Packing a Go-To Bag to Meet Your Child
Submitted by Michelle on June 15, 2009 – 8:00 amOne Comment
When you are pursuing a domestic adoption, one of the unknowns is when and where you will meet you child for the first time. It could potentially be at the hospital, the adoption agency/laywer’s office, or some other pre-determined place. You may have notice, or you may get a phone call at noon saying there’s a baby waiting to meet you, how soon will you be here.
The rule of thumb is that what you really need is the “3 C’s: , car seat
camera and clothes“. Having a few other items may also come in handy for that car ride home, especially if you are not picking the baby up at the hospital, where the staff will hopefully empty the contents of the baby bassinet into a complimentary diaper bag.
camera and clothes“. Having a few other items may also come in handy for that car ride home, especially if you are not picking the baby up at the hospital, where the staff will hopefully empty the contents of the baby bassinet into a complimentary diaper bag.A small gender-neutral diaper bag, packed with these essentials, should get you from the pickup point to home:
, packed with these essentials, should get you from the pickup point to home:2-3 newborn or size 1 diapers (depending on the baby’s weight). cloth diapers are all the rage right now and can last your child from infancy to potty training.
are all the rage right now and can last your child from infancy to potty training.small pack of baby wipes
small tube of Vaseline (for circumcision care)
a few alcohol wipes (for cord care)
one or two newborn onesies
one or two newborn sleepers
a receiving blanket
a burp cloth or two
a changing pad
a pacifier
a small amount of ready-to-feed formula** (or can of powder)
a couple of 4oz bottles
**If you can find out what formula the baby is used too, great (most hospitals start babies on Enfamil or Similac). If not, know that most formulas are basically the same, and that newborns aren’t picky. You just want to have some sustenance available–remember, newborns eat up to every 2 hours!!
If you will need to stay overnight at a hotel during your trip home, be sure to ask for a portable crib, or bring a pack-n-play (and cribsheets) along. If you are planning on wearing your baby, you may want to bring along the sling or wrap you’d like to use- there can never be too much cuddling! Obviously, more changes of clothes, diapers and bottles will be needed. The good news is that every corner drugstore, discount store, and many gas stations carry most baby essentials!
Michelle blogs about what happens after you bring the baby home at Gotchababy.
Don’t count on them giving you a diaper bag! Anyway, I splurged and got a Zosephine, and I love it!
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