Two adoptions, from two different countries later, and I have become an expert on what to bring with you on adoption travel and, perhaps more importantly, what you can buy there.

Paperwork

If you want, leave everything at home, but the one thing you should absolutely bring is your adoption paperwork. Make sure to have photocopies of your passport, your visas, your travel approval, your letter of acceptance, and your I-800A for your new child. We found bringing a large plastic legal sized accordion file helped keep track of our documents. Looking to save space? For both adoptions, I carried thumb drives with all our adoption information—from the complete home study to the travel approval. Chances are you won’t need them, but our thumb drive came in handy when our daughter’s orphanage offered to upload photos of our daughter’s first 18 months.

Toys

A lot depends on the age of your adopted child, but any toy that promotes bonding and attachment will be key. Think about things you can inflate—like balloons, beach balls, or soccer balls—which will take up less room in your suitcase. Stickers are great, Water Wow! (add water to complete painted pictures), stacking cups, small boxcars, and bubbles are good additions. Worried you won’t have enough? The Chinese Walmart is one of the most incredible stores you will visit. They literally have it all—clothes, diapers, shoes, toys, bottles, etc. We bought our son Legos to play with while we were in the country. The best part? Most hotels have playrooms so when it was time to return home, we just left the Legos for a future family to enjoy.

Medicine

For the most comprehensive list of medical items to take, it is best to consult an international adoption doctor or a travel doctor prior to your trip. We took everything, from scabies cream to lice kits, thermometers, and band-aids. Much of the OTC medicines we have in America exist in China, but the dosage is different. I was glad to have the comforts of Tylenol, Sudafed, and Pepto-Bismol in our travel bags without having to find a chemist.

Food

We took a lot of snacks for our first adoption from China. We had granola bars, peanut butter, cheerios, fruit snacks, the list went on and on. On our recent trip to India, to adopt our daughter, I brought only enough snacks for the plane ride. Here’s why: between the Chinese Walmart, your hotel, and local shops you can really find everything. From chips to chocolate, to even my daily dose of Starbucks, we bought, practically, everything there. If you’re not an adventurous traveler eater, it can be a good idea to bring some emergency granola bars but most hotels where you will stay cater to a full Western menu. Quick adoption tip: stock up on your child’s favorite snacks of the country. If your child is still on formula, be sure to buy some extra boxes while you’re there. When you return home, their favorite familiar treats can help ease the shock of transition. 

Clothes

Since most trips are between 10-14 days I recommend packing 7 days’ worth of clothes. Packing cubes are a great way to save space! Most hotels have laundry service and we did a few loads in our bathroom with a small container of Tide and a clothesline I brought for such purposes. When packing, make sure everything in your wardrobe can go together. It can be hard if you are visiting two different climates so be sure to pack clothing you can layer. Worried about clothes for your newly adopted child? Height and weight can be out of date, or completely miscalculated, so bring clothing for your child that you can fold over or roll up. (Large safety pins were a huge help!) And don’t forget local markets have wonderful, affordable clothing and shoes for your new addition. We bought pajamas, pants, and shoes for our son.

Miscellaneous

Every family has a different miscellaneous list. Ours included hand wipes, diapers—which we should have bought in China—tissues, Tide to Go sticks, small umbrellas, a journal, and a Tula toddler carrier. The carrier was essential for getting around the streets and airport in a timely manner, and the bonus is that carriers promote attachment!

Apps

Although likely not at the top of the list, the right apps can help make your trip successful. The apps we really liked:

1. Google Translate: seriously the best invention. Type in anything and Google Translate will convert it to any language.
2. WeChat: message app used throughout China as the number one means of communication.
3. XE Currency: converts currency in real time between U.S. Dollars and Chinese Yuan.
4. WhatsApp: an easy way to communicate with family and friends back home. Works with wifi so no need for a cell phone plan.
5. TinyScan: takes a picture of any document and converts it into a pdf. Great tool for keeping track of receipts or other paperwork.

However, the most important thing is to bring an adventurous spirit. Adoption travel is, and will be, like nothing you have experienced. Though it can be tough, be sure to take time and appreciate each day. Better yet, record it in a journal! These are the first days of your new life together as a family. That is the greatest, most awesomely wonderful, trip you will ever do.

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Some things you might want to consider as you pack are the long plane ride, traveling with a young child, the weather, and the amount of time you will be gone. The plane ride to China is about fourteen hours. It is suggested that you bring travel pillows and something to do such as a book to read or movies on a device to watch. On your way back from China, you will have a young child with you, so you may need to bring activities for your child to do as well. Anytime you travel, you want to pack clothing for the weather. Prior to your departure, check the weather to see what kind of clothing you need to pack. The last thing you need to consider is the amount of time you will be spending in China. In general, you will spend at least two weeks in China to bond with the child and complete the adoption process. Be prepared with enough clothing in case your hotel doesn’t have the option to do laundry.

There are many other things to consider so find someone you know that has traveled to China for adoption and they can give you tips. Be sure to cover your bases for both the trip there and back. 

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1. Pack light, but consider the climate.

If you are traveling to your birth country, the opportunity to explore a variety of towns, cities, and areas in your country can be a rewarding experience. In order to best move about in a country you are not familiar with, try to pack as light as possible. There are many youtube tutorials and articles on the web about how to pack in order to backpack through Europe or other long-term travel with minimal luggage that can be great resources on how to cram the most “stuff” possible into your luggage, as well as what to consider leaving at home.

In many countries, in order to move from one region to another, you will need to take whatever public transportation is available. Having to lug five suitcases onto a bus multiple times could really put a damper on your experience. That being said, make sure you do thorough research of the climate and weather conditions of your home country in the time you will be traveling. Winter in Russia? You’re going to need warm clothing. Rainy season in South or Central America? A rain jacket. If you are moving about the country, it is possible the weather will change significantly as you move from one area to another. Make sure to do your research so you are able to pack the gear that will be most helpful to you while you travel.

2. Consider a tour.

Many international adoption agencies, as well as other travel agencies and companies, have tours for adoptees returning to their birth country. The advantage of a tour, especially one specifically designed for international adoptees, is that it takes the planning off of your plate and allows you to fully immerse yourself in the culture. If your lodging, transportation and even food are already arranged for you, that’s fewer decisions for you to have to make. Returning to your birth country can be a very emotional experience. Going with a tour can help remove some of the stress for you. Additionally, if you are traveling with other international adoptees, you will undoubtedly be surrounded by people who understand your experience and why this trip is so important to you.

3. Expect the unexpected.

International travel of any kind, particularly to a developing country, can bring many surprises, both good and bad. Once when traveling in Costa Rica, I had the pleasure of sharing a bus ride with not only a number of locals but also multiple chickens. Really. Not something I would have anticipated. Weather can change, flights can get delayed or canceled, sites you may have wanted to travel to could be unexpectedly closed or inaccessible. Try to adapt the mentality that you are up for whatever the ride brings you and that you can roll with the punches.

4. Manage your Expectations.

Along the same lines, manage your expectations of what this trip will be like. Many adoptees idealize their birth countries and imagine that traveling there will be an other-worldly experience. Often, they set themselves up for disappointment if it is anything but perfect. You may find yourself overwhelmed, underwhelmed, disoriented or just plain not having a great time on your trip. Have a positive attitude, but understand that like any new experience, you can’t predict what your trip to your birth country is really going to be like. Also, if you have made plans to meet up with any agency officials, foster parents, orphanage workers, or even members of your birth family, manage your expectations for these interactions as well. You may think you will instantly feel a deep connection to these people who are such an important part of your life’s story, but that may not be the case. Pre-arranged meetings might fall through altogether. Don’t set yourself up for devastation by idealizing any of the people you might be planning to meet. Remember, they are human just like you and this may also be an emotional experience for them. 

5. Get travel insurance.

I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance through a reputable broker. Sometimes tour companies, airlines or third country booking sites provide their own option for travel insurance. Before choosing the provider of your travel insurance, read the fine print. What do they consider an acceptable reason for needing to cancel all or a portion of your trip? What percentage of your trip cost will they refund? How can you contact them while you are abroad? Look online for reviews, or consider talking to whomever provides your car, rental or homeowners insurance. Even if they do not sell travel insurance themselves, they will undoubtedly have a recommendation of reputable sources to purchase it. You never know what life will bring: if you get in a car accident and break both your legs a week before you are supposed to leave for Thailand, are you really going to want to have to travel if you can’t even walk? Though it can be incredibly disappointing to have to cancel a planned trip to your birth country, if you have travel insurance, you can at least recoup some of your investment to plan a trip at a later date.

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