Taking a five-month-old to Dubai?

[anoushka]

Is this completely crazy, or doable? We just received an opportunity to go to Dubai for a week next month with DH's brother's family, all expenses paid. Our DS would be just about five months old. On one hand, I don't want to pass up an opportunity for free travel, and we've always wanted to travel a lot with him, but on the other hand, I'm nervous about going to the Middle East with a baby (and my eyes are glazing over just thinking about all the stuff we'd have to bring...). We have never traveled anywhere with him. Would you go? I plan to ask our pediatrician what she thinks, but I just wanted to get your thoughts as well.

[frlcb]

Dubai is so Westernized that if it isn't like the Middle East that you are thinking of. Of course it would be totally doable and not crazy. There is a poster who lives in Dubai with her daughter - Brit

[muppetinma]

I would in a heartbeat. Five months is a pretty easy age to travel with.

[Deleted]

Not crazy at all. Dubai will pretty much have everything that you need and are used to.

[Brit]

I live in Dubai with my just turned two year old. Dubai is totally safe, no big deal. It isn't a scary place at all. For the most part, the typical baby stuff is available here in 'normal' brands, if not the British equivalent is available. All of the standard 'fruit and veggie pouches' are available at Waitrose. My DD wears Pampers brand diapers and we buy Pampers brand wipes. (They have Huggies also if that is your preference.) If you have concerns about finding a specific product, I can see if it is in Waitrose (the grocery store).

In terms of travel with a baby, I don't think it is that big of a deal. We have taken DD to 20 countries on five continents in the past two years and aside from the typical puke or diaper explosion type event, we have had no notable problems. A lot of it is about attitude: If you go into a trip with a baby thinking 'I get to go somewhere neat' then it will be great. If you go into it thinking 'OMG, this will be impossible' then it will feel that way.

Let me know if you have any Dubai specific questions.

[thebulldog]

We went to Dubai in octobet and had a great time. Very safe and like pp said very Westernized. I did not travel with a baby but there were several infants on our flight.

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

[pittpurple]

Mar 23, 2014 21:29:49 GMT -5 Brit said:

A lot of it is about attitude: If you go into a trip with a baby thinking 'I get to go somewhere neat' then it will be great. If you go into it thinking 'OMG, this will be impossible' then it will feel that way.

Let me know if you have any Dubai specific questions.

Definitely agree! We aren't quite as well travelled but DD has been to 5 countries and we're heading to China and Hong Kong this summer. 5 months is actually a really, really easy time to travel.

(Top tip - bring a change of clothing for everyone on the flight, not just your LO. Learned this through experience!)

[frlcb]

Mar 23, 2014 21:29:49 GMT -5 Brit said:

I live in Dubai with my just turned two year old. Dubai is totally safe, no big deal. It isn't a scary place at all. For the most part, the typical baby stuff is available here in 'normal' brands, if not the British equivalent is available. All of the standard 'fruit and veggie pouches' are available at Waitrose. My DD wears Pampers brand diapers and we buy Pampers brand wipes. (They have Huggies also if that is your preference.) If you have concerns about finding a specific product, I can see if it is in Waitrose (the grocery store).

In terms of travel with a baby, I don't think it is that big of a deal. We have taken DD to 20 countries on five continents in the past two years and aside from the typical puke or diaper explosion type event, we have had no notable problems. A lot of it is about attitude: If you go into a trip with a baby thinking 'I get to go somewhere neat' then it will be great. If you go into it thinking 'OMG, this will be impossible' then it will feel that way.

Let me know if you have any Dubai specific questions.

All of this. We travel all the time with our kids, overseas and domestically. Our kids are going to be kids no matter where they are, so may as well be somewhere fun And 5 months is SUCH an easy age to travel with them!

[anoushka]

Thanks so much, everyone - I feel a lot better about this! (And I never would have guessed they have Pampers in Dubai!)

[anoushka]

Mar 23, 2014 21:29:49 GMT -5 Brit said:

Let me know if you have any Dubai specific questions.

Thanks, I'm going to take you up on this. Do you know if they sell Nutramigen (milk allergy) formula in Dubai? I Googled and it looks like they don't, but maybe you've seen it somewhere. Otherwise I'll just make sure to bring a lot.

How do tourists get around in Dubai - is it mostly taxis? (The family we'd be going with probably wouldn't do public transportation.)

Also, regarding women's attire - I know Dubai is very modern, but do women there still tend to dress more modestly than they would in the U.S.? No short skirts, low-cut tops, etc.?

[Brit]

Without looking for your formula, I say to just bring extra since it sounds pretty specific.

I mainly drive here. You can rent a car or just hire taxis. The taxis are pretty cheap, but maybe a PITA with a car seat. The metro doesn't have great coverage. The busses do, but I have never taken one.

If you choose to drive, the driving style is a bit different from most parts of the US. If you have ever driven on the Major Deegan or other NYC freeway during rush hour, it is about like that.

Clothing. Depends on location and occasion. I wear my normal tiny running shorts and tank while running, but I don't show my elbows at work. It is really all over the map. In areas like Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) or Dubai Marina you will see it all from full face covering to micro minis. Some more Asian neighborhoods like Bur Dubai and Deira will have more conservative dress, but not a ton of abayas. In those areas I tend to go for knee length shorts and a T or capris and a T. At malls there are signs saying to dress modestly - interpretation is varied - I cover my shoulders and knees at the mall. At the beach, women wear bikinis, but at many public beaches you may feel like a piece of meat if you do so. I surf at a public beach and wear a hooded rash guard and knee length board shorts to keep creepers at bay, but on my private beach anything goes, sans creepers.

If you leave Dubai for another Emirate or Oman, err on the conservative side - knees and elbows covered - and people will be kind to you and curious about you.

That was really long. Let me know if you need more specifics.

[anoushka]

That was so helpful, Brit. Thanks!