would be prepared to spend some time in parks where your child can run.
Also be pared for strangers to want to pick up your child, touch your child etc.
To which cities are you planning to go? Does you child sit in a stroller?
You might send a PM (private message) to Ruth_in_Canada who used to live in China and probably has more first hand advice.
Ruth
Hi there
Seems like you have already made your decision but I would like to offer a totally alternative view to the two posts above.
I live in Lhasa and have two good friends here that both live in Lhasa with childern. (8 months and 4 years) They have very few problems arriving at altitude and most evidence suggests that childern adapt well to altitude. Our 4 year old friend has spent around 8 months of her life in Lhasa every year since she was small.
There are a number of families travelling in Tibet this week! I have trekked with children in Nepal to 5000m and would highly recommend bringing children on a trip to Tibet or Nepal. I have also climbed to almost 6000m on Mera Peak in Nepal with a 10 year old who then proceeded to snow board back down!!
I would also recommend reading the text "Medicine for Mountaineering....pp256 "Children at Altitude" which has a great section on altitude illness. The author "Peter Hackett" is the likely the most authorititive expert on altitude
and has travelled himself in Tibet with his son! He recommends against extreme altitude with kids so staying the Lhasa area would be the solution to this.
Perhaps the biggest issue of really small kids at altitude is the inability to diagnose altitude symptoms form other illnesses is difficult (but is also is in adults!) So my advice would be to treat for altitude anyway (ie. maximum hydration, rest and descend if possible)
I would also recommend being particularly conservative with your altitdue gain and try to stick to the climbers adage: Climb high sleep low. Because of the easy road access to high altitude here many people ignore this and get themselves sick.
Of course all the usual issues of traveling with children apply but overall you will find you will be treating with more respect by locals and the kids will provide an excellent means of braking down cultural barriers and introducing you to the local culture.
There is plenty to do in the Lhasa area that would keep a family occupied for a couple of weeks combining a mix of cultural sightseeing, very easy trekking, camping out etc.
Go for it!!
Chris
Dear Chris,
We are the two moms with two kids (6 years of age) and a bad tour guide going crazy trying to figure out how to use our 7 days in Lhasa with our kids. We've search everywhere and you are the only person who has advise about children in Lhasa, so what should we do with our 7 days besides the obvious sites? Can you recommend a 3-day tour that would be fun for kids too? If so, how do we book it? Do we really need a guide in Lhasa for all 7 days?
If we get a driver to take us on an excursion, do we have to bring along our guide or does the driver acts as a guide? If we hook up with a tour locally, will other people object to children?
We are totally open to any suggestions and desperately need advise.
Best wishes,
Brenda
p.s. Which hotel would the children like best in Lhasa?
HI Brenda
I've got lots of ideas....but crazy busy right now. No time to type up everything.... Can you give me a call on my cell phone 136 389 00332
Cheers
Chris
Living in Lhasa and going there from someplace else are VERY different. If a child spends 8 out of 12 months in Tibet, then effectively the child lives there and is acclimatized to the altitude.
Ruth
Hi
Thanks so much for all these replies. Am still a little confused, but as we only have about 2 to 3 weeks total for our trip, maybe is best to stay and see more of China.I will read that text though Chris, esp for future trips, and we will definately get to Tibet one day, i promise! Brenda, how did you get the kids to Lhasa..was it by train or plane or a more gradual ascent?
Our son does travel in his stroller, but of course as you mention, ruth, he does love running around like crazy! Do you know any good parks in Beijing?
We are thinking of Beijing, Shanghai maybe, a visit to see the terracotta army, and have heard of a seaside place near Beijing, Qingdao, that sounds appealing. Anyone been there? Does anyone have any thoughts, or must sees, that would be ok with a toddler. Also any really good child friendly hotels that could be reccommended.
Thanks again, so looking fw to our trip.
Maddie.
Hi Maddie,
We're going to Beijing for a week. Flying to Xining, touring around there for 4 days (even staying in a tent) and taking a train from there to Lhasa (26 hours in a sleeping car). The kids are incredibly exited about the train and we are too! We have a week in Lhasa but have not figured it out yet. Then one more week in Shanghai and a couple of days back in Beijing.
We leave NYC on August 5. I think Tibet will be great for the kids and our travel doctor said that altitude sickness has nothing at all to do with age. Either you are effected or you are not. We will take some chinese medicine in Xining and follow the instructions which include not taking a shower for 24 hours...?
There's a monthly magazine in Beijing called tbj kids. It's like Time Out NY Kids and is in english.
Our kids also had Hep A and Typhiod vac.
Best of luck,
Brenda
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