Traveling to China: Bathroom Tips

According to my sister-in-law who has been a few times on business, it depends on where you go, where you stay and where you eat.
Her and her delegation (mostly people over 65) had no problem but prepared for the worst with filled scripts of antibiotics, anti-inflamatories, pepto, lomotil and active charcoal. Plus the usual hand sanitiser, wipes, squirt bottles for water (just in case there isn't any paper in the toilets and your normal pharmaceuticals...
She had no troubles but stayed away from street market foods and tap water (beware of tooth brushing, opening your mouth in the shower etc).
And....Congratulations!!!!
Enjoy the trip
Sharon

A number of years ago, I traveled by car in Eastern Europe. Particularly in Romania, I encountered an almost universal lack of toilet paper in public restrooms (even ones in restaurants). You will want to come prepared with your own tissue and wipes. As far as “Turkish Toilets” are concerned, be careful what you touch and where you step. I had no problems with parasites or disease. Also, be aware that access by the public to restrooms can be significantly more restricted abroad than it is in the USA, which is problematic if you have an “emergency”. Enjoy your trip and your new family member!

When I traveled in Thailand I only encountered an asian squat toilet once, on a bicycle trip in the countryside. I was concerned that the spray I sometimes produce when gas comes out would end up soiling my shoes, so I simply held it all day, and considered it an uncomfortable victory. "Modern" areas are more likely to have western plumbing; how far off the beaten path are you planning to go? It should be fairly easy to find out if your hotel(s) have western plumbing. Only you know whether you are prone to emergencies.

I've been to China and Vietnam and, for the most part, Western style toilets do exist. You may have to ask. Anyway, always carry part of a roll of toilet paper. What I did to prepare for the Asian style toilet was to practice at home. Squatting was not for me. Stripping totally from the waist down, I used a plastic shopping bag....the kind some stores still use....and I got into the shower where I practiced semi-squatting and pooping into the bag which I held as snuggly as possible against my back end. It worked! Fortunately, I only had to use this strategy once! Enjoy your trip and becoming a mommy!

I have traveled extensively through SE Asia and honestly bathrooms have never been a concern of mine. If you are really worried, stay close to hotels and shopping areas; they will have western toilets. Just be prepared and carry what you feel is necessary for your comfort. I also always carry an RX of both Cipro and Flagyl.

Sue

Thank you all so much! Unfortunately, I do go about 12 times a day and I can't choose where we go or stay close to areas that have western toilets. We have to go where the orphanage is. The idea of practicing is a good one. So did you just throw the bag in the hole when done?

I'm not looking forward to this and worry about getting stuff all over me but hopefully it will work out. Thank you for your responses!

No, I didn't throw the bag in the hole. In fact, they don't want you to throw anything in the hole aside from the effluent and urine you produce. They always provide a bucket type receptacle next to the toilet where they want you to "throw" things not from your body! There also is usually a hose type thing attached to a cold water source to use as a hand held bidet! Takes more hand/eye coordination than I have! I can just see myself leaving the toilet area more wet than when I went in! Oh, on my most recent trip one of the women with us had her husband go with her into the Asian style toilets where he helped her maintain her balance while she stooped. That's love, isn't it? Great idea, though!

What about something like this? Would this be a possible solution?

https://www.relianceproducts.c.../sanitation/224.html

Also, are there western style toilets at places like the airports and travel spots? Thank you so much for your tips. I'm not able to squat either and I'm not sure I'd want someone to hold me up! Although it does show the love!

Congratulations on your upcoming adoption! I have two daughters from China...traveled there in 2000 and 2003, so awhile ago now. But I have to say that even then, "Western" style toilets were plentiful, depending on where you are, of course. Some bathrooms, if I'm remembering correctly, had both, so I would just wait until it was available. I had UC at the time, not a pouch.

Do you know what province you will be going to? In Guangzhou, your last stop, for the consulate, you won't have a problem finding Western-style toilets, and it's not a problem at the hotels you will stay in, I'm quite sure.

Feel free to PM if you have other questions.

Best of luck at you begin this wonderful and challenging journey, both to China and in raising an adopted child (if this is your first).

Take care,
Laurie

That is so exciting! Congratulations, we adopted my daughter from China and travelled there in 2005. I too was worried about the bathroom situation. We were in three cities-Bejing, Chongqing, and Guangzho (where everyone ends up to get visa/passport) for child to travel back into US. The hotels we stayed at were really nice (set up by our agency) and all had modern bathrooms. I only encountered one hole in the floor toilet and it was odd because it was a very posh bathroom and sort of a fancy set up but still not toilet. I carried wipes/paper with me everywhere in case they didn't have it (I was nervous) but that was not an issue. It was a wonderful trip and I did fine with bathroom situation and I was active while there. I will say, I sort of planned my eating and ate lightly so I would not be caught out and have to use a bathroom I was not comfortable with--but I do that here when I travel as well. The restaurants we ate at were nice and bathrooms were nice. The excursions and trips to gov't office that we had to make usually were two or three hour outings so I could wait until I was back at hotel for the most part or pick a place with a restroom I thought was okay. You get your baby/child within a couple of days of being there and the days after that are structured around the baby and doing the necessary paperwork but we did a lot of walks around hotel and hanging out in hotel so you really aren't gone for hours and hours away from hotel. There was only one long sight seeing day the first day we were there where they took us to Great Wall, Forbidden city etc... I was worried about being out and having to use bathrooms at crowded tourist places but I did okay. I loved the trip. It is one of the highlights of my life. I did use the fancy hole in the floor toilet and did fine. I did lose weight in China because I was very cautious with what I ate and didn't want to risk anything too exotic(the hotels had great food). There was great medical care available in every city, some people on our trip had to take advantage of it. I did get giardia (diagnosed when I got back to US)--either from my daughter (she tested positive back home--many babies in orphanages have it and are asymptomatic) or some other way. I was very cautious with the water I drank but did drink some "local" brands bottled water which may have caused it. Once I was diagnosed flagyl cleared it up. We plan on going back when my daughter is 12 or 13 (she is going to be 10next month) and I am really looking forward to it.

Thank you nbm! Do you have a j-pouch then? Crohn's or UC? I have a j-pouch, Crohns and a good day for me is going 12 times a day so I'm terrified. I wouldn't be so worried except that it's not physically possible for me to squat...I've been trying. My femurs are so long I fall backwards. So...I have NO idea what I'll do if I'm at a place where that is my only option.

The thought of getting a parasite does terrify me because my doctor said if I got that I'd "be cooked." Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences. I really, really want to go but I am nervous and wonder if the safest thing would be to give hubby the POA and stay home. I talk to my GI again next month so I'll run everything by him.

Also, Laurie, I tried to send you a PM..did it go through?

While I chose not to use a squat toilet, and I have reservations about overspray, anyone can squat successfully with a resonable amount of practice (and stretching some long-underworked tendons). A huge portion of the world has that as their only option. I looked on YouTube and found many instructional videos with the search "how to use a squat toilet." I'd make sure to get the hang of it just in case, even though I'd also take measures to avoid the necessity.

I hope you make the trip, Olive Oil. You're likely to find it very rewarding, though you may also find parts of it challenging.

Olive Oil: No, sorry, I'm not seeing a PM from you. Want to try again? Or I will check back if you post another question here.

Thanks

I have traveled China twice. No need to worry. I think you will stay in most of the main cities. So western style bathroom are available there. So don't be so scared.

I have a j pouch. I probably go to the bathroom 8x a day, so not 12. I guess you could kneel if you have to at bathroom without toilet (bring newspaper or something in your purse but like I said I only encountered one. You really will be able to stay at your hotel a lot except for day you go to orphanage (some orphanages bring children to hotel but we got to go to ours) and the trips to gov't offices but they only last about two hours. There is a lot of down time and although your agency might have little day trips on your agenda for you to enjoy they are not mandatory by any means and you are really largely in control of your time. THe hotels we stayed at had pools and I spent lots of time in pool with my daughter and in hotel play room and on walks around hotel area. Bring flagyl and cipro with you. My Dr. gave me cipro but I think flagyl would have been better since that is more effective against parasites. I did not get sick until I got back. IT sounds like you unfortunately have more issues with pouch and having Crohn's but I ended up with giardia and c diff and I was feeling very ill but flagyl worked wonders within days. I imagine with your health issues you are cautious about what you eat so I don't need to tell you to avoid food sold on street etc...
I understand your hesitation to go and you have to decide what is best for you but if you can go I would encourage you to do it. The hotels had very good western food. I brought a lot of food with me (Snack bars, crackers etc...) and I ate a lot of white rice. I am sure your husband could manage but it is a lot to be on your own with baby/child that is going through new changes plus dealing with paperwork etc.... If your husband does go on his own be prepared that your baby/child will take some time to warm up to you when they get home and may have a hard time letting your husband out of their sight. My husband came for first week of trip then returned home to stay with our two boys and my sister came to help me in CHina. Even though my husband had spent a few days with our daughter once home my daughter really had a hard time for quite awhile if I was out of her sight Of course it is a scary thing to leave the only place you have ever known even if it is an orphanage and she clung to me. OVer time she relaxed more and has a wonderful relationship with my husband. One thing you might think about is if you can't go maybe there is another relative who could go with your husband to help out. I probably could have managed the last week without my husband (I already had two kids so I was an "experienced" parent) but was really happy to have my sister meet up with me for the last few days to help with luggage, airports etc...
Whatever you decide, it is a really exciting (and slightly nerve wracking I am sure) time for you and you will be a parent to this child forever so there is no "right" or "wrong" way to do it, just what works best for you.

PS The hotels and airports all had regular toilets and this was in 2005.

Thanks everyone! Probably more than fear of squat toilets is my fear of getting an obstruction while there. I have a stricture and chronic obstructions and that is about the worst thing I could imagine is having one there and having to be hospitalized... I have to be SO careful about what I eat. And then there is the stress. Stress can cause an obstruction for me pretty easily.

I really, really want to go and think it will be so helpful for attachment. Our daughter will probably already gravitate more towards my husband anyway because he speaks Mandarin and I know it's important for me to be there.

Question for all: were you able to find "name brand" bottle water most places you went? I have read not to buy off brands because it could just be filled with tap water...

And how many of your kiddos came home with a parasite? Were you at risk for getting it from them?

I am so very excited for you! The availability of bottled water was no problem for me. I, too, worried most about getting an obstruction....having experienced one here at home which landed me in the hospital for six days. My obstruction was caused by a twisted small intestine. So, I was super vigilant about massaging my abdominal area if I felt the least bit scared I was about to experience another obstruction. That seemed to work! I also hung upside down over the edge of the bed while massaging my belly! Anything to get things back where they belong! For me, food was not a problem. I drank lots of water and did enjoy the plethora of white rice among other Chinese foods! I never caught anything of a digestive problem while traveling through China and/or Vietnam. Respiratory problems were another thing, for me! Polluted air was a big concern for me. Especially in Beijing! Best wishes!

The hotels we stayed at stocked evian in the rooms and hotel shops. IT was actually easy to get name brand bottled water. THe last day we were leaving for the airport and hotel gave us a boxed breakfast. It contained a local brand of bottled water. I didn't drink it but kept it in my diaper bag. The first day I was back home I was at the park with my daughter and very thirsty so I drank some of the water. It actually tasted awful and I remember thinking, "Oh great, I made it through China without getting sick and now I am drinking bad water." I was sick a few days later. I don't actually know if it was from that water. Our pediatrician didn't think it was likely that I got giardia from my daughter, she said it is rarely passed that way. But I was changing diapers on the fly in airports and such and although I am fastidious about washing hands etc... I was sometimes stuck with just using wipes and maybe it was passed through her to me. I stayed in contact with some families we travelled with and some of their daughters tested positive for giardia but none of them caught it. As far as parasites go, giardia, although not fun, is pretty easy to eradicate once you know you have it.