Traveling & Backpacking with a Baby: Making Local Friends

7-month-old Akiva wants to give a hug to his new Thai friend who is 16 months old.

One of the things about backpacking or traveling internationally with a baby that I love the most is how many doors it opens.  People love a baby, and this is especially true since I am traveling with a caucasian baby in Asia, where seeing a white baby is not very common.  In the West, we are used to seeing all types of people and all types of babies because there is so much racial diversity, but in Asia this is not the case.

One of the nicest things for little Akiva is getting to make new, local friends!  He really enjoys playing with friendly local babies.  However, I have noticed he is much bigger and stronger than the Asian babies are!  He is the same size as one baby who is more than double his age!  When 7 month old Akiva tried to play with a 16 month old Thai baby, the Thai baby started to cry because he was frightened of the big, strong boy that Akiva is.

If you decide to travel with your baby, you might be concerned about leaving behind all his friends.  Maybe he has a creche, daycare, or playgroup he regularly attends.  Do not worry!  Babies are very friendly and flexible and your baby will enjoy meeting all sorts of new friends wherever he goes.  He may even gain some benefit from learning the skills associated with socializing with many different people by interacting with so many new babies and children.  And when he returns home, he will be happy to see his old friends again and I’m sure they will be glad to see him, too.

Akiva and his new Thai friend are the same age, but Akiva is much bigger!

You see, you won’t need a formal playgroup for your baby when you travel.  I can think of two main reasons for play dates: 1) to give your tot social interaction with other babies and 2) to give mom (and dad) a break.  I know a lot of friends who arrange playgroups for their kids because it’s the only way they can get their weekly shopping done!  But when you’re traveling, you don’t have the normal housework you would back home. You’re probably not cooking as much, if at all, and you don’t have much cleaning to do.  You’re not going out to work.  You don’t need the playgroup as a way to “get away” from your baby because most of the time, you’re doing activities that are fun for you and baby, too.

But your baby doesn’t need a playgroup while traveling, either, because he or she will meet plenty of other babies on the road.  There will be lots of opportunities for him/her to play with other babies, children, and of course, adults!

So enjoy your trip and have fun watching your baby make new local pals!