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shao57
Just Starting
Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Southern CA
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 Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:04 am Post subject: traveling with baby in January? |
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My husband and I are contemplating a visit to Moscow in mid January, joining a trip with a large group of friends. Our son will be exactly 1 year old then. We are from southern California. I want to know whether this is a good idea or not. We are tending towards not going, because of the baby, but we both don't want to forget it just yet because we really want to go. Concerning the baby, we are worried about 1) temperature, 2) if he gets sick, health care and medication availability and quality, 3) creating trouble for our friends and hospitality while we're there, and 4) general care of an inquisitive toddler under the circumstances, since we are new parents and all. I welcome any thoughts, opinions, and advice!!
Thanks,
Sheree |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:54 am Post subject: |
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Mid January is some of the coldest weather of the winter. Last winter during that time it was 37 below zero farenheit in Moscow and stayed well below zero for a month. Ummm, would you want to be traipsing around with an infant in that kind of weather?
Even for you and your husband mid January would require some kick a*s winter clothing which you probably don't have. Boots, coats, mittens, hats, quite a financial investment.
And how would you transport this baby while sightseeing? Those SoCal Graco strollers don't cut it here. The streets are potholed and snow-covered, Russian baby buggies have windshields and heavy duty wheels and frames with springs. Babies are bundled up like mummies.
I can't see how this would be a good idea or a fun vacation in any way shape or form. |
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Oleg
Frequent Guest
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 50
Location: St-Petersburg, Russia
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:22 am Post subject: |
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| overseas_expat wrote: | | Mid January is some of the coldest weather of the winter. Last winter during that time it was 37 below zero farenheit in Moscow and stayed well below zero for a month. Ummm, would you want to be traipsing around with an infant in that kind of weather? |
As I remember the minimum tempereture was about -27 Fahrenheit, not colder. And last winter was an exclusion but not an usual occurance for this region, so next winter can be warmer. |
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shao57
Just Starting
Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Southern CA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:31 am Post subject: |
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OK, overseas_expat, point taken. Then another question, what do babies do in the winter there? If they stay indoors, how do people contain them, since they have so much energy? Or maybe they just have a higher tolerance for cold.
Anyway, thanks for your reply.  |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:45 am Post subject: |
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They walk their babies every day in winter so that they will get used to the cold winter. They are wrapped up in clothes and bundled up in buggies... not much to see out from there!
I myself am from a tropical country, it took me a long time for my body to climatize. I really suggest you visit in summer for the first time with the baby. |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| Oleg wrote: |
As I remember the minimum tempereture was about -27 Fahrenheit, not colder. And last winter was an exclusion but not an usual occurance for this region, so next winter can be warmer. |
Oleg, normally I wouldn't bother debating you about something so trivial, except I know what I'm talking about here and in Moscow it was 37 below zero. And would you like to know whay I'm so sure? I WORK OUTSIDE. Yes indeed, outside every day, year round. Believe me, I have a good grip on what the weather did last winter.
And as I recall it was sometime in February before the thermometer rose above zero farenheit for the first time in nearly 6 weeks. And just because that was an unusually cold period, that has no bearing on whether it will happen again this winter or any other year. Russia can be as cold as it wants any time it wants. Da?
And it's not just the cold that makes it miserable, it's the darkness. Lightishness starting about 9:30 in the morning and darkness again by 3 in the afternoon. All things considered, why would you want to go from southern California with a baby and face a *vacation* like that? |
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Oleg
Frequent Guest
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 50
Location: St-Petersburg, Russia
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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| overseas_expat wrote: | | Oleg, normally I wouldn't bother debating you about something so trivial, except I know what I'm talking about here and in Moscow it was 37 below zero. And would you like to know whay I'm so sure? I WORK OUTSIDE. Yes indeed, outside every day, year round. Believe me, I have a good grip on what the weather did last winter. |
Well. May be you are right. Just as I remember I was told about -33 degrees centigrade on the coldest day.
| overseas_expat wrote: | | And as I recall it was sometime in February before the thermometer rose above zero farenheit for the first time in nearly 6 weeks. And just because that was an unusually cold period, that has no bearing on whether it will happen again this winter or any other year. Russia can be as cold as it wants any time it wants. Da? |
Da. |
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camarks
Moderator
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 333
Location: Richmond, VA USA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Not to disagree with anything written above (it will be cold), but traveling in Russia with a child can be a wonderful experience. Children are special in Russia. You will not have to wait in lines many places and will often not have to pay to ride the Metro etc. However, make sure the child is well bundled. If the babushki think your child is cold, you will without a doubt be scolded severely. I've been to Russia seven times (twice with a 4-5 year old), always in February (4 times), March (twice), or April (once). I love it there in the winter (but am eager to see it green sometime). |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Of course being from SOCAL how could they reall know what cold is? I was always told not to go in mid winter...well maybe just once I'd like to experience it. For say just an hour! |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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If you're so eager to see winter, you might want to go towards the end of winter... there'll still be snow on the ground but it's not so likely to get bitterly cold.
Still for a first trip with a child I won't suggest travel in mid-Jan. |
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