L.N.
oh well stock up on tylenol and motrin :). really. well our overseas trips, well the lengthiest, has been 23 hrs. the good thing is most likely there will be an empty seat so the airpline folks will accommodate you and the baby best they can (because they don't wanna listen to a screaming child hehehe). then, see if your child is old enough for earplug airplines (cvs and target sells them, but ask pharmacist if it's ok for your son. we used them at age 3, and they're great for take off and landing). if i were you, i wouldn't make a layover stop in europe. you and your son won't be comfy in a hotel and will just drag out the trip. ask for water/juice any time you need it. stock up on brand new toys that your son won't see until the plane takes off. remember, they do a lot of sleeping in the airplane. my kids did well with long flights. i used tag reader and leapsters but mine were about 2 i think when they saw the leapsters for the first time. that kept them occupied for quite a long time. make sure, you ask about an empty seat as you're going in. they'll be trying to help out before the plane takes over.
i guess my only two advice are: new toys, and no layover.
as for when you get to tanzania. even before you go, ask around for doctor recommendations so if you need it you'll have the number handy. my kids always have diahrrea (sp?) when we first go. always. it's like not even up for hope or discussion. but it isn't bad and lasts a few days. even if you only give bottled water or boiled water, it just happens. i know the routine, bananas, plain rice, toast, and applesauce. 2-3 days they're back on track. i get the doctor numbers before i go there so i am making phone calls right away.
in case you need antibiotics...this is what really happened to us so might as well warn you. one of my babes got strep throat the first week of our first visit. i knew it was strep (THANKS NEIGHBORS), and took her to a pediatrician who just said oh if you know it's strep why did you come to me? go to pharmacy and ask for antibiotic (yeah, for sure, no rx no nothing hahaha). so i go to pharmacy and they give me antibiotic. names are different of course, so i give my daughter the two doses for the first day and by the next day she was just wayyyyy toooo healthy. hm. called my pediatrician in the US told them the name of antibiotic (he was not familiar with it), told him the component and the dose and he's like holy molly that is one strong antibiotic. wow. so then he tells me over the phone what to ask for at the pharmacy and the dosage. so on my next trip, before we leave, i went to my kids' pediatrician and asked for an rx for antibiotic (the mildest lowest dosage) in case we needed it. i got it, filled it up (it has to be an antibiotic that doesn't require refrigeration), and never had to use it. my kids did well on that trip, but i had my mind at peace knowing i had an antibiotic if i needed for ear infection or what not. so just do your best. also make sure you look into which vaccinations he may require before you leave. sometimes some vaccines need to be given weeks ahead for them to go into effect prior to traveling.
oh now don't say i scared you. i didn't. just preparing you for anything and everything and yes my middle name is neurotic :)
L.
