Traveling & Backpacking with a Baby or Infant: Top 10 Reasons for your Baby to Play with the Locals (Part 1 – Benefits for Parents)

In my opinion, some parents (especially moms) are way too paranoid about their children.  Remember, if you are afraid of your child coming into contact with dirt or germs, just don’t travel. In fact, I recommend that you not even leave your house. Because if you do travel, your child will come into contact with germs and dirt, no matter how careful you try to be.  So whatever you do, don’t let fear of germs be a reason not to allow your child to play with the locals – especially the local children.

To the contrary, there are some real benefits to allowing your baby to play with locals as you travel or backpack around. Some of them are tangible, immediate benefits. Others are scientifically proven long-term benefits to your child’s development.  So here are the first three of my top ten reasons to allow your traveling or backpacking baby or infant to play with local children:

10. You make new friends, too

A little old local man enjoys playing with Akiva. I would probably never have had the amazing opportunity to get to know him if not for traveling with a baby. This was a true travel experience!

As I have mentioned before, allowing your baby to play with locals also gives you a chance to make new friends.  Whether it’s letting a local newlywed or expectant parent get clucky over your baby or bonding with a fellow parent, babies are a great opener for communicating with locals.  Even language barriers can be overcome by using your baby as a common bond.  You can form a relationship with almost anybody you meet by letting them (or their baby or child) to play with your little one.  I have had everyone from old men to little kids, flight attendants to teenagers, and taxi drivers to soldiers go out of their way to play with my baby.  I have probably met more locals and had more genuine local travel experiences on account of my baby than I ever did before, and by a lot.  So take advantage of it! Both you and your baby can benefit!

9. Opening new doors

Allowing locals to play with your baby will also open many new doors you never knew existed.  I have had guesthouses offer me special deals just to get me to stay there – so the local owners and employees can play with my delightful baby.  You might find you get invitations to go back with locals to their homes in villages, where you can stay and see the real life locals lead in a place where no other tourists go.  I’ve also had locals go out of their way to get toys or walkers for my baby to play with – all because they want to play with him.

Video: People love to watch babies play!

8. It gives you a break (and free babysitting!)

On a long plane ride, it's helpful to have airline stewards and stewardesses who enjoy the chance to play with your baby - and give you a break!

I’ve traveled both with my husband and without him with the baby.  Either way, there are major benefits to being able to hand over our baby for a little while.  Letting him play for a couple of hours with the locals gives us a much-needed break.  It gives us a chance to take some time out to focus on ourselves – both on our relationship with one another and simply for some much needed “me” time (and time to write!).  If you’re comfortable leaving the baby for a little while, you can even get free babysitting by letting some locals share special time with your baby.  And even if you like to supervise, you can easily take some time out while keeping an eye on what’s going on.  I usually supervise at first and once I know I can trust the person or people handling my baby, I can range further afield.

For example, in most guesthouses we stay in, there are stairs but no elevator, so I have to leave the stroller downstairs.  I then have to carry the baby and everything else all at once up or down the stairs. If making multiple trips, it’s helpful to be able to leave the baby with the loving ladies in reception – even out of my sight – as I make trips up and down, or tidy the room a bit without a little crawler interfering.

For shorter activities with carers I don’t have time to get to know as well, I keep a closer watch. For example, I can go get a massage or a manicure and pedicure.  I get a chance to relax while the girls in the salon who are not busy play with my baby. Yet, at the same time, I can see him at all times.

So take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy your alone time – for free!

Watch for more of the list tomorrow!