Baby or not baby, that's the question
Once a bustling epicenter for expats and travelers, the Thailand-related pages on Startpagina.nl were a treasure trove of information and stories from the heart of Southeast Asia. A lively exchange of experiences, adventures and sometimes even the craziest events took place between the digital pages and forums. A story that unfolds around Ron, a typical Pattaya expat, and his younger Isan wife, highlights the unpredictable twists and turns of life in Thailand. While his wife returns to her hometown for the birth of their child, Ron remains behind, unaware of the surprises and misunderstandings that lie in wait.
Buying a baby
I was on my way to Rajavithi Hospital on Phaya Thai Road. The largest women's and children's hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, established on April 16, 1951. A hospital for mothers and newborns, including babies with AIDS.
Superstition is deeply rooted in many Thai people. Poet Phra Suthorn Vohara (Sunthom Phu) dedicated a poem to it in which a warrior threatened to be poisoned by his pregnant wife. He cut it open and ripped out the fetus, holding it in front of the fire and casting a spell. The spirit of the fetus would have helped him further and warned him of dangers from the enemy. The man named the ghost Kuman Thong, which means "Golden Child".
Reader question: Baby on the way, where can I buy stuff?
It is almost time for my little girl to be born, now it is unexpected due to the corona virus that we are stuck in Bangkok and still need quite a lot of stuff. Where can we best go, is there a market or shop where we can get everything in 1x? Doesn't have to be top quality because I will give most of it away after 3 to 4 months.
Can you buy a baby box in Thailand?
Does anyone know if it is possible to buy a baby box in Thailand? In the Netherlands you see them everywhere, but it seems to be something really Dutch. So I don't mean a crib or bed, but really a playpen, so a square wooden piece of furniture that you can put in the living room and let your baby sleep / play in until 1 or 2 years old. You can often adjust them in height.
Why is a Thai baby always ugly?
When a baby is born, my Thai wife always says he/she is ugly. I thought that was weird and wanted her to stop. But she says that Thai people do that because otherwise they are afraid that the baby will be stolen by a ghost or something. So it has to do with superstition.
A new Isaan life (4)
Meanwhile, life goes on in the village. There is a Buddhist high day coming up and so the annual big tambun in the temple not so far from our house. Just like every year you see that everything is being embellished.
A new Isaan life (3)
The Inquisitor is in a slightly less good mood after a week. Tough strengthens but does not move a foot, this also to the chagrin of love. She continues to spend a lot of time in Piak's house.
A new Isaan life (2)
The morning after mother and son return home, De Inquisitor has to go to the woods with the love. To collect plants, some with roots and all. Of course the farang wants to know what and why? The sweet starts to smile because she knows his cynicism about ghost stories. And yes, against the ghosts.
A new Isaan life (1)
Piak, in his mid-thirties, has adapted to married life after some effort. Formerly a loser, in the top three of the village drunks, hardly worked and lived on his status as the only male descendant in a family of four children.
Thai babies are vaccinated against bacterial meningitis for free
From the next budget year, babies will be vaccinated free of charge against the bacterium Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B). The national vaccination board has given the green light for this, as well as vaccinations against four other diseases.
Reader question: Visa for Thai baby with Belgian nationality
Who can give me information about the following please? My Thai daughter-in-law went to her family in Thailand for 8 months with baby, baby did not yet have Thai nationality, only Belgian and passport for 30 days. How can she arrange for an extension of re-entry in Thailand or what do you call this or for a long stay visa. Baby is now 3 months old.
Reader question: No visa for baby?
My Thai daughter-in-law is going with her husband and 2 children to her family in Thailand for a few months. The 10-week-old baby only has a passport and no visa, hadn't thought of that, but the child would stay with the mother for 9 months.
The Ministry of Health wants Thai women to live healthier lives and have babies in order to do something about the advancing aging of the country. They have therefore published a brochure with lifestyle advice.
Many applications for child benefit from the Northeast of Thailand
Parents of a baby in Thailand can apply for a kind of child benefit for their offspring, which is also happening en masse. The Thai government had counted on 128.000 applications, which has now risen to 136.490.
Living in Bangkok: Two New Citizens of the World
A story about two new citizens of the world by Chris de Boer. Nong Ploy is the name of the new citizen in his soi. She is the daughter of his neighbours, Lek and his wife, and the younger sister of Nong Phrae. nong Aom is the daughter of Porn and her husband, the taxi driver Joe. Porn is a housewife and watches TV or movies all day long.
Too few Thai babies are breastfed
More Thai mothers have to breastfeed their babies and for longer. Now only 12 percent of babies are breastfed for the first six months. The rest receive powdered milk, which is also very expensive, swallowing up 25 percent of the family's income.