Travel Information

   Packing List When you Are Picking-Up Your Child...

    Color Key:

  • Required!!!!
  • Suggested/Optional

 

Your Carry-On

  • Telephone numbers for all of the important government offices in Haiti and the US, your airline and/or ticket reservation company, friends, and family. - If your paperwork encounters a problem and/or you need your flights changed, these numbers will be critical to your existence.
  • Kreyol <> English Dictionary or a sheet with Handy Phases.
  • Camera
  • Notebook, pen, pencil, puzzle book

 

Other & Multi-Use

  • Plastic grocery bags - Good for trash, really dirty clothing, transport of objects, wet things, etc.
  • A backpack - To use as a diaper bag and to carry your important papers around easily. Can be used as your carry-on.
  • 1-3 Document Carriers. - 1 or 2 should be pre-filled with the documents you are carrying to Haiti with you. The 3rd is for the documents that will be given to you. - These can usually be found at the Dollar Store or Value Store for a dollar. nothing fancy needed.
  • FOOD! - Instant soups, crackers, Dinty Moore, Chef Boyarde, Crystal Light Instant drink mix or Instant Kool-Aid mix, Gummies, Cheerios (to eat dry) etc. - You will often be out and about waiting somewhere without access to (safe) food. Some places also do not serve lunch, so this will subsidize that, as well. - At a MINIMUM, ensure you AT LEAST have small enough food items to put in your backpack while out such as crackers.
  • Thank You Cards/Gift(s) for the orphanage caregivers or/and Facilitator(s).
  • Flashlight - The power is very Unreliable.

 

For Your Child(ren)

  • Child Carrier - Not to be confused with a stroller. Sling, Front Pack, etc.
  • Diapers/Pull-Ups (if applicable) - Although available, they are VERY expensive in Haiti
  • Underwear - if applicable
  • Baby Wipes - Even if your child is out of diapers.
  • Age appropriate toys. - We discovered no matter the age, all of the children loved things that made noise and moved. Battery powered things are good. I was so mad that I didn't bring enough of these kinds of toys!
  • Additional batteries for said toys.
  • Medicine Kit: Anbesol for teething, baby pain/fever reliever, baby cold/sinus medicine, Nasal bulb aspirator, Under-the-arm/Ear thermometer, Lice treatment, parasite treatment
  • Plastic Bowls, Plastic Tableware - 2 or 3 sets of each
  • Nail clippers!
  • Clothing: Bring 6-10 inter-changeable shirts/bottoms. Be prepared for the weather difference on the return flight. A coat may need to be packed. The REAL trick will be packing enough clothing and shoes when you have no idea what size he/she wears!Prepare to change the clothing on your child twice a day if the child is 3 or under.
  • Shoes: You will get looked at funny if you put anything but sandals on your child (but I did it anyway)
  • Beverage Containers: Several Bottles/Sippy cups/Plastic drinking cups - whichever is appropriate.
  • Bath/Skin Kit: Travel sized Baby Oil, Baby Shampoo, Baby wash, Baby Lotion - no matter the child's age.
  • Pedialyte mixture, enough for 1 gallon.
  • Small blanket
  • Bibs - if under the age of 3

 

For You

  • Additional film and/or memory cards for the camera
  • Polaroid Camera and film - GREAT for taking photos of the child with birth parents and/or orphanage caregivers to give before you leave.
  • Just in Case: Sewing kit, safety pins, Umbrella, poncho
  • Insect Repellant
  • Bathroom Kit: Comb, brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, chapstick, make-up, feminine products, toilet paper, wash rag or 5 - Great as sweat rags, as well as cleaning.
  • Medicine Kit: Prescription Medicines - more than your intended stay, ibuprofen, cough medicine, allergy/sinus medicine, anti-diarrhea, pink-eye meds, anti-malaria, Pepto, additional contacts/glasses if applicable, Hand Sanitizer, Band-Aids, wound cleaner, Antacid, itch relief
  • Just in Case: Towels/Sheets. These will also come in handy if you get stuck at an airport because of a cancellation and you need to sleep there. The airports get COLD when they are empty at night.
  • Clothing:
  • For Hotel/Guesthouse: Comfortable clothing for hot, humid weather. Shorts and tank-tops are OK. Don't forget your swim suit.
  • For Outside of Hotel/Guesthouse: Women should wear slacks or jeans and shirts with sleeves.
  • Don't forget socks and underwear.
  • Shoes: Comfortable shoes for the airplane/airport. Comfortable sandals for your stay in Haiti. Flip-flops or shower shoes for showering.
  • Alarm Clock
  • Sun Screen
  • Laptop - To download pictures to, and some places offer wireless internet, too.
  • Bring an extension cord! You'd be surprised how handy that sucker becomes. I used it for electrical purposes (laptop, phone charger, camera, etc.).
  • 3-Prong > 2-Prong plug adapter if you are bring electronic items with three prongs.

 

Do NOT Bring:

  • Hair spray.
    Not only is it worthless in the humidity and hard water you wash with, it attracts bug.
  • Long sleeves.
    I don't think it has EVER gone below 80 degrees there, but I could be wrong.
  • Formula.
    Instead, bring money to pay the orphanage for theirs if you need it. You do NOT want to switch brands on your child while in Haiti.