Packing List for China

Baby Clothes

Quantity

Comments

Booties/Shoes

2 or 3

buy in China. We brought one pair that was too big and bought 2 pairs that fit her now for about $2 each

Hat

1

Bring 2 in case your husband loses one.

Onesies

4

Didn't bring - hotels were too cold for onesies only.

Outfit for orphanage

1

Replace one she is wearing. Also brought other, smaller outfits and blankets for an orphanage donation.

Outfits

10

Separates to mix and match, different sizes. Brought dresses, lounging outfit for hotel.

Sleepers

3 or 4

Brought 3, but sometimes let her sleep in her clothes from previous day instead of waking her up to change her.

Socks

8 pr

Bring the triple-folded kind that she can't kick off.

Sweater

1-2

Definitely necessary for the hotels, especially the White Swan.

Baby Feeding

Quantity

Comments

Baby Food

strained prunes (hated them), rice cereal (liked it and good transition from congee), cheerios (loved them)

Baby Formula (soy based)

Orphanage may supply your first bag. We went through 3 bags of formula for the entire trip. Because Guangzhou could be cleared out of formula when you're there (it happened to us), buy extra in your province before you leave. We had just enough of the Chinese formula to get us home from LA. The first KC bottle was Enfamil. I wanted to ease the transition once we got home but couldn't because there was none in Guangzhou. And don't forget to ask for scoops - we didn't know they didn't come in the bag.

Baby spoons & plastic bowls

2-3/ea.

Good for cheerios, rice cereal, to use as a rattle...Baby spoons are hard to come by. We lost one in each hotel we were in. I'd recommend bringing 5 or 6 spoons.

Bibs

We used disposable bibs for each meal. Much easier than having to clean them

Bottle liners

100

We used about 75 or 80, but I'd bring 100 for juice or water.

Bottles

2

We brought Playtex disposables and she glommed onto them. Wish we had brought a 4 oz bottle with the same nipple so she could hold.

Cheerios

16 oz. +

Some kids loved them, others hated them. Amy ate about 8 oz total.

Cloth diapers

5

for burp-ups, etc. We bought a pack in China at the Nanning department store for next to nothing. I didn't mind leaving them places if they got too hideous (orange infant Tylenol stains)

Measuring cup

1 16 oz.

For measuring formula, cereal, etc. - Didn't need.

Nipple brush

1

Nipples

6 - 8

We brought extra shapes, but Amy liked one kind only. We were lucky to have three of those.

Plastic Bowl/Container

1 or 2

Good for cheerios, rice cereal, to use as a rattle

Rice Cereal

1 box

Amy liked it and good transition from congee. It's quite messy and might be easier to buy in China

Sippy Cup

1

Didn't need

Thermos

1

Needed - We put boiled water in the previous night and used as lukewarm water for the next day. It got heavy, though.

Tongs/tweezers

1

Didn't need - used the tongs from the ice bucket instead. Definitely necessary for holding the hot nipples and pacifiers, as they get really hot.

Baby diapering

Quantity

Comments

Baby powder

4oz.

Might need more - can buy in China

Baby wipes & travel pack

~200

used one refill size in China

Desitin

1

Diaper bag

1

Diaper changing pad

1

Diapers

8-10/day

We went through just under 80 diapers. I brought a 48-pack of Huggies UltraTrims and bought about 30 Chinese Pampers. I could definitely tell the difference in the diaper technology - the UltraTrims were great and really wicked away moisture. The Chinese diapers held about one pee, maybe two at night. I used the Huggies at night and on the plane ride home and the Chinese diapers during the day. The Huggies were a size too big (I brought 3s and am now putting her in 2s)

Plastic pants

2 or 3

Didn't bring, didn't need

Baby - Medicines/Toiletries

Quantity

Comments

Amoxicillin for babies (antibiotic)

1

Antibiotic ointment

1

Baby soap

1

Bath Towel

1

Benedryl

1

Comb/brush

1

Gas medicine

1

Hydrocortisone cream

1

Kao Lectrolye/Pedialyte

4

brought the dry packets and used 4.

Lice shampoo

1

didn't need

Medicine spoon/dropper

1

Nail Clippers

1

Needles/Syringes

4 or 5

didn't bring

Nose aspirator

1

Oragel for baby

1

Pedia Care cough medicine

1

Pedia Care decongestant

1

Poly-Vi-Sol vitamins

1

Scabies lotion

1

didn't need - donated to orphanage

Shampoo

1

Teether

1

Thermometer

1

Toothbrush/toothpaste

1

Tylenol

1

used Tylenol provided by the White Swan clinic - kind of cool as the bottle is in Chinese

Washcloths

2 or 3

Baby - Miscellaneous

Quantity

Comments

Diaper/Safety Pins

1

Baby Bjorn (or other carrier)

1

Cheap vinyl tablecloth

1

didn't bring or need

Baby Board Book

2

Blankets

3

Pacifier & clip

2 or 3

Plastic photo album

1

Toys

3 or 4

Mark - clothes

Quantity

Comments

Lightweight Jacket

1

Long-sleeved shirt

1

Pajamas

2

Pants

2 or 3

Shoes

2 pr.

Short sleeved shirts

5 or 6

Shorts

1 or 2

Socks

6 or 7

Underwear

6 or 7

Beth - clothes

Quantity

Comments

Lightweight Jacket

1

Long-sleeved shirt

1

Pajamas

2

Pants

1 or 2

Shoes

2 pr.

Short sleeved shirts

5 or 6

Shorts

1 or 2

Skirt

1 or 2

Slippers

1 pr.

Socks

6 or 7

Bra

3

Underwear

6 or 7

Adults - Medicines/Toiletries

Quantity

Comments

Alcohol swabs

1

Antibacterial wet wipes/lotion

1

Antihistimine/Decongestant

1

Bandaids

1

Blister foot pads

1

Calamine lotion

1

didn't need

Chap Stick

1

used often - on the dry plane especially

Comb/brush

1

every hotel provided comb

Cotton Balls

1

every hotel provided

Deodorant

1

Guangzhou in July - an absolute must

Eye Drops

1

Feminine Hygiene Products

as needed

Glasses

1

Handcleaner

3

Used in the diaper bag and left one by the sink.

Pain Relief

1

Kleenex

3-4 pkgs

Makeup

as needed

Mosquito lotion/spray

1

Nail clippers & file

1

every hotel provided file

Nasal saline spray

1

Neosporin

1

Pepto Bismol

1

Prescription Medicines

1

Q-tips

1

every hotel provided

Rolaids/Maalox

1

Shaving needs

as needed

White Swan provided shaving needs

Skin lotion

1

every hotel provided

Sleep aid sm. bottle

1

Sunscreen

1

Throat lozenges

1

Toilet paper (small roll)

1

didn't need/didn't bring

Toothbrush/toothpaste

1

every hotel provided

Luggage/Travel Supplies

Quantity

Comments

Alarm clock, travel size

1

Necessary - no hotels had clocks!

Bungee cords

4

Clothes pins, plastic

6

didn't need, didn't bring

Container (Rubbermaid)

1

Hold medicines in-flight/use as cleaning tub there (actually used ice bucket to clean nipples in instead of this)

Leatherman Tool

1

didn't need/didn't bring

Locks, small for luggage

4

bring extra in case you buy a bag

Luggage straps

4

Money Belt

1

Neck pouch

1

Rubber disk to plug sink drains

1

Sewing kit

1

Sneakerballs

1 pr. each

didn't need, didn't bring

Travel Pillow

2

absolutely necessary on plane

Umbrella

1

provided by hotels, didn't need to bring our own

Woolite

1 sm.

used dishwashing detergent or bath soap provided by hotel

Camera Supplies

Quantity

Comments

Batteries

lots

Battery Charger

1

Camera

1

Electrical adapter/converter

1

Film

~20 rolls

used all but one roll

Lead bag for film

1

We didn't bring (too heavy by the time we got everything packed) and we had to have our film x-rayed. The airports would not hand check anything under 1000 ASA. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have brought the lead bag and made Mark carry it. Nothing happened to our film, but...

Polaroid Camera & film

Video camera

1

Video tapes

8

Ziploc bag for film

1 or 2

Food Stuff

Comments

Coffee, instant

didn't need

Snacks

brought granola bars, goldfish, jerky, animal crackers. Loaded up again in duty-free for the way home

Straws

didn't bring/didn't need

Sugar packets/creamer packets

didn't bring/didn't need

Documents, US Consulate
* * *Carry all documents, do not put them in checked luggage * * *

Comments

Check with agency on appropriate documents for you

Documents, Chinese Paperwork
* * *Carry all documents, do not put them in checked luggage * * *

Comments

Check with agency on appropriate documents for you

Office Supplies/ Paperwork

Comments

Addresses (phone/email)

Airline tickets & copies

Business cards

Calculator

Chinese Translation Cards

Credit cards

Dictionary (Chinese)

Document holder

Drivers' license

Envelopes

Guidebook on China

Health Insurance Info.

Notebook, small spiral type

Paperclips

Passports

Pens

Photo album

Post-it Notes

Poster Tube

Rubber bands

Bring lots of rubber bands if you're using the disposable bottles/formula bags. That way you can make up a few extra bottles for the day in the bags and close them off with the rubber bands. We also used them to keep the gift boxes closed on the way home.

Scissors

Small stapler

Tape

Telephone calling card

bought in China

White out

Miscellaneous

Comments

Baby book (what to expect..)

Duct Tape

Ear plugs

provided by China Southern

Gift wrap or bags

Money/Traveler's checks

Reading material

Zip loc bags - large & small

Bring lots of ziploc bags of different sizes. We used them for everything - a change of clothes in the diaper bag for Amy, extra formula packets, gifts on the way home. Plus if you get stopped for a security check, it's much easier to go through everything and repack.

Gift Ideas

Comments

Scarves/Ties

Chocolate

Leatherman Tool

Lipstick/makeup/scented lotion

Pen/pencil sets

Stationery

35mm camera, film, batteries

Electronic calculator

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

Items of local interest - Sports hats/t-shirts, coffee-table books