What should you bring when you go abroad to bring home your newest family member? Everything but the kitchen sink!
Pack Lightly
If there's one piece of advice any seasoned traveler will give you, it's this: Pack lightly. And if you're planning to travel abroad to adopt a baby, you'll want to heed this advice even more. For one thing, your adoption journey may take you through crowded airports in a developing country, where luggage carts aren't always easy to find. (In other words, you may end up carrying or rolling all of your luggage.) And once you adopt your baby, you'll be transporting your little one -- and all of his belongings as well.
Before you travel to adopt, talk to other adoptive parents who've recently been to the city or region you're going to. Ask them what you should buy in advance and what you can purchase there. (For instance, are diapers and formula easily accessible in the host country, or will you need to pack a full trip's supply in your bag?) Also, ask what the weather will be like, what types of clothing are appropriate, and what sorts of goods and services you can expect to find. You can also consult this packing list, which contains a number of essential items for a baby and parents on the go.
For Your Baby
____ Lightweight front pack or baby carrier
____ Baby bottles and nipples
____ Powdered formula
____ 2 plastic bibs
____ Burp cloths (you can use cloth diapers or small towels)
____ Disposable diapers and baby wipes
____ Diaper bag and portable changing pad
____ Resealable plastic bags (to hold wipes when traveling)
____ Small plastic garbage bags (for dirty diapers or dirty clothes)
____ 8 to 10 seasonal outfits that can be washed easily
____ Snowsuit or winter jacket and mittens (if traveling in cold weather)
____ 2 to 4 pairs of pajamas
____ 1 or 2 sun hats or winter hats
____ 6 pairs of socks or baby booties
____ 2 to 3 baby blankets
____ 1 bottle baby shampoo
____ 1 bottle baby lotion
____ 1 small container cornstarch baby powder
____ 1 tube diaper rash cream
____ Baby hairbrush
____ Baby nail clipper/file
____ Liquid baby acetaminophen
____ Liquid baby decongestant
____ Rehydration liquid (for bad cases of diarrhea)
____ Dosage spoon or dropper (for giving medicine)
____ 1% hydrocortisone cream (for itching and rashes)
____ Antigas drops (helpful if you're changing your baby's diet)
____ General antibiotic (if your doctor will prescribe one)
____ Ear and/or rectal baby thermometer
____ Rattle
____ Teething ring
____ Small stuffed animal, stacking cups, or other small toy
Optional
____ Baby rice cereal (for babies over 6 months of age)
____ Cheerios, packed in resealable bags (for older babies)
____ Pacifiers
____ Small plastic bowl and baby spoon
For Mom and Dad
____ 4 or 5 mix-and-match outfits that can be laundered easily
____ Comfortable walking shoes
____ Long underwear (in winter)
____ Sun hats and insect repellent (in summer)
____ Personal hygiene products (shampoo, shaving cream, mouthwash, deodorant, moisturizer, waterless hand-wash, etc.)
____ Over-the-counter remedies for upset stomachs/diarrhea, colds, headaches, sinus problems, sore throats, etc.
____ Over-the-counter sleep aid (in case of jet lag)
____ General antibiotic (if your doctor will prescribe one)
____ Supply of snacks (for comfort food)
____ Resealable plastic bags (for medication, snacks, film, etc.)
____ Camera and lots of film
____ Camcorder and extra battery
____ Travel journal/diary
____ Money belt
____ Language guide/phrase book
____ Prepaid calling card
____ Pocket calculator (to convert prices into dollars)
____ Passport, travel documents, and adoption-related papers
Sources: Gladney Center for Adoption, The Complete Adoption Book by Laura Beauvais-Godwin and Raymond Godwin, Esq.
All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.
