Getting around Nicaragua with your young children

Car seats can be purchased in some shops within the Oriental or at department stores such as Simans. $80-$300 US

and US brands

I have traveled to Nica when my son was 6 months old and then again at age 2, and now we have been living here for two years. He is a fair haired boy, "chele". We have had no issues. As with any child in any country, you need to be aware of where they are, however, kidnapping is not as common in Nica as it is in other countries. The sad fact is that there are many street kids who tend to be easy victims.

Car seat usage is not that common and not a law. The other day I saw a new mom leave the hospital with her newborn in her arms in the front seat. Just bring your own.

Most likely bikes that are rented do not have child carrier seats. Granada is both a walkable and a bikeable city.

Most hotels have cribs, and family restaurants have high chairs. Bring your own stroller.

Diapers, wipes, baby food, etc., are available.

But the general consensus is Nicaragua is generally safe. I was on the ground when everyone was sporting machine guns, and I felt safe. That said, be vigilant in terms of the current political events understanding that tempo and tension in increasing.

What does that mean? I don't know your story, but most people here are married to a Nica, dating a Nica, going on a Nica mission, building houses for the Nicas, studying Nica sharks, working in Nica, retired or retiring to Nica - whatever it is, there is something decidedly Nicaraguan about it. Me personally, if I didn't know where I wanted to go, and I had a one-year old, and I threw a dart on a map blindfolded and it landed on Nicaragua, I'd throw it again.

Ya'll go ahead, I'm a big boy, I can take it.

But the fact is, my wife, a Nica, in 1992 had a rough time in Nicaragua with a 2 year-old, and 8 years later had rough time with another 2 year-old - and she is a La Paz Centro hardcore as they come Nica. Even in normal times, no tension, no strife, caring for an infant or child in 100 degree weather, dust, torrential rain, bugs, different language, supplies, illness (no Nica specific, kids get sick everywhere), etc. is another dimension if you've never done it before. The kid will do fine - but whether you hold up is another story ;)

I have no experience with any of this, but would cloth diapers and a laundry woman potentially be a reasonable alternative to filling valuable luggage space with disposables?

C$200-C$300 (in other words, around $50, more or less) here in Estelí. Or free at a public health clinic or government hospital.

That's current info--I don't have any rug rats but Ana babysits "cupla de Phil" regularly. Note that "culpa de Phil" only has to do with me creating the situation where he was created--it took two other people to produce him.