5 Things I’m Glad I Took on Our Adoption Trip to China

Before my husband and I went on our adoption trip to China to bring home our precious daughters, we did our research. We wanted to have everything we needed readily available in our suitcases in case a trip to the store wasn’t possible. It’s hard to predict the needs of two young children and yourselves, but we wanted to be prepared as we packed for our adoption trip to China. (Why China? Read Beginning our Adoption Journey.)

We joined Facebook travel groups and read blogs to learn from the experience of other parents. We made lists, then added to and revised them multiple times. Finally, we packed as best as we could. We really wanted to travel as light as possible, knowing we would be adding whatever our girls brought and our souvenirs, plus having two little hands to hold. 

Of all the little things we brought on our adoption trip to China a few things would have been hard to do without. If you are planning an international adoption trip, consider adding these to your list.

Number 5: A Kindle Fire with Free Time Unlimited for each of our girls.

I know, I know! Getting them addicted to screen time already! Believe me, most kids in China are much like kids in America. Our girls already knew how to open phone and Kindle apps and slide their finger on a screen. We didn’t give them free rein with them, but a chance to breathe and talk as a couple a few times a day was a lifesaver.

Before our the trip we downloaded a popular Chinese cartoon, as well as some fun apps that did not require English, such as drawing, music, piano, etc. We also downloaded the Bible for kids app that has Bible stories in many languages, including Chinese. When we first came home, we played the English version for our bio kids and the Chinese version for our newly adopted girls so we all could listen to the same Bible story each night.

Number 4:  A VPN app on our phones and tablets.

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. Some countries strictly limit internet access. Without the VPN we would not have been able to update our friends and family through Facebook or keep up with what was going on at home. 

Simply download an app, such as VPN Express, then pay for the monthly activation. You can cancel when you return home. Every time you access the internet, whether in your hotel or a public place, first ensure the VPN is turned on. You may have to change the location from which the VPN broadcasts a couple times to find a fast source.

Then, just use the internet as at home. Your regular sites and social media sources should work as usual.

Number 3: Melatonin in child doses

A friend who had recently returned to China recommend we take Tired Teddies. For one of our girls, we needed melatonin to get any sleep.  After coming home, our pediatrician at the International Adoption Clinic recommend up to 3mg, using the least amount needed. We upped the dose from the .3 mg Tired Teddy with 1mg tablets which I kept on Amazon Subscribe and Save for a long time. 

Number 2: An Ergo Baby carrier for our youngest daughter

We spent hours on official trips, as well as touring in the girls’ province and shopping. I carried our small four-year-old everywhere in my Ergo Baby Carrier, and my back hardly bothered me at all. The Ergo took a little practice, but was pretty  easy to get on and off.

Baby wearing is highly recommended for bonding. (Adoption and the Benefits of Baby Wearing) The physical closeness helps most children feel secure.  I loved having free hands for other things. Also, I could walk though a crowd without worrying about losing her.

Number 1: Our teenage daughter

Our thirteen-year-old daughter joined us on our adoption trip to China. Her presence was well worth the extra travel expenses. Zoe was our top asset. We would not have made it well without her.

Not only did Zoe provide an extra set of hands and eyes, but the girls immediately bonded with her. She made them feel more at ease in a very scary situation as they left behind everything and everyone they had ever known. Gia Gia (big sister) definitely was the favorite from the start,  followed by Mama. Poor Baba had to wait a while to earn their trust, which is completely normal.

5 Things I Wish We Had on Our Adoption Trip To China

We went to China relatively well prepared, but I did wish I had a few things to make the nearly three week whirlwind a little easier. Of course, most things are available in stores. If you are unable to go out, just ask your guide for anything you really need. That’s what they are paid for and most will not mind.

1. Stain stick

When we arrived in Guangzhou for the last leg of our trip, our guide hired someone to wash our clothes. They came back stained and smelly. Stain stick may have helped them them come clean a little easier.

2. More clothes

We tried to pack light, but could have used more clothes for ourselves and our girls. We planned to rewear things, but did not plan to be as dirty. For our girls, we packed with both age and current reported size, but still had to go buy some.

3. Rolling suitcases and ride-on suit cases

We bought the Ebag Mother Lode at the suggestion of lot of adoption travel groups. I love, love, love all of the pockets and organization, but packed, it was very heavy. The padded back pack straps and worked great for my husband (it also has a carry handle and shoulder strap), and having our hands free to hold our girls’ hands was a plus,  but I needed wheels (available on the new Junior version here). 

Also I really considered buying our girls some of those rolling suitcases made for kids to ride. I wish I had. They would have come in very handy at the airport. Maybe we could have packed them with clothes inside our bigger suitcases to save for the trip home. I also recently discovered a toddler seat that attaches to a rolling suitcase that would have been handy.

4. A small fan

The hotel was stuffy. Of course, the weather really depends on when and where you stay. Although the people there still dressed their children in three layers, Beijing and Nanjing were quite warm in April. Our first hotel did not have air conditioning, but a floor fan that uses water to cool the air. A small fan blowing in my face would have made me much more comfortable at times.

5. An international phone plan

Since we knew the airport, train stations, and hotel had wi-fi we did not purchase an international phone plan. Well, the wifi instructions and access codes were in Chinese in the train station. We had been communicating using We Chat, China’s social media platform, but we could not find our driver. It took a couple of frustrating hours and roaming data usage to finally get connected. We really needed an easier way to call our agency or guides in case of emergency. 

A adoption trip to China brings so many things to consider. Even the mundane task of packing a bag can become a stressful ordeal if you lose focus. Just remember, the sweet words, “I love you, Mama and Daddy,” you will hear one day will be worth all the paperwork, packing, and praying.

I hope our lists help if you’re planning an international adoption trip to China, or anywhere else. If you’re not, have you prayed about adoption? Right now, we no longer qualify to adopt from China. Maybe it’s your turn! 

Remember, we adopt because we are the adopted! Romans 8:15

Thank you, Father, for adopting me as your child and giving me the ministry of adoption that others may know your love!

Questions about our trip or about packing for an adoption trip to China? Ask in the comments!