We traveled almost Carry On Only, which means we had two carry on cases, two carry on backpacks, a camera bag and one smallish suitcase. Yes, we crammed all of that stuff into about 3 cubic feet of space.
Annotated for your viewing pleasure.
Clothes for Ben (We didn't bring enough T-shirts for either of us. Pack
2-3 more.)
2 pairs pants (wear 1)
3 pairs shorts (wore 'em all)
5 pairs underwear (wear 1)
5 pairs socks (wear 1)
1 button down shirt (should have brought 2)
4 t-shirts (should have brought 8-9)
1 pair boxers
1 pair pajama bottoms
travel jacket (wear)
hat (great for that "I just flew 24 hours
straight" look)
money belt (a must!)
1 pair comfy shoes (wear)
Clothes for Jenn
2 pairs pants (wear 1)
2 pairs shorts
Sun dress
5 pairs underwear (wear 1)
5 bras (wear 1)
5 pairs socks (wear 1)
2 ‘nice’ shirts
4 t-shirts (should have brought 6-8)
1 pair pajama bottoms
travel jacket (wear)
hat
money belt
1 Pair comfy shoes (wear)
Clothes for Baby (We brought WAY to many clothes for Bella! Next time
we'll bring perhaps 5-6 outfits and buy the rest there.)
1-2 hats (Bella hated them)
2 pairs socks/booties (buy more in
China)
1 pair shoes (buy more there)
3 sleepers
4 onesies
2 T-shirts (buy more there)
1 pair shorts
3 pairs pants
1 dress
1 sweater (buy more if needed)
2 rompers
4-6 bibs (should have brought
8-10)
coming home outfit (Changed her about 20
minutes from landing)
Food for Baby and Adults
Cheerios (cram into every
available space)
Formula (about 3 days worth - never used)
Prunes (Used by Ben, not baby...:(
Granola Bars (great snack!)
Cheese N Cracker packs (another great snack!)
Oatmeal packets (Never used.)
Utensils
3 Bottles (Just enough.)
50-100 liners (Used about 80 or so)
3 small bowls w/lids (used for cheerios)
2 baby spoons (used a LOT, should have
brought 4)
4-6 assorted nipples (about right)
travel thermos (used for trips)
nalgene bottle for water (never used, we
just bought bottled.)
formula scoop (Used a bit)
Dish soap (In the form of disposable
sponges. - great!)
Laundry detergent (Only used a little.)
Bottle brush (Used every day!)
Tongs (to remove nipples from hot water -
never used)
Day bag (for day trips or laundry - used
once, for laundry)
40 diapers (Next time we'll
bring 10 and buy the rest there)
Toiletries/accessories
Toothpaste
2 travel toothbrushes (Never used,
hotel supplies them everywhere)
Deodorant (one each)
Travel clothes line (Used a lot!)
Travel alarm clock (erm... that's what the
baby's for.)
Razors (6)
Travel size shaving cream
Feminine products
1st aid kit
all in 1 baby soap (great stuff!)
shampoo (used Hotels)
conditioner (Didn't use much)
travel hair dryer (never used.)
plug conversion kit (Never actually used.
All the hotels came equiped with one)
Saline nasal spray (good for the
plane!)
Q-tips
Vaseline
Baby powder
Brush
Baby brush/comb
10 safety pins (never used.)
2 sippy cups (she wouldn't go near them.)
Water free disinfectant lotion (Used it
all!)
Disinfectant wipes (Used most of them.)
100 baby wipes (cut in half - used them
all.)
Baby nail clippers (a must)
Adult nail clippers
Tweezers (never used, but who knows. . . .)
Small roll duct tape (Never used, but would
bring again)
4 packs travel Kleenex (should
have brought 6-8!)
Portable changing mat (Used a bunch.)
Toys/baby gear
Sling (Bella hated this!)
Stacking cups - MIRACLE TOY.
2 soft books
1 soft photo album
beach ball (good fun! and easy to pack)
Uno/Skip-Bo (adults - never used)
Medications (baby) - We didn't use most of it, but I'd certainly travel with all
of it again.
Baby Tylenol (w/instructions)
Cold medicine
Cough medicine
Dye free benadryl
Lotrimine (yeast infections/weepy
diaper sores)
Diaper rash cream
A&D lotion
Antibiotics (zithromax for resp.,
omnicef for ears, Cephalexin broad spectrum) 10 day dosage.
Lice shampoo (Nix)
Scabies Medication (Elimite)
Glycerin suppositories (A must. If
your baby doesn't need them, someone's will!)
Infant Vitamin drops (for formula)
Orajel
Sunscreen
Medicine spoon/dropper
Thermometer (digital - used by everyone in
the group)
Nasal Aspirator (snot sucker) (not used,
thank god)
Hydrocortisone cream (eczema)
Medications (Adults) - We didn't use much, but I'd bring it again.
Prilosec
Pepto tablets (Took 4 every day. Did
it help? We don't know, but it certainly didn't hurt)
Cold Medicine
Cough Drops
Tylenol
Advil
Benadryl
Immodium
Antacid
Gas X
Antibiotic Ointment
Tylenol PM
Natural Laxative (think lots of noodles and
fried foods)
Chapstick
Cetaphil Lotion
Bonine or Dramamine
Cipro (broad spectrum antibiotic)
Other antibiotics as per Dr.
Paperwork (in accordion folder)
Plane Tickets
Itinerary
Passports
2 copies of Dossier
Visas
3 years of tax returns
Copies of plane tickets
2 copies of passports each
Credit card numbers/info
Contact Sheet
I-171H
Letter of Invitation
Brown Envelope contents
4 each extra passport photos
Pens
$$$CASH$$$
Travelers Cheques
Yuan (Didn't end up
bringing, didn't need it)
Half-sized post-its
Scotch tape
Electronica
SLR Camera
Camcorder
Camcorder charging kit
Extra batteries for cameras
Film
Lead-lined bag
Extra Hi-8 Tapes for camcorder
Spare battery for Camcorder
Small flashlight
Gifts (6 total) with red tissue paper
Stuff we didn't bring but wish we did:
Cough drops/throat soothers. The air, especially in Beijing, is aweful. By the end of day two, everyone had developed a cough and scratchy throat.
Car Air Fresheners. Want to be a hit with your group? Bring about twenty of these suckers along. Sometimes the rooms can smell a bit off or smoky. We hung a few in every room over the course of several days.
Books for adults. What? Books? Well we each brought one. And through the long plane ride we got a bunch of reading done. Then, Bella would fall asleep at 8pm almost every night. Great for downtimes and 15 minute breaks.
$5.00 bills. Oh the bargaining power of crisp $5.00 bills! We could have gotten better prices on a number of smaller items by using American bills.
Feel free to Email Us us with any questions or concerns!
Check out Ben's other project, Arsgeek!