Preparing to travel to a foreign country to adopt your child is an exciting time. With a little planning and careful packing, you will have all your necessities, hopefully without feeling too much like a pack mule getting your things – and your new child - from place to place! Here are some tips to help you think through the process.

1. Begin a list early, ideally at least a month ahead of your departure date. As you think of things you might like to have, gradually add to the list. You can always pare it down later.

2. For clothing, 5-7 days worth of clothing really is enough, even if you plan to be gone several weeks. Choose items that all go together and that you can layer or un-layer depending on the weather. Aim for lightweight non-wrinkling items of clothing that will dry quickly if you need to hand wash in the sink. Laundry service is available many places. However, if you pack a Ziploc full of laundry detergent and a short length of twin,e you will be prepared if you ever need to wash and hang dry your clothing.

3. For your child, pack lots of knits and lots of elasticized items, again with an eye to what will wash and dry easily if needed. It can be hard to judge exactly how big your child is, and knits will accommodate the broadest range of sizes. Bring more diapers than you think you will need. Disposable diapers bought in other countries are often not as good quality as in the US. Often new babies have diarrhea and go through many diapers per day. Ten diapers for each day that you will have the child is not an excessive number of diapers to pack. Pack plenty of wipes as well, and Ziplocs for storing messy items. If you are adopting a preschooler, you may want to pack a few ‘pull-up’ training pants for night time wear or on the airplane, just in case

4. Chances are you will be able to buy baby formula in your child’s country, the type he is accustomed to; but, you may also want to pack a little of your own. Regarding bottles, many parents in foreign countries enjoyed the convenience of bottles with drop-in liners, since there is less to clean/sterilize. Remember that likely the water will not be safe to drink, so you will be using bottled water to make bottles. Don’t waster space with bringing lots of bottled water, however. Bottled water is easy to find almost anywhere.

5. For a baby, a good baby carrier is usually a much better choice than a bulky stroller. If you do also bring a stroller, make it a lightweight umbrella type stroller, and be aware that often airlines will ask you to check the stroller if the flight is a full one and cabin space is tight.


6. Bring a few meals worth of comfort food for times you may not feel like leaving your room with your new child. Cup a soup, instant oatmeal, chocolate, granola bars, cheese crackers, beef jerky, and dried fruit are all good choices. Don’t forget a bowl and spoon for your in-room meal! You may want to bring a hot pot or at least a thermos to store hot water that room service delivers for you.

7. Make sure you have your camera along with enough film or disks for the trip. And pack extra batteries, as they will likely be difficult to find in another country. Don’t forget a money belt and a converter appropriate for the country where you are traveling. Look for them in the luggage department at Wal-Mart and many other stores.

8. Due to increased airline regulations, most full-sized toiletry items will need to be packed in checked luggage, not carry-on. But you will probably be allowed a quart sized ziplock bag of ‘essentials’. So look for sample-sized packets of things like contact solution, Advil, and toothpaste if you are hoping to carry them on.

9. Medicine is another thing you won’t want to be without. Don’t forget Advil and cold medicine for you and your child, Imodium, Tums, and oral rehydrating packets in case of stomach upset, Band-Aids to cover walking blisters, antibiotic ointment for scrapes, and any prescription medications you might need.


10. While packing, remove every scrap of extra paper and unneeded packaging material that you possibly can. You may even want to invest in some of those ‘shrink’ storage bags to get the most possible use out of each piece of luggage. It is wise to test-pack a couple days before it is time to leave. Your checked luggage must weigh less than 70 pounds for an international flight. If you wonder if you are going over weight, you may want to run your luggage down to the nearest package-shipping store and ask the clerks if they will weigh your suitcase for you.

11. If you are short a suitcase, an excellent alternative is a large Rubbermaid bin (check your airline for dimensional regulations). Make sure it is actually a Rubbermaid, because some of the knock-off brands are too brittle to withstand the jostling your bin will get in travel. Once packed, you will need to secure the bin shut with large Zip-ties (at Wal-Mart or any home-supply store). Use a knife or awl to carefully bore holes through the lid AND the bin right at the handle. Thread zip ties through the holes in both lid and bin. Two heavy zip ties on each handle will secure the bin nicely. Moreover, since zip ties are what airlines use anyway to reseal luggage they have to inspect, they can easily replace your zip-ties with some of their own if needed after an inspection. If you want, you can even tape a Ziploc bag to the inside of the lid of the bin and put some extra zip-ties into it for the home trip. Remember to label your bin just like any luggage.


12. The night before you leave, think hard about what you have packed. Imagine yourself navigating it at the airport, both on the way there, and on your way home when you have your child to deal with as well. Remember, not only will you have to get your luggage to the airport in your child’s country; you also WILL have to reclaim your luggage at your first ‘port of entry’ once back in the US on the way home. Once you get through immigration, you will be able to recheck your bags for the rest of the trip. But for that brief (and often hurried) time of getting through immigration, it can be very challenging to juggle a child or two, PLUS an overabundance of luggage. SO look at your bags with a critical eye, and more importantly, a PLAN of how you will drag it with you.

Tip:

• Many countries do not easily accept travelers checks. Agencies recommend that parents travel with specific types of money for ease of changing once in the child’s country. Typically, the advice is crisp new bills, newer than 1996, and in denominations of $20 and $50.

Warnings:

• Check with your airlines for specific regulations on sizes of baggage allowed, both check-in and carry-on. Regulations change often.


• Call your bank to request needed cash at least 2 weeks before you leave. Many banks do not keep this much pristine cash on hand and will have to order it for you.

Helpful links:

Buying Adoption Travel Basics
Medications to Pack
Carry-on Checklist
The Art and Science of Travelling Light

© Adoption Media, LLC