Comments on: Have baby. Will travel. But how? Here’s some free, highly prejudiced advice. http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/ Travel stories, world music, travel books, and a close peek at unique destinations. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:10:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Antonia Malchik http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45177 Antonia Malchik Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:18:11 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45177 No groans here! Dogs are well-known as a conversation starter, another sense of connection just like kids. I think they both give people an extra sense of the person-with-kid's/dog's fellow humanity, which makes them feel more approachable. Besides, it gives everyone something to talk about, even if you don't share a language :-) No groans here! Dogs are well-known as a conversation starter, another sense of connection just like kids. I think they both give people an extra sense of the person-with-kid’s/dog’s fellow humanity, which makes them feel more approachable. Besides, it gives everyone something to talk about, even if you don’t share a language :-)

]]> By: Christine Gilbert http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45121 Christine Gilbert Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:11:29 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45121 Antonia: People with kids will probably groan, but I've experience the same thing with my dogs... so many conversations with locals have been started because of them, especially here in Spain where "Que Bonita!" and air kisses are the norm 5-7 times at LEAST on our simple daily walks. From there we learn so much about their families, their experience with dogs, and get to share our stories too. I can only imagine the ice breaker an adorable, flirty baby would be. Not a reason to have kids, but a great benefit to bringing them with you overseas. I would assume people even trust you more readily when you have a child. You must have great stories about doors being opened into the local culture because (mostly) you have a child with you. (I think you alluded to this in your post as well). Antonia: People with kids will probably groan, but I’ve experience the same thing with my dogs… so many conversations with locals have been started because of them, especially here in Spain where “Que Bonita!” and air kisses are the norm 5-7 times at LEAST on our simple daily walks. From there we learn so much about their families, their experience with dogs, and get to share our stories too. I can only imagine the ice breaker an adorable, flirty baby would be. Not a reason to have kids, but a great benefit to bringing them with you overseas. I would assume people even trust you more readily when you have a child. You must have great stories about doors being opened into the local culture because (mostly) you have a child with you. (I think you alluded to this in your post as well).

]]> By: Antonia Malchik http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45104 Antonia Malchik Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:12:43 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45104 Thanks Christine! You won't regret taking the kids -- it might feel like you've got less freedom, but you also end up with a lot more doors open to you. The rest of the world might ignore a couple of guidebook-toting Westerners, but a baby is something everyone can connect with. Thanks Christine! You won’t regret taking the kids — it might feel like you’ve got less freedom, but you also end up with a lot more doors open to you. The rest of the world might ignore a couple of guidebook-toting Westerners, but a baby is something everyone can connect with.

]]> By: Christine Gilbert http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45068 Christine Gilbert Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:12:24 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45068 These are great tips! If I ever have kids, they are coming traveling with me and I'll be sure to keep these in mind. These are great tips! If I ever have kids, they are coming traveling with me and I’ll be sure to keep these in mind.

]]> By: Antonia Malchik http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45045 Antonia Malchik Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:48:54 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/07/23/have-baby-will-travel-but-how-heres-some-free-highly-prejudiced-advice/#comment-45045 Well, Sheila, you know the only reason I did it was to gratuitously drop photos of my baby into the public eye, and to show Tim that you taught me well and I can now integrate pictures without messing up the blog! Yay! Debbie, thank you so much! I really like your site, too. I think I'm going to have to follow up this post with one about other resources, including yours and Have Baby Will Travel. I'm completely with you on the lack of cool travel resources for people who aren't young, single, and predominantly male. And thank you for the tip about sleeping! I'd completely forgotten about that part, but my husband and I bickered about it in whispers during the times John was sleeping. Me: "Gotta nurse him, gotta nurse him, or the pressure won't change and his head will explode." My husband, with his cool head and Ph.D. in physics: "You don't know what you're talking about. He's fine. Shut up. Look, he's happy. Don't wake him." He was right, of course. Pacifier's another good one. I've also heard some mums recommend chewing gum, which does the trick but I don't think you can apply it to babies! Well, Sheila, you know the only reason I did it was to gratuitously drop photos of my baby into the public eye, and to show Tim that you taught me well and I can now integrate pictures without messing up the blog! Yay!

Debbie, thank you so much! I really like your site, too. I think I’m going to have to follow up this post with one about other resources, including yours and Have Baby Will Travel. I’m completely with you on the lack of cool travel resources for people who aren’t young, single, and predominantly male.

And thank you for the tip about sleeping! I’d completely forgotten about that part, but my husband and I bickered about it in whispers during the times John was sleeping. Me: “Gotta nurse him, gotta nurse him, or the pressure won’t change and his head will explode.” My husband, with his cool head and Ph.D. in physics: “You don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s fine. Shut up. Look, he’s happy. Don’t wake him.” He was right, of course.

Pacifier’s another good one. I’ve also heard some mums recommend chewing gum, which does the trick but I don’t think you can apply it to babies!

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