BACK

Are the children clean?

Collette was "basically" clean. I remember that her hair was a little matted in the back, like she got some food or milk in it. Actually, the orphanage director chastised the nanny for that when she noticed it during our luncheon with them.  Her nails were a little rough, I used baby lotion on her fingers because they were all chapped. She had no problems such as scabies or lice.

I was actually surprised at how clean Mia was.  (Nov. 1999)  Her finger & toe nails were cut short.  She smelled pretty good for a little girl with 5 layers of clothes on that was sweating as much as she did.  She had pretty bad cradle cap but because she didn't have much hair, and she has a very sweaty head, I can see where that would have been a problem without constant care.  I was very impressed with her teeth.  Mia was 33 months old and our very first night with her, she knew exactly what a tooth brush was and how to use it.  I know someone took the time to show her, that made me feel really good.  We were told that the children (at least, the older ones) were bathed a few times a week in the summer and once a week in the winter.  The older girls were put in one big giant tub, and they washed together.  Cute!

Yes, our Amy was clean, when we were united on 6/24/96. Toe and finger nails were fine. Hair was shaved, of course. And she was 5 months old, so no teeth!

Generally, she was clean except when we started taking her clothes off, she smelled of sweat and may not have bathed. Her clothing were old and soiled from being a hand-me-down. Her nails were clipped, her hair was clean.

Each child in our adoption group (June 15, 1998) was absolutely immaculate. Their clothing was clean. Olivia did not have a single bug bite or mark on her at all. No diaper rash, etc. (14 months old).

Noémie was clean but not "sparkling". Her hair smelled a little bit and her belly button was kind of dirty. She wasn't afraid of bathing, though. She also had Impetigo, all of the girls had it , even one of the nannies!

She was pretty clean. She was hot and sweaty from crying and so many layers of clothes. The only part of her that was really dirty was her belly button.  She probably never had a regular bath, just sponge baths. It was several days before I gave her a full bath and washed her hair (since she didn't have head lice). I started with just washing her with a wash cloth, washing her face and hands and then letting her set on the counter and put her feet in the sink. I took things gradual. Everything was traumatic for her.

It took awhile before she would let me change her clothes. When I tried to take her clothes off, she cried and hung on to them for security. So I just did things as she was comfortable. Their whole world is being changed so dramatically and quickly that it is important to help them adjust.

The children were all very clean...my daughter had bite marks on her and I didn't like her body odor (not that it was bad) so I gave her a nice bubble bath and all smells were of "Johnson-Johnson".

I took baby cortisone with me and that helped with the bites, also the Hotel Doctor gave me a wonderful ointment to put on her as well , that really did the trick.

Adopted in December '96. Katie was dressed in five layers of clothing, and was obviously not bathed frequently.  sweat in neck folds and underarms.  We were told that the orphanage (old not new one) was not heated, and the temperature was in the 50's - so bathing would have been difficult.

Bethany was clean, as were her clothes, although they smelled kind of old and grimy.  A good washing took care of that.  We had to cut out two good-sized, matted tangles of hair from the back of her head. Other than that, she was in great shape.

Lauren was very clean when I received her, although her diaper was very wet. Hair, nails - everything was clean & smelled fine. I didn't expect her to be so clean since it was winter time. I had heard that they (any of the SWI, not Tongling in particular) don't bathe the kids during winter. It could be that she had been cleaned up for the big day.

I waited till the next day to give her a bath. I was concerned that she wouldn't like it & would scream. She loved it! Laughed & giggled through the whole bath and didn't mind getting her hair washed either.