picking up the baby...what to pack?

babygirl4us · June 2011

We are adopting out fo state and will be traveling by plane to pick-up the baby. It's a girl! She will be a week or so old when we travel back and we might have to stay a week or so there after she's born. Suggestions of what to pack? Some tips? Maybe a list has already been posted for this? Any help will be much appreciated! Thanks! Smile

kgs0505 · June 2011

What we brought with us or bought there: Receiving blankets (carters are the best sized)- a pack of 4, A warmer blanket, newborn clothing... mostly sleepers. I prefer snaps over zippers. A bunch of onesies. I didn't bring tons of clothes... just enough for a few days. We stayed in a hotel with laundry which was awesome. A 3pack of bottles plus a bottle brush, Carseat, Baby carrier is nice but not necessary ( was awesome for flying), Burp clothes (6 or so)- I suggest the gerber cloth diapers for this. Those specially made burp cloth too thin to hold spit up. A roll of quarters for laundry, A couple pacifiers, A pack of wipes, A diaper bag, Camera and charger, Cell phones and chargers (bring chargers to hospital with you- both our phones died while we were there). When you get there buy formula, diapers, wipes, laundry soap and dish soap. Locate a laundromat if your hotel doesn't have one. We stayed at a Fairfield Inn and the had a couple machines for guests to use. Good luck and enjoy your new daughter!

mrsjessroo · June 2011

Pack your bags ahead of time too! I had the babies stuff all ready to go and when the time came to travel, I forgot almost everything for me! Good Luck and enjoy your baby girl!!

kiyote72 · June 2011

I have been in a hotel with the baby since may 22...leaving for home tomorrow. highly recommend the long sleeve side snap tops by gerber...and as many of the hats the hospital will give you (they are supper stretchy). in the hotel - thats all she wore (with a blanket wrapped around her).

formula - buy the little bottles - worth it when u are in a rush and the baby is hungry...less cleaning in the hotel room.

fallsbride · June 2011

Also once you get there you may want to get gas drops, baby soap, baby lotion, and diaper cream. Try to find out what they are using for your daughter now and stick with the same brands of things. Of course you will probaby need a car seat in order to leave the hospital. You will need LOTS of antibacterial wipes to clean up the hotel room (or maybe this is me just being a crazy mommy LOL), air plane and your hands. I always travel with a book bag as my diaper bag to keep two hands free at all times Onsies are the best b/c they can wear them anytime of day and out can allways put a pair of those cotton pants over them.

Oh one of my best new mommy tips go by zip fizz (full of vitamins vs. chemicals like other energy drinks) and pack those in the diaper bag and suit case as you can add them to water for some extra energy and vitamins. You won't have to worry about getting them through security at the airport b/c they are in powder form.

Most of what I can add for now. Hope this helps!

silliestbunny · June 2011

My suggestions/practical advice:

1- If financially feasible (often it's the same price), look for a condo rental or a house rental on VRBO.com or a like site. That will give you the flexibility of home in the kitchen, laundry, etc. This works well if you are in a larger area vs a country hospital.

2- Seek out and print out local maps for Target, Walmart, or some other big box store so you can buy things that you need. That will take out the stress of hunting the closest down once you get settled.

3- Clothes for you. Plan on dressing in layers. Hospitals and hotels are cold and then outside can be hot. As vain as this sounds, you are going to want lots of pics taken when you are shlepping around the hospital and hotel. Think about comfortable clothing that would work okay in lasting pictures (yoga pants, tanks, and cardigans). Also think about your clothing as something you'd wear on a long plane trip... something you can snuggle in but it is also appropriate to wear out and about. Hair bands, ties, or whatever you use to keep your hair corralled

4- I guess this is also clothing for you... but consider a shelf bra or sports bra that you are comfortable stripping down to so you can be covered but get that skin to skin experience early on. Our nurse quickly undressed me and slapped my baby on my chest... which was great but I hadn't really thought of being exposed. I wished I would have worn a shelf bra.

5- I LOVE my Baby K'Tan sling. It was great for carrying a new born. If you have a ring sling, a Moby, or some other type of wrap or sling, practice now so you are comfy. That thing will help you get out and about comfortably early on. (And back to clothing... if you are in a hot area, plan on wearing tank tops with them. They can get warm!)

babygirl4us · June 2011

thanks...I hadn't thought about the laundry/soap/quarters!

babygirl4us · June 2011

great tips...thanks! Smile

babygirl4us · June 2011

thanks for the tips...the VRBO idea is great!

hidges · June 2011

We also used the medela sterilizing bags while we were while we were in the hotel. They were very handy. We stayed in a Residence Inn so we had a small kitchenette adn even a dishwasher, but we didn't take a dishwasher basket for the bottle pieces, we just washed htem in the sink and then sterilized them -worked good for paci's too.

Good luck!!

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