Baby Formula and Food for 5 Weeks in China

Edited:
Hi Alice,
I do not know about mainland China but I can tell you about Hong Kong. I would advise against the car seat. The trains and taxis are not equipped for car seat, have smaller space than US and it would be very cumbersome for you to transfer with car seat and a stroller or even with just one of them! I strongly advise baby carrier. That is what's practical in Hong Kong and your hands will be free. If you have to choose - just take a stroller and the small one that fold flat and is easy to carry and to put in some small space. Not a car seat. People only use them in private cars in Hong Kong, not on trains, buses or MTR (subway) . I've seen couple of Americans just off the plain trying to carry car seats, double strollers, diaper bags + kids and they look ridiculous, exhausted and sweaty. Not to mention that they are taking up the whole sidewalk or the walking lane, become a public spectacle and the major source of annoyance for everyone. They are unable to cross the streets or load into buses or taxis (and when they do - they find out that their car seat is not fitting properly or that there is no fixture to fix it to). One day later they ditch all that equipment, get a carrier for the baby, take the toddler by hand - and voila! - they look just like locals and feel much comfortable too. Streets are steep and narrow, cars, buses, trains are smaller than in US and the people are fast, thin and very agile and they do not stop or yield the way to anyone.This is in Hong Kong. I've been in mainland only to Beijing and streets are wider and buses are bigger but again, never saw a car seat.
As for formula:
Here is what I saw in Taste and in Park-n-Shop two major HK stores that carry foreign brands:
Formulas: Carnation, Complete Pedia Sure, Nestle, Friso, Enfamil, Similac,Wyeth, Snowbrand, CowCare, Meiji.
For baby cereals and snacks/jar foods: Frisocream wheat and rice cereals, Nestle variety of veggie and fruit cereals, Heinz jars and snacks, Healthy Times, Gerber only few items, Hip Organic. Again, this in HK. I have no idea about mainland.
Since your daughter is 9 mo old he can snack on banana, rice, yogurt, soft fruit and any bakery items that are widely available.
I would suggest that you bring medications as well. Motrin, Tylenol, something for nasal congestion, a chest rub and something to expel phlegm. Pollution index in China is much higher than in US and many people get sick with respiratory symptoms upon arrival. Bring a small bottle of saline and a bulb syringe to clean baby's nasal secretions.
Good luck. Any questions - feel free to ask.

Please ship your formula and food ahead of time. Don't trust the baby food and formula over there. Or you can buy some in HK when you stop over. But, HK always has shortage of formula as people from China will come to HK to buy formula. So, you can see why they do so because they don't their own formula too.

If you go to HK, it is okay to eat and drink over there. But as soon as you are in china, i will bring as much as possible for my baby.

I never drank bottled drink in china as they can "fake" the "click" sound to pretend new bottle opened. Therefore, I only drank "canned" drink. Also, always boiling your water.

So, that's said, you may need to drop the car seat. And, indeed it is not very useful when you are traveling with public transportation in asia anyway.

Can you ship things ahead of time so you don't have to carry it?

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BRING YOUR OWN! Remember all those babies that died in China due to tainted formula? Don't risk it.

I would ship my formula ahead of time. You don't want to take any chances with something like this. I recently read something a couple of days ago about China & formula contamination. Stick with what you know. Google & do your homework.

1) Last year I think, mainland China had problems with baby formula... because there was some kind of chemical in it. I remember reading about it in our local newspaper. They do not have all the "FDA" type regulations about baby products, like we do.
Foods there, are often tainted with things, that are not even food safe much less for adult consumption.

2) make sure, your bring your baby's Vaccination records and medical insurance and Doctor info etc.
Ask the Pediatrician, tell them you will be traveling to China etc. and ask them for any advice... about what to bring.

3) Baby also needs a Passport. Copy of a Birth Certificate, just in case.
You too, if you are a US Citizen. If you are not a US Citizen, I would make sure what papers you need, to then re-enter the USA.

4) If traveling without the Dad... then per our Travel agent, we had to get a Notarized "Authorization for Travel for a Minor Child"...
Here are some examples:
http://www.pennysheldontravel.com/consent.for.child.html
http://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/child-travel-consent/
http://www.myfamilytravels.com/how/advice/10545-Required-...
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/child-traveling-ou...

This is because, child abduction is prevalent. And some countries require this. It has to be Notarized. And per our Travel agent, my Husband could not book his flight with our Daughter, without it.

5) Check with www.tsa.gov about traveling abroad and to China. And about what you are allowed to bring/pack/have in a carry on, per Formula etc.

So many things, to bring per a baby when traveling internationally.
You are going by yourself.
Don't know about car seats, per China, or if they even have laws like we do about it.

Try Google searching "tips for traveling to China with a baby" and see what turns up.

China is a a ton different, than the US or Europe. Amenities like we are used to, may not be available there. My friend's parents go there a lot.

Pedialyte, should be the minimal thing you bring. Per if she gets sick. Ask your Pediatrician for other things, you should bring.

Have a great time Alice...what a special time. Check on shipping rates from Fed Ex and some other international shipping companies. They can deliver door to door and make your life and travel far easier. This way you can take whatever you may need and only bring the necessary travel items on your day(s) of travel. Yes, of course grab formula if your baby is on formula and just check the expiration dates to make sure you have time :)

good luck..

Definitely bring your own formula since China has had problems with formula in the past. You can bring the powder and make the formula as you need it. Can you dad buy a car seat and maybe a portable booster seat on his end so you don't have to bring them? If not, maybe ship them to his house so they are there when you get there.

I would efinitely take the formula, since not all kids react to changes the same way, even when they are supposed to be comparable, for example, they might have no problem with Similac, and get gas or spit up with the equivalent Enfamil, so better not risk it. As for the pedialyte, it now comes in small packets to dissolve in water, making it very travel friendly...of course, you have to make sure that the water you are using is safe and if unsure boil it first. I woulod also take tylenol (acetaminophen) as well as motrin or advil drops, little noses saline drops, benadryl in case of allergies, diaper rash cream, neosporin, mylicon drops for gas/stomachache, a thermometer, wipes. Not sure about the carseat, as it would depend if you will be using a family car vs public transportation, but as they already mentioned they sell a base that has wheels that you attach to your carseat making it into a stroller, as well as a carrying case for both, they sell them at Babies R Us. If not then a small stroller, as well as a baby carrier, and as much of the baby food that you know she likes. Also discuss with your pediatrician if there are any extra immunzations she might need, though at 9 months, a lot of vaccines might not be age appropriate. One that I would give her would be the flu shot, they are already available for this season (this year it's exactly the samer as last years), since because of her age she has never gotten any. She will need 2 doses, 4 weeks apart, to be completely protected, not sure when you are traveling, but even one dose is better than nothing. Good luck and enjoy your visit!

I would call and ask your doctor about formula.. And should u use bottled water. Also the nurses were so kind at my doctor office and gave me sample size cans for traveling so helpful for the carry on.. And bring more powder than u need.. Due to weather once we stayed on the run way in dc for 10 hrs.. Before flight took off. Crazy rule..luckily we had extra formula and diapers and changes of clothes for me and baby..since baby diaper leaked on me.
L.

I would take EVERYTHING. I would not take a care seat if you don't think you will use it, but I would definitely take a stroller. I would take several cans of formula because you never know what they have there and how your baby will react with it. I would definitely bring all of your baby food and medicine. You might need to take an extra bag, but I think it would be worth it.

is there a powder version of pedialyte you can mix with water?
you probably can't take pedialyte through security at the airport... unless it's checked. i think you can make your own with sugar and salt though, you might look that up.

carseats are free to check, and there is a great "snap and go" stroller that is just a frame for a carseat and is much smaller than a normal stroller. you can also gate check those, so you can use it at the airport. and if there is an extra seat available, you can take it on the plane to put your baby to sleep in. if you don't plan to drive in a car and need a carseat though... it would be much easier just to travel with a mei tai carrier or moby wrap.

too bad you're not breastfeeding... it's so much easier to pack!! :) i don't know about formula... good luck with that!

as far as baby food goes-- at 9 months I would just give her table food. i like to avoid meats until one year, but she's old enough to eat most fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, yogurt, etc. most of those can be mashed with gums even if she doesn't have teeth yet. you can mash them or cut them up yourself too. no need to bring baby food in my opinion. i was told by my doctor that food at this age is just practice-- most of their nutrition is coming from formula and/or breastmilk.

high chair cover?? how about sanitizing wipes?? they are much smaller, and still you can have the confidence of a clean chair.

We hosted two students from China last month. They were stunned at our carseats. Babies "don't need them" there. One girl offered to just hold our one year old on her lap. So if you're thinking you can just borrow one there or something, think again. On the other hand, they also said seatbelts weren't necessary in the backseat, "maybe only in the front." I'm not sure if that means cars aren't equipped with rear seatbelts or not, but it's something to consider. There are roller attachments you can buy for most carseats, and just leave your daughter in it (according to the pictures I've seen... never used one) while trekking between planes and trains.
As for the formula, I wouldn't buy it there. And yes, I'd bring Pedialyte and whatever other meds you might have a need for. Maybe it would be more cost effective to have everything shipped? How reliable is shipping over there?
One of the students explained the medical system there like this: "We don't have personal doctors. Everyone just goes to the hospital. They see you pretty fast, but they are not very good." (Full disclosure: She is a teenager and a lot of things didn't meet her standards, lol, but she did go on to give a specific example... nothing extreme, but concerning at the least.)

All annoying little details aside, lol, it sounds exciting to take such a long trip. Happy travels!

Hi A.L. - My mother moved to Shanghai six years ago. Big metropolitan city right, she can't find some of the very basic things we have here. We are currently not speaking but when we were I sent her a case of necessities about every six weeks (OTC medicines, dental care products and some food even). I wouldn't count on finding proper formula there.

If you feel confortable shipping them ahead and have the time, I used the USPS Express shipping - the kind that is overnight here. Seems crazy to ship that fast to China but it was much faster than UPS and FedEx - they always got caught up in customs and took about a week or two longer. USPS Express made it there in four to five days and they deliver on Sunday! It was always much less expensive much to my surprise as well.

Bring/ship everything you can, even my mother has issues being treated by a "Western doctor" in Shanghai. Are you planning the carseat for the train or when you get to your dad's? I worry about a basic train going to remote locations. My mother and her new hubby have been on some very primative trains with passengers sitting on the floor with chickens.