5 Things to Bring from Abroad Before Having a Baby in China

(This article originally appeared on JingKings Shanghai’s Wechat channel: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/4_jCD6ulc1RxOABtMM_srQ)

When I was giving birth for the first time 14 years ago, China was a very different place. We didn’t live in a tier-one city, and a lot of the products I was familiar with in the States were hard to find here. Thankfully my mom came over for the birth and hand-carried everything from adult diapers to breastfeeding pads (not to mention lots of adorable newborn clothes!)

With the advent of Taobao, waimai, and many other online shopping platforms, it is amazing what is now available! Thankfully in Shanghai you can find just about anything in a pinch, many times within the hour.

However, if you’re taking that babymoon or last holiday back in your home country, or if you have a friend or relative willing to bring a suitcase over with them, you might find these items more convenient or affordable to bring from abroad.

Infant medications

Thankfully, you can get anything your baby might need right here in China. Yet, in those tired, stressful, emotional times when our little ones are sick, having a familiar medicine with dosage information in your native tongue can be invaluable to have at hand. Always keep medications and other dangerous materials out of reach of children.

Feminine hygiene

Have you ever grabbed a bag of feminine hygiene pads in a hurry, only to find out they were tingly mint or heavily scented?! Once again, this is an area I personally really value having something familiar and trusted for that post-birth bleeding. Make sure you have a few days’ worth of the heaviest nighttime product (some people even prefer adult diapers for the first couple days), and several weeks’ worth of the medium product. It is not recommended to use tampons, cups, or any other insertion method during this time.

Breastfeeding bras

The number of options in China is growing all the time, but once again it might just be easier to bring a style or size that you like from abroad. Make sure that you have a few soft stretchy bras that will have space to give a little during engorgement as your milk comes in. Remember, your breast size will likely grow even MORE than pregnancy during the first week after birth, so be sure to bring ones with a cup size a bit larger than what you currently wear pregnant. Thankfully nursing bras don’t have to be plain or ugly anymore, but function and comfort is still most important!

Baby bottles, teethers, or pacifiers

This one could go either way, as babies can be fussy. A family might invest in a vast supply of a certain brand only to have baby reject it…however once again if there’s a brand that you love and trust it might be more affordable to purchase and bring from abroad. Just be prepared that your baby may pull a fast one on you and make that investment a wasted one!

Cultural, religious, or emotionally significant items

Is there a certain outfit, hat, or baby product that you always pictured your future baby using? Maybe a certain style of blanket or a decorative infant hat. Birthing away from our family and home culture can sometimes make one feel lonely and disconnected. You may want to check to make sure your cultural item is still considered safe for infants, but if it is, be sure to bring it with you. Having personally significant items to use with our babies can help make us feel more connected and grounded.

Unable to go abroad or forgot something while you were there? No worries. So much can still be found right here in Shanghai!

Join one of our  “Having a Baby in China” WeChat groups to connect with other parents who can offer advice, links, and encouragement through your whole pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

For more ideas and tips for Having a Baby in China, be sure to check out our website at www.havingababyinchina.com or join one of our vibrant WeChat groups, or listen to our podcast!