[sak9645]

AmyOinMn, I loved your recommendation about putting extra clothes for you and your child in your carryon. Let me add that you should do so both for going to China and for returning home from China.

Going to China, there is the possibility that your checked luggage will wind up in Guatemala City instead of Guangzhou, and you may be without it for a day or two, or even longer. It is smart to carry a change of clothes for yourself, so you don't have to go around looking like you slept in your clothes (even if you did, en route to China), and so you don't have to sit around a hotel room in your underwear, waiting for your suitcase. It is also smart to bring some clothes for your child, since you may wind up meeting him/her before the suitcase shows up.

Coming home, you definitely should pack at least one outfit for yourself and one for your baby. A lot of people think that they don't need to do so, because they don't need to worry about lost luggage. They'll be going home where they have plenty of clothes, right?

Wrong. As you pointed out, accidents happen. Some accidents are minor. Maybe your new baby decides to wave a toy around -- just when you are drinking a well-deserved glass of red wine or eating some spaghetti with red sauce. Do you really want to arrive at your destination, especially if people will be coming to the airport to meet you and take pictures, while you are wearing your food?

And, as you pointed out, some accidents are not so minor. If your child has a poop explosion or vomits, either or both of you may be covered in nasty, smelly substances. Do you really want to stink your way across the Pacific, offending all your fellow passengers?

My daughter was awake all night, right before we left Hong Kong for the U.S., because she had a tummyache. She then proceeded to vomit hugely all over both of us, just as we were rushing to board our plane. Luckily, I was an "experienced" Mom of about ten days, and had a change of clothes for me and two changes for Becca in my carryon. We ducked into a nearby ladies' room, changed from the skin out, and managed to make our flight.

In Los Angeles, Becca had a poop explosion during a long layover caused by a canceled flight. Luckily, I had one more change of clothes -- albeit pajamas -- for her. And luckily, the stool did not get on me.

One of the other single Moms in our group was not so lucky. She spent much of the Los Angeles layover standing in an airport ladies' room in her underwear, washing her clothes in the sink and drying them with the hand dryer, because her infant daughter pooped all over both of them! She had forgotten the cardinal rule of traveling with a baby, "Be Prepared."

Let me just say that some people differ a bit on two of your recommendations:

1. I, personally, recommend bringing at least some -- if not all -- diapers, wipes, and other baby supplies. First off, do you REALLY want to go shopping in Wal-Mart or somewhere for basics in China, when you can be enjoying your baby and sightseeing? And what if either you or your baby gets sick? If you can't stray far from a bathroom or are miserable for other reasons, you aren't going to want to shop. Also, many people feel that the diapers available in some parts of China don't absorb as well as those sold in the U.S., and many find that unscented or "natural" wipes -- much gentler on delicate or diaper rash covered skin -- can be hard to locate.

2. I fully agree with you about the weather in some parts of China. Lower lying parts of Southern China can be very, very humid and hot in late Spring and Summer. Your clothing will turn into a damp, wrinkled mess quickly. And you may also get caught in sudden, brief downpours. You will definitely want to be able to change your clothes daily, and occasionally twice a day. Your child may also get dirtier than usual.

While I agree that you probably should bring several changes of clothing, do remember that all the hotels also offer laundry service, and that laundry service may also be found, at a cheaper rate, in shops near your hotels. I found the hotel laundries to be excellent. Clothes were picked up in the morning and returned by evening, washed and pressed. It was so pleasant to be able to put on clean and freshly ironed clothing!

Personally, I didn't find the hotel laundries pricey, when compared against hotel laundries in the U.S. One way to keep costs down if using hotel laundries is to do most of your laundry when you are in your child's province, rather than in a major city like Guangzhou, Beijing, or Hong Kong, where prices are higher.

However, your guide may well be able to direct you to a laundry near the hotel, where you can get a better rate. You can bring your laundry there before you go out touring with your group, and pick it up when you return.

Doing laundry at least once or twice while in China will help you reduce the amount of clothing you need to pack for travel.

Some people like to travel with synthetic fiber clothing that doesn't wrinkle easily. However, bear in mind that the synthetics can make you feel extra warm, unless they are specifically made for sports or camping. They just don't "breathe" like cotton.

I found that I kept very cool wearing all cotton polos and socks, and cotton/poly blend or all cotton slacks. Yes, they wrinkled, but I used laundry services liberally and always looked reasonably "put together".

Whatever fabric you choose, go for light colors. They may show dirt more easily, but they reflect, rather than absorbing, heat. I chose beige or white slacks with colorful tee shirts and polos.

Some people say that the laundries in China use very hot water and that they can cause cotton clothes to shrink. I did not have that experience. However, to be on the safe side, never take brand new garments to China; wash them a few times, first. And look for items that are pre-shrunk.

Sharon