Healthy travel for mom and baby:El Salvador?

No specific advice from pediatrician,except to contact the local health dept. Also the consular travel site gives general information. What can I take and/or avoid during my week long travel to E.S. in 2 weeks? I may not be nursing my 8 month old as I thought I would to keep her healthy-she's teething and has started the painful habit of biting. How easy is it for a young baby to bounce back from "travel illness"? What should I keep on had as first aid for her? And what is it exactly that makes you sick in El Salvador? I went before last year (when I was still pregnant) I was sick the whole time, but I don't know how much was from the food/water and how much was from the pregnancy. All advice on how to stay safe and healthy is welcome. We will be in San Salvador and my guest will be taking us to the beach.

The inmune system of an 8 month old baby is not fully developed and can be very difficult for a baby to bounce back from many illnesses (keep in mind that children in El Salvador develop immunities to the local maladies because they build up a resistance to them as they are exposed to them on a regular basis).

Here's a few things you can do to avoid getting sick in El Salvador:

Bring your own formula and baby food. If you can bring 2 weeks worth, it will make things easier plus they won't get sick from the change in food. I know that people say that you could buy formula and food there, but it may not be created the same (other countries have different standards, even from American companies).

Only give your baby bottled water (and don't buy the water in the plastic bags). When I travel to El Salvador, I drink from the well, the faucet, and just about anywhere. My body does well with it, and I hardly ever get sick. A baby would not fare so well. If you have powder formula, make sure you mix it with bottled water.

Avoid fruit that has been peeled. If you give your baby fruit, make sure you peal it yourself. That way, you can insure that the fruit has not sat out, and that it is sanitary.

If you feed your baby some of the wonderful local delicacies (and who can avoid pupusas and such?!?!) make sure that they are thoroughly cooked.

Fever and diarrhea will be the major maladies that you will encounter. Have your Doctor prescribe something for both, just in case. Pedialyte might come in handy as well.

I'm not saying that your baby will get sick, in fact, she may do just fine. These precautions are just for peace of mind.

Best of luck on your trip. You'll love it.

hey! my parents are from el salvador and im actually going in about a month. all i can advice you to do is take your own baby formula, drink bottled water, and if you have a sensitive stomach just be careful what you eat and your baby. all the food is good though! have fun and good luck! Report It

Hi, i was born in El Salvador, but dont actually live there at the moment, but i do visit every couple of years.

On my last trip, I was there from November to Febuary this past year. In my 3 month stay, i was never sick.

For me the whole getting sick thing is 99% mental. I mean, I ate food from street vendors, at the market, at restuarants and drank unpurified well water from a family farm and i never got sick.

To me the reason that some people get sick is cause they go to the country thinking "i'm gonna get sick, because of the food or water" If you think like that then no doubt you will get sick.

But like i said, for me it's 99% mental, but you do have to take care of that other 1%. Before i went on my trip i was told to get some injections, i had to get Hep B and Typhoid. I was also told to buy maleria tablets but didn't. I was told that unless your going deep into the bush, then there really isn't any need for maleria tablets. If your gonna stay in SS, then maleria shouldn't be a problem.

Apart from these preemptive measures, there really is nothing else you can do. If you really are scared of getting sick, then stay away from buying food at markets. Go to SuperSelectos (Dont buy at La Despensa de Don Juan) and buy all your foods there. Most houses in El Salvador get water delivered to them so, make sure you dont drink straight water from the tap, but rather the water that is delivered or the bottled water you buy at the shops.

As for your child. I really cant give you any information on that front. I'd just say to keep her on baby food for the week. Not really sure how 8 month old babies operate, but its probably your safest bet :)

Oh and as for the beach, you should have a GREAT time, we got some of the best beaches in the world. Just be carefull with the tides, they can get pretty strong and pull you in sometimes if you go in too deep.

Oh and if you are gonna go to the beach then you'll probably end up having, un cocktail de conchas or ostras. Now, they look good and taste GREAT, but again, if you want to take every precaution to not get sick, then give them a miss. Or make sure that you get them at a clean restaurant. (Hot tip: if you wont to make sure the restaurant is well kept, and the food is good then cheak the toilets, if there dirty then dont eat, if there clean then eat all you can)

Ok, thats about all the advice i can give you. Hope you have a great time. And dont get sick.

God Bless

*If you have any other questions on El Salvador, please dont hesitate to email me :)

U should take everything that makes ur baby comfortable hear with u, including teething medication, nothing in El sal can just make u sick it depends on ur body just stay away from tap water get bottled water especially for the baby but if u cant get bottled water for whatever reason u can boil water too. Don't take too much jewelry with u, or flashy things. The food is great it really cant get u sick unless u dont like it or are allergic to it.(when food is cooked it kills all bacteria) Use lots of sun screen the sun their is a lot stronger. U can find most of the things u get hear, their also in their supper market Super Selectos is the best.

P.S. Have some pupusas & Pollo Campero for me lol

Talk to your doctor about what vaccinations you or your baby need. I got the Hept B and typhoid vaccines, but you can skip the Malaria if you'll be in San Salvador (my doctor said take it or leave it).

While living there I saw quite a few Americans get sick, not so much from "bad" food or water, but just from the differences in the types of foods and your body adjusting to it. The one American baby that I stayed with for a while did get quite sick with some kind of stomach flu. I'm not sure if that was getting used to the food (he was about a year old and eating solid foods) or not.

Just be careful what you eat!

my mom and my lil brother r going there in 2 weeks too!! and he's taking some of his food over there cuz last time was his first time going..when he was 3 and he got sick..and my older sister got sick too and she was born there..also me,my mom and my dad got sick..and my parents were born there...so my brother is taking some food like peanut butter..lol and.. some medicin just incase he gets sick again ...

but my dad says you get sick the first time u go..but i got sick the 2nd time i went.. and not the first..

but anyways..take ur babys favorite things so she wont get sick so easily..good luck :)