Travelling with Baby-International Travel Checklist

Okay this post is also for my personal reference.. I had a checklist in my Old laptop and it got corrupted by virus. so i am doing this again.

The following list and preferences absolutely suits me and my daughter. you might have to modify according to your needs and your baby's.

First Thing to be considered is the diaper bag itself..I prefer Backpack instead of shoulder ones. it gives me an extra hand to take care of my daughter :) I got mine in Ebags. They have a wonderful selection of backpacks. worth the money, cause of the quality and organized look.

Second thing is Umbrella stroller, which maneuvers easily, preferably one which can recline.

Diaper Bag:

* 15 diapers(this is because, my whole trip including the wait time is for about a day and then a few more hours to travel to my inlaws place..so it is about 36hrs)
* A Ziploc bag with few extra wipes than a regular travel size wipe pack. You can use the same for wiping the baby's face and her whole body. since u can't give her a bath. I use Huggies wipes.
* A Ziploc bag of baby powder and a bottle of lotion, since the skin gets dry in flight.
* 2 thin towels,one for spreading it in diaper changing station and other for emergencies,like throwing up etc. my daughter does that a lot.
* 2 extra dresses for your baby-again for emergencies.you can chose to take an extra tee shirt if u are going to wear pants, or an extra dress itself.you can put the dresses in the freezer ziploc, so that they stay dry in case of leaks in the bag.
* 2-3 regular grocery plastic bags.
* a ziploc containing medicines--Infant Tylenol, motrin, pediacare multi symptom cold. i also carry a sleep (i have my own that i got from India) medicine..usually the doctors here suggest benadryl(be careful and check before u leave whether it puts the baby to sleep or make them hyper) also find the right dosage that can be given.Orajel (small tube) if teething.(or motrin should do the trick)
* if bottle feeding--4 bottles with or without liners in a ziploc.
* 4-5 ready to feed 4oz similac bottles. u can get the rubber nipples which can be screwed on the bottle after taking the lid off, from eBay.this will reduce the regular bottles u carry.
* u can also opt for similac singles packet. the hostess can provide u with warm milk or water whenever u want.
* 1 ziploc with finger foods like cheerios.
* Your child's most favorite toy...for mine it was baby tad :)
* one brand new toy which she has never seen...I got a v-tech rhymes book which lights up and sings. make sure it has a on/off switch and volume adjuster.
* 2-4 lollipops or a bottle with warm water/milk(which i doubt u can get during takeoffs), so stick to lollipops, to keep their jaws moving and hence easing off the earpain that might be caused during takeoffs/landing.
* 1 roll of travel bounty that u can get in meijers( it is really small),
* 1 travel brush and paste for u.
* 1 comb
* wallet with few Indian rupees and few dollars( this will help u when u come back to US and hire a sky cab to pick ur luggages)
* 1 calling card like at and t...which can be used almost anywhere.
* passport and travel papers in a separate freezer ziploc, and keep tucked in far inside of the bag after u are done with it in the security check..don't want to lose it.
* ipod if u want to listen to music when she sleeps(this is totally optional)...i prefer shutting my eyes and getting some rest when she does.
* Ziploc with disposable bibs.

Regarding dressing your child for travel--i dressed her with pajamas that cover her toes too and has full sleeves and and zipper that closes from toe to neck....instead of one with buttons.it keeps the baby warm and also easy to take off and put on.

In the suitcase:

* carry at least 3 cans of similac or enfamil...u get these in India in shopping centers and u can also substitute with whatever is available in India, like pediasure, junior horlicks..etc.
* i carried 2 sams club size diapers(140+140) spread out underneath and above my suitcase.
* don't worry abt dresses. ask ur parents to get some. just take some special dresses to wear when visiting others and 4 full sleeved pajamas(to avoid mosquito bites).
* I took about 30 plastic packs of Gerber food inside a rubber maid container.
* Mosquito repellent for infants.
* i took the baby monitor with me.
* some dvds that she likes.
* I took a medicine box with extra Infant Tylenol,motrin, pediacare-multi symptom, pediacare cough suppressant,orajel, a thermometer.
* I took jungle gym with me, since she was only 6months old at that time, but u get that in India.
* baby nail cutter.

I steamed my bottles by just throwing them in the hot water(in boiling temperature) and then drained the water. This sterilised the bottles and nipples.

In Chennai, U get all the diapers(imported middle eastern diapers are just like the one in US) and formula, gerber foods in Spencer plaza. there is shop for it dedicated to that.Even if they don't have what u want, u could just call and tell them and they will try and get it for u. this is only if u need something very badly.

I used my umbrella stroller as my highchair. :)

I think i covered almost everything that i took. If I remember anything else will add again.

I highlighted the list, so if u don't want to read my chitter chatter...just mark off the highlighted ones in your checklist.

Good Luck and Happy Traveling!!!