Traveling to Bring Your Baby Home
A Parents’ Checklist

• Health insurance. Arrange with your health insurance provider to have your child placed on your plan the day the child is delivered into your care.
   
• Your health. Talk with your health care provider about the immunizations and medications you need yourself before setting out.
   
• Your new child’s health. Discuss health concerns that may arise while you are bringing your child home. Schedule in advance an appointment for your child to see your health care provider within a few days of your return.

Potential health concerns for your child

• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Pain (colds, teething)
• Respiratory distress (coughs, colds, congestion)
• Skin rash (eczema, scabies)

• Eye drops for pink eye, conjunctivitis
• Hydrocortisone, Aquaphor, or Cetaphil cream, for skin rash
• May consider Permithrin cream (5%), for scabies. Proper guidance from health care provider about its use is important. If child has scabies, treat everyone on trip.

• Diaper ointment: Nystatin for severe rash; Desitin or A&D Ointment for milder rash
• Antibiotic ointment for skin infections
• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever, pain
• Benadryl (diphenhydramine) for hives. Don’t use to help child sleep; may cause hyperactivity rather than sleepiness
• Saline nose drops or gel (Ocean, Nasal, Ayr) for drippy nose, congestion
• Kaolectrolyte or Pedialyte, for diarrhea, to prevent dehydration

• Soap, unscented, hypoallergenic
• Baby wipes, unscented, no alcohol; overuse can cause diaper rash
• Hand sanitizers/wipes (with at least 60% alcohol) in packets, to clean your hands after diapering, before making formula or feeding
• Bulb aspirator to remove mucus from drippy nose
• Digital thermometer
• First aid kit: Band-aids, gauze, paper tape, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide
• Child’s medicine dropper/syringe/spoon, with ml or cc dosages marked

• Baby bottles
• Nipples with different shapes, hole sizes, stiffness
• Formula (milk or soy) powder, enough to make 28-32 ounces of liquid formula a day. Ask agency about child’s current formula; use same during travel.
• Solid food for older babies and children. Talk with agency about child’s current diet, use same during travel.

• No nuts, peanuts
• No foods that present a choking hazard, like peanuts, hard candies
• Thermos, to prepare formula using bottled or boiled water
• Bibs, burp cloths for your shoulder
• Baby spoon (plastic), bowl, sippy cup

• Baby carrier, chest/back variety, for young infant; carrier seat for older baby
• Blankets
• Children’s books, toys, teething rings
• Clothing, 2-3 outfits per day for young children; 2 per day for older children
• Diapers, disposable; 6-8 per day, correct size for child’s weight. Ask agency if these will be available for you to purchase there.
• Folding umbrella stroller

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