Posted by Milt on Friday, 9. October 1998 at 13:12 Bali Time:
I've noticed an increase in the number of posts relating to child safety in Bali and indeed during my most recent month in Bali, ending last week, I also noticed an increase in the number of western tourists with very small children on holiday in Bali. Personally, I think this trend is great! I applaud those parents who pack up their own stuff, grab little Sally or Jimmie and say, "we're going to Bali!" The Balinese also love it and I heard several remarks about it during my last visit. If you don't mind, I'll throw out some personal observations and knowledge that may make your Balinese holiday with the little one(s) more enjoyable.
First off...the trip itself. Children five and under, and especially boys, are much more prone to the negative effects in the inner ear from the pressure and altitude experienced in air travel. What we as adults might experience as mild discomfort can be a raging source of pain to the little one. During the climb and descent of your flight, try to make sure your child is actively using a passifier (sp?) or is engaged with a bottle or some other means of oral stimulation to keep the ear canals open so the pressure can equalize easily within. If this doesn't work, a light massage with your finger tips at the base of the ear can help as well. Ask your pediatrician for other tips as nothing is worse than the wailing of a small child in obvious distress on board a plane.
Of much greater potential danger to the child, but of no particular annoyance to fellow passengers, is dehydration. Young children can dehydrate at a rate ten times that of an adult in a pressurized cabin. Make sure your child drinks lots and lots of water during your flight.
Secondly the food/water. If your child is no longer on mother's milk or a bottle, be particularly cautious what you feed him or her. Young children are very susceptible to intestinal distress as their own natural intestinal bacteria is still forming and vulnerable to unusual strains. Before your trip, again, ask your pediatrician for a good medicine for your child should he or she come down with intestinal distress.
Diapers: The vast majority of Balinese use no diapers for their young children. Free fall urination among the very young is pretty much accepted and not considered at all unusual or unclean. Bowel movements are treated with far more concern, but still, without the protection of a diaper, well, it happens often enough in the most unpropitious moment. Margaret Meade made quite a study of this in her book on Bali written just before WWII. Disposable diapers are available in main city areas, but you are advised to bring along several old fashioned cloth diapers that can be washed and reused. Bring some anti-bacterial detergent with you or ask to have the diapers boiled to kill the rampant bacteria in the water they will be wahed in.
Car seats and seat belts: You are best advised to bring your own car seat, and when renting a car or hiring a driver, be sure the vehicle is outfitted with seat belts. There is a law to become effective soon for mandatory use of seat belts in passenger vehicles in Bali, but don't expect immediate compliance.
The swimming pool: The standards for safe pool water in Bali are not even close to what you might be used to. In fact, it is almost refreshing to come out of a pool in Bali without smelling like your just went through the washing machine with the whites with bleach! That is probably fine for us adults, but children are prone to swallow copious amounts of water when swimming. Warn your children not to drink or swallow the pool water and keep you toddler's head out of the water and all will be fine.
Safe beaches: From my experience, the safest and most benign waters in Bali are found in Jimbaran Bay or Lovina. My preference is Jimbaran Bay and so may be yours as the mom and dad...great seafood vendors everywhere and ice cold beer! The sand is black volcanic sand, but junior will love it! Both Lovina and Jimbaran are noted for very mild surf and very gradual sloping beaches into the ocean with no rip tides or strong currents.
So no need for alarm or paranoia...just some common sense precautions that will make your family trip all that more enjoyable. Your kids will love you for it and you'll have a great time too!