[momraine]

One thing about benadryl, some kids don't get sleepy when they take it, some get super hyper. I have one of each. So if you think you are going to need it on the plane, then try it in the hotel first, just so you know how it affects your child.

[Jessi_76]

Hello everyone!~

Hope you all had a GREAT weekend!! Mine was fun...doing baby preps, of course.

Liz ~ thanks for the GREAT advice. I will definitely take loads of wipes...didn't really plan on that...was just going to take one travel size pack each, and then one "big" box in the checked baggage to refill. That's sounding like it won't be enough though. I appreciate your input. And, thank you for the info on lots of socks!! Thing is, my one girlfriend told me that NO diapers leak anymore but from everything I'm reading here, it sounds like either her daughter doesn't poop much, or she was lying. LOL.

Karla ~ I agree...poopied things go right in the trash. Pee pee'd things or spit-up-on things can get washed out.

Lorraine ~ We're taking three trips so we're thinking that after we give out our gifts on trip 2, we will have room for the souvenirs to bring home from our region. Then, on trip 3, when we are in Moscow with the children, we'll just have to make room for some souvenirs from there, BUT, we'll have lots of extra room where the diapers used to be. Hopefully it works out the way we're planning it. GREAT idea about inflatable hangers...never even heard of them. And a clothesline with suction cups...I already added it to my to-buy list - thank you!!

Kimberley ~ Ooh...plastic panties...GREAT idea!!! I'll look for those!! Thanks!!

Jpride ~ Thank you!!! We'll definitely pack as many diapers as we can. I appreciate your first-hand input on the quality issues. Why can I say I'm not surprised that Russia's aren't as good?! hee hee... Thanks for the idea of keeping lots of baby clothes in the carry-ons too, just in case. I think like you, I would have had one back-up in the carry-on and then the rest in the checked luggage. I'll be sure to bring extras in case we have a rough flight.

Becky ~ the kids will be with us for 8 days. It was supposed to be 10 or 11, but after our court date change, our agency shifted some things for us to make up for our delay and now we'll only be there for 8 with the kids. Thanks so much for your advice. They are BOTH teething. I've never even heard of teething tablets...I'll check those out. Thank you again!

pwnort ~ We are actually coming home during the 10-day wait (although we are going to ask to have the 10-day waived, but it won't happen according to our agency). When we get back, we will have the children with us for 8 days (about 3 in-region and 5 in Moscow).


Have a GREAT week everyone, and thank you SO much for all of the great advice!!

xoxoxo

[angelkisses0102]

I scanned the other replies...and I don't think this was addressed. You can buy everything you need in Moscow...at the children's store.

DD did not grow at all between trips one and two (14 weeks) and everything I brought was wayyyyy tooooo big on her. She was 11 months old when we got custody and was wearing size 3/6 months clothes. So we went to the children's store and bought her some outfits that fit. I brought lots of those sleep and play style one piece outfits (Carter's has some really cute ones.) That way they could be used day or night. DD never got blowouts at all...in fact she was severely constipated but that's another story. I also like mix and match outfits...Babies R Us Koala Kids was a great line for us. That way we could only replace the article that needed to be changed. I took a tons of bibs...disposable ones for DS too...that could be either be rinsed or tossed. I loved those big ones which basically covered her whole outfit so she stayed clean. My biggest mistake was not taking an extra outfit on the plane ride home...but I stripped her down to her onsie and then redressed her when we were landing. I am a huge fan of onsies...I used them in the summer...sleeveless ones even...and we live in south Florida where it is always hot.

For DS I took lots of the sleep and plays and tons of sweats...mix and match and it worked out great. I love sweats for little ones...especially if they are thin...the waist stays up much better. DS also never had blowouts.

Oh and I did take some really cute (expensive) outfits for DD and she did not ruin a single one. I guess we got lucky on that.

Good luck....

[dlhall]

Don't forget hats! Even in the summer, Russians will expect you to have a hat on your children when outside. One family we traveled with when we got our daughter was constantly scolded in public for not having a hat on her son, and because the shoes she bought for him didn't fit, she was also scolded for not having shoes on him.

Liz

[momofMikhail]

I'm not sure if you have been told how many days you will be there but we spent 24 days in Russia our second trip when we got our son. We only had to have 8 days of outfits for our son though. We were over weight but they didn't really care. In our case they didn't weigh the backpacks only the luggage. I only brought 4 pj's, I figured if there was an accident I would have that pair washed before they were needed again. We used the hotel services for our laundry. It was a little pricey, but worth it just to have clean cloths for us and our son. The worst was the flight home. I went through 4 outfits also. Plus we ended up cleaning the entire airplane bathroom due to a blow out while changing my sons diaper. Needless to say my husband had to change his cloths also. Our son also got very sick on our last flight (I think from not getting enough sleep).

We only brought 16 outfits, but were right on the money. By the time we got home he was clean and in his last outfit. Good Luck!

[MominPA]

I would just pack an outfit a day and maybe three extra outfits. I would skip the PJ's and just bring onies for them to sleep in. I don't know where you are staying and if you will have AC or not. The kids just might sleep in their diapers. Are you staying in an apartment that you can do laundry in?

For the plane ride home, make sure the outfit is easy to change diapers in. I made that mistake. We didn't have any accidents when we came home, but I brought three outfits with us one being the outfit we brought for pictures once we landed. Also bring some extra clothes for you too! You might get soiled too!

When you get to JFK there is a bathroom that you can change the children in once you clear immigration. You can't take any pictures in the immigration area so it really doesn't matter what outfit the child is in.

Also don't plan on having the umbrella strollers available to you when you get off the plane. They actually wanted us to check in our stroller when we checked in but the lady had a heart and said we could check it in at the gate. The lady at the gate wasn't so pleased that we had a stroller. I thought we would have it at door when we deplaned like what happens traveling domestically, but nope.

You may want to check for VIP service at Moscow when you come home with the kids. Our driver saw the line and told us to wait. He came back and got us close to the front of the line near the xray machine by Delta's check in area. I don't know what he did nor did I ask, but the line was all the way to the first xray machine when you walk in to SVO. When we walked by the guard he smiled and waived us ahead cutting all the people in line.

[Jessi_76]

Again, thank you all SO much!!!

Angelkisses ~ Thx for your great advice!! Our daughter will be 11 mos. at custody also and I bought just about all 6-9 mos. Hopefully we'll be right on.

Liz ~ Winter hats in summer??? Or are summer bucket caps okay??

Mom of Mikhail ~ We'll be there with the children 8 days as well. what anightmare you had with the plane bathroom!! YIKES!! I bet it's all just an amusing part of the journey now though.

Elissa ~ thank you!! We're staying at the Courtyard Marriott while in Moscow. It looks very nice but we will be in a hotel room/ no private laundry. Thank you for the advice about the umbrella stroller. Good to know...I won't even bother. We're bringing snugglies so hopefully that will do. WOAH!!! I will ask about VIP in Moscow. Holy! We waited on a HUGE line on our first trip. It took forever and people were standing RIGHT on top of us.


Thanks again guys!

xoxoxo