[pvnew]

I never expected to receive a child before she even reached 7 month of age, but I did. I feel very lucky, however, I'm not sure what food to bring with me to China. Besides formula and rice ceral what else shall I pack? Should she be drinking juice or should I wait until I get home for that. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Patty

[Momof2boysinOH]

Congratulations, Patti! My boys never drank juice. Pediatricians say that it's not even good for them because of all the sugar. I would think you could bring formula, rice cereal, Gerber baby foods (I recommend the plastic containers versus the glass jars), and cheerios. My sons were slow getting teeth so they started out with cheerios and then progressed slowly to other finger foods.


Good luck!

[GoingtoChina]

Congratulations!

We didn't bring any formula or rice cereal with us because we wanted to keep our daughter on the same formula that she was used to so we wouldn't upset her stomach. We brought home a few bags of the formula as well so we could slowly get her used to our formula here in the states. We brought Cherrios for Nicole.... She loved them. Oh, Nicole was 9 months old (almost 10 mos) when we picked her up. We brought some goldfish crackers- she didn't like that at all. Mainly, we fed her formula, rice congee, steemed eggs, bananas, watermellon, french toast, and oatmeal, and finger biscuits, all of which we got in China. We tried giving her Liquilytes (similar to Pedialyte) but she wouldn't drink it.

Feel free to ask anymore questions. It's all still pretty fresh in my mind since we just got back 12/4/05.

Kelly

[Lissa]

I would bring a little bit of formula as you may need (at most) a day's worth. I brought a bottle to Gotcha and it was a Godsend. It was 6pm and the babies hadn't been fed since noon. They were starved. After that initial bottle though we used the chinese formula the entire time. As for foods. Rice cereal is good. Just bring the plain stuff. Baby food is available there. Not the flavours you are always used to--but good stuff.) (Lydia LOVED pumpkin!! Wish we could get it here!!) As for juice. I never needed it in China. IF you are worried your baby might be constipated you can give her some apple juice from the breakfast bars in the morning. Cut it with 50% water though. Most babies I heard of have had more problems with loose stools so bring liquidlyte packets.(Powder form Pedialyte) I used those daily...so bring plenty. As for snacksfor baby... They are hard to get in China. Cheerios are non-existant and when I went they were looked upon with much suspicion. Cheerios were often the scapegoat for many of the children's illness' by the Chinese people while we were there. Seriously!! They blamed the Cheerios on coughs, green poos, crankiness, diarehea, even excessive sweating!! But honestly the kids love em and they are impossible to get. Also good are the Gerber snacks...they come in a variety of flavour and they melt in the mouth!! Much safer for youner baby than cheerios but more costly.

[sak9645]

Most newly adopted children of that age will still be using only formula, or formula with a little rice cereal mixed into the bottle. You can bring your own formula or buy it in China once you see what your child is using.

Some children may have begun eating a little table food, in addition to taking formula. You have to remember that many orphanages do NOT use baby food, which is expensive. They serve foods that are easy for a child with no or few teeth to eat.

Basically, there is no need for you to bring baby food, except for Cheerios -- which even the toothless babies love and which are not generally available in China -- and maybe a box of "biter biscuits".

If your child has already started eating table food, you can find out what things he/she is eating and get them in the hotel dining room. Most of the hotels will have things like rice congee, hot soy milk, well-cooked vegetables, well-cooked meats, rice, etc. The solid food can be mashed with a fork or spoon, or shredded easily with the fingers.

They may also have good Western buffets. My daughter -- older than yours -- preferred the food on the Western side, things like yogurt, scrambled egg, pudding, etc. I even found applesauce, which most kids like.

Even though your child may not have been eating any table food when you met her/him, you may discover that he/she develops a huge interest in what you are eating. You may decide NOT to do any transitioning to table food while in China, simply to keep your child from having gastrointestinal problems. Or you may decide to introduce a new food or two every couple of days, in mashed or shredded form. You can ask your pediatrician before your trip which foods are least likely to cause allergies or tummy upsets.

The only baby food item I would bring to China is a small jar of pureed prunes. Many of the newly adopted babies wind up constipated. Sometimes, constipation will resolve just by increasing the child's intake of water (bottled or boiled, of course). However, the two best weapons to use for bad constipation are pureed prunes (which can even be added to a bottle) and baby glycerine suppositories (you know where they go!)

If your child is already drinking juice, you will often find excellent juices on the buffet at the hotel. You can also buy canned juices in the supermarkets. However, I would go very easy on juice. The citrus juices can cause allergic rashes. And all juices reduce the appetite for more nutritious food. You are best off feeding things like tiny bits of banana.

Formula and water are the only things that your child needs to drink. Every day, when you head out to tour, carry bottled water with you in the diaper bag. Then put some into a baby bottle as needed.

Always carry packets of Kaolectrolyte. In case of diarrhea or prolonged vomiting, mix it with boiled or bottled water, following the directions, and try to get your child to drink it. If you can't find Kaolectrolyte in your local supermarket, ask your pediatrician for the formula for oral rehydration fluid. Basically, it's a little salt and sugar in bottled or boiled water.

Sharon

[richard p.]

We found no need to bring anything what so ever. We purchased all food and diapers over there. Travel light because you will want to bring back many things.