Items+to+bring

=**__ Basic living __****__ – __****__ items to bring with you __**=

Do not underestimate what can be found or made here in Khartoum...you will not really need to bring out anything in particular that you cannot then find here!

• Clothing – cultural appropriate for adults and children
==== – Whilst baby and children ’ s clothes can be swapped around, there are not many good quality clothes available (except the Haboob Kids of course!) It is worth bringing out durable t-shirts, shorts, underwear for children as well as for adults. Most men wear trousers and shirts with occasional jacket and tie depending on the meeting and women wear skirts, trousers, blouses, t-shirts – best to cover knees and shoulders and scarves are worth having to fling around the shoulders. Quite a range of clothes are worn by foreigners, some more sensitive than others – the Sudanese women range from full head cover to none at all and big cloths wrapped around body and head, to quite fitted tops and long skirts and even some trousers. You may find your children wear very little through the day – so very few clothes are required – but it does get cooler between November and March and so warmer clothes, including jumpers, will be needed! ====

• Food items not available in Khartoum
==== – For babies, pure baby rice and rice cakes are not available otherwise quite a varied amount of fruit and vegetables can be blended. Blenders are available here, but a little hand held blender is not a bad thing to bring! There is limited jarred baby food, otherwise home made purees are the way to go though it might be a good idea to bring some jars for traveling purposes. Formula and infant cereal are available, but the cereal has quite a bit of sugar. Even regular cereal seems to have more sugar here than at home. ==== ==== – Most food items people enjoy day to day can be purchased (often for a price) and even luxuries (such as smoked salmon, prawns, salami etc.) can be found. As an Islamic country there are the obvious restrictions on pork and alcohol. ====

• Other items to bring with you
==== • Cots can be found here in varying qualities and often when people leave children and baby items such as these are sold. It i s worth bringing some lighter weight sleep bags as air conditioning at night does bring the temperature down. Cots and highchairs can be made at local carpenters at St. Joseph’s vocational school. ==== ==== • Highchairs are not in huge abundance – these are usually best brought out (such as booster seats or bouncy feeding chairs) or bought from people leaving – it is worth having a portable chair for traveling purposes. ==== ==== • Baby monitors, humidifiers, sterilizers or sterilising tablets, baby proofing things (like plug covers) are worth bringing out. ==== ==== • Car seats can be found in Afra and Joyous centre but again often worth bringing out or buying off someone leaving; baby carriers (slings/ hipsters / backpacks etc.) definitely worth bringing if you plan to walk a bit here or on holiday. ==== ==== • Washable nappies are worth bringing out as the cost of disposable nappies is quite high in contrast to Europe ==== ==== • Breastpump and bottle items are worth bringing – although increasingly good Advent bottle items can be found in pharmacies ==== ==== • Baby baths or seats if you find that you use them are not available here ==== ==== • Good floats / swimming costumes with floats are well worth investing in before coming & sunscreen ====


==== • Again, people leaving often sell toys. Outside toys such as swings, slides, little tikes climbing frames etc. can be bought here but are quite expensive. If you have a shipment, some good quality bikes and ride on vehicles for smaller children, a children ’ s trampoline or swing / slide are probably worth bringing if your child is into that. Also paddling pools, which again can be bought here but often get punctures. Sandpits are very easy to set up here! Inside toys also need to be durable and resistant to the dusty environment – washable books and toys for the younger baby and toys in boxes for the older children. Lego, train sets, lots of books, jigsaws etc. never go amiss. Activity tables, stacking cups and posting toys are always used. You can buy toys here but cheaper plastic rather than longer lasting quality! ====

– Art and craft materials
==== • Paper, scissors, glue, paints can all be purchased here, but if you want more fancy glitter glues, glass paints, finger paints, crayons and felt tips, stickers, pipe cleaners, crepe paper etc. it ’ s worth having a stock of these things if you ’ re into doing arts and crafts with your children at home. ==== ==== • Playdough can be made at home easily with flour, salt and water and food colourings. There are always plenty of empty boxes and cartoons with which to do modelling! ====