GLOBAL PEDIATRICS
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION MEDICAL SUPPORT SERVICES
ALLA GORDINA, MD,FAAP
7 AUER COURT, EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ 08816
TEL 732-432-7777
FAX 732-432-9030
E-MAIL DRGORDINA@GLOBALPEDIATRICS.NET
THINGS TO CONSIDER, BEFORE YOU WILL START PACKING:
1. DO NOT CREATE A ROUTINE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO BREAK LATER
2. EXPENSIVE DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN GOOD
3. GENERIC DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN BAD
4. BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER
5. TRY NOT TO DO FOR YOUR CHILD WHAT YOU WOULD NOT DO FOR
YOURSELF
6. TRY NOT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY
7. CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES
8. DID YOU GET YOUR IMMUNIZATIONS or CHECKED YOUR IMMUNE
STATUS for TETANUS, DIPHTERIA, POLIO, HEPATITIS
A and B,
MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA, CHCKEN POX?
Dr. Gordina Packing List
FOOD
- Dry formula (both soy and milk) 2x32 oz cans, “one bottle packets ”
can be very helpful
- KEFIR= buttermilk
- Sugar – all food is usually sweetened.
- Baby food – cereal (one grain), cherrios. Note: babies are not used
to cold and dry foods. Hot cereals are good (farina = MANKA, oatmeal = GERKULES).
Babies are not used to jars. For baby over 9 months in any place where you
are eating you can order soup (SOUP), mashed potatoes (P’URÉ), Russian
hamburgers (KOTLETA) and tea made from dried or fresh fruits (KOMPOT).
- Let your child to decide how much to eat.
- You will start on American-style nutrition in the convenience of your
own home (please, no junk food!!!).
CUPS AND NIPPLES
- Nipples in Russia are different. They have holes that are usually made
very large. The baby can refuse to drink from the “foreign nipples” – have
different types of nipples and, as a temporary measure, you can buy “Russian”
nipples in any local pharmacy.
- Depending on the orphanage, a 9mo. old baby may be able to drink from
a regular cup (without sippy top). A simple sippy cup is a must on your
trip. A cup with a straw will work great. It is not written in any scriptures
that infant can not drink formula from a cup.
- You can try to offer your infant a pacifier.
- A bowl and a spoon.
DIAPERS
- Size is determined by weight. It is better to buy larger than smaller
diapers. 8-12 changes per day. They sell diapers in Russia too! Practice
the art of diaper changing.
- Roll of plastic bags – for diaper disposal
- Child after one year of age CAN BE TOILET TRAINED. Consider that as
a free bonus. Keep your child in the diaper in case of the accidents, but
if your child would want to go potty – help him! Small boys are usually
voiding in sitting position. Children can loose their toilet training very
quickly. In any case, change your baby as often, as you can.
- Baby wipes. Buy a big soft refill pack and small plastic travel container.
2-3 wipes per change for baby + 1-2 for your hands. You can use those wipes
for everything you will use moist toweletts for.
- Diaper rash ointment is better than powder
IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK
- Stress of adoption, lack of structured environment, exposure to outside
world – all that can make your baby more susceptible to any infection.
- If your child is sick enough to take a prescription medication, your
child is sick enough to see a doctor. I don’t like to give parents any prescription
medications for their trip.
- THERMOMETER- Ear thermometers are not reliable and are not recommended
for infants and small children. Glass thermometers are more accurate and do
not need batteries. Digital thermometers are quicker. Oral and rectal thermometers
can be used to take axillary temperature – the way they take temperature
in Russia and now in the USA too. 36.5C = 97F = normal. 38.5C=101.5F=fever
- MEDICINE DROPPER/SPOON – dropper for smaller children and infants, 2-teaspoon
capacity; spoon for older children. 1 teaspoon=5cc=5ml. Special droppers
with medications (see below). Children after 5 years of age can swallow pills.
- NORMAL SALINE (Ayr, Ocean, Little noses, and non-medicated saline) Spray/mist
better than just drops. Proportion 1/3 teaspoon of table salt in 8oz(240
ml) of water. NASAL ASPIRATORS – better not to use them unless you are accustomed
to this procedure. Bulb with plastic tip, which you can not put inside baby’s
nose. Cold medications can have paradoxical effect and were never proved
to be very effective. Tissues – for everything
- FEVER/PAIN MEDICATIONS. ACETAMINOPHEN (Tylenol, Tempra, Non-aspirin pain
reliever). 15 mg/kg/dose every 4-6 hours. Concentrated drops 80 mg/0.8cc
or liquid 160 mg/5cc.
IBUPROFEN (Advil, Motrin, PediaCare Fever, Ibuprofen) 10 mg/kg/dose every
6-8 hors. Concentrated drops 50 mg/1.25cc or liquid 100 mg/5cc.
- VOMIITNG/DIARRHEA – Do not stop them! KAOLEKTOLYTE – flavored better
than plain.
- RASHES. General rule of thumb – dry juicy rashes (diaper rash ointments
– Balmex, Triplepaste), moisturize dry rashes (Vaseline, Aquaphore, Aveeno)
Diaper rash ointments can be used on any part of the body.
SKIN CARE
- Mild soap (Dove)
- Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, alcohol swabs
- Nail clippers
- Note: children from the orphanages usually are not familiar with bathing
in the bathtubs.
- Be very careful with the sun. Most of infants and toddlers were never
exposed to it! Sunscreen – but can cause allergic reactions.
- Mosquito repellants - clothes
CLOTHING
- Based on baby’s weight, not age. Shoe size is impossible to predict.
- Children in the orphanage are usually overdressed
- Most of younger children don’t like to be to be dressed and undressed.
Practice at home on dolls or relatives.
- Continental climate – very cold in the morning, can be hot at noon and
very cold at night. Warm clothing even in summer.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
- Snugglie or Bjorn for carrying your infant or small toddler (front mounting
only)
- Umbrella stroller (plus to the carrier)
- Small backpack for 2-3 year olds and up (child should be able to walk)
- Plastic shopping bags, plastic garbage bags, plastic ziplock bags
- Metal thermos, soft lunch bag
- Converters
- Flashlight
- Batteries for all your needs
DON’T FORGET
- Common sense
- Sense of humor
- Patience