An increasing number of elderly Chinese people are heading abroad to baby-sit for children who have moved away and can't afford a nanny in their new country.

Every year around 10,000 retired people in Shanghai fly to Canada and the United States to look after their grandchildren, according to Sun Pengbiao, the vice director of the Shanghai Research Center on Aging.

Sun explained that the elderly are worried about their children overseas, as many young couples in a new country find it hard to juggle between their jobs and family. The grandparents in China also pine to see their foreign born grandchildren for the first time.

"They also want to travel a bit, to look at a different world," added Sun.

Many newly emigrated couples also can't afford to hire someone to help look after their kids.

Wu Zhenyu, a Shanghainese man who immigrated to Canada five years ago, asked his mother to live with him and baby-sit his newborn daughter in 2004.

"The day care for new babies in Vancouver charges 3,000 Canada dollars (US$2,602) per month," said Wu. "It's more economical to have my mom come, and she is very excited to see the baby as well."

Wu said he and his wife also feel better having a relative look after their daughter.

"It's also Chinese tradition," added Wu. "My daughter is very close to her grandma, which I think is great for this family."

Most grandparents can only get a visa for one year, but few want to stay longer, Sun said.

"They are used to their surroundings in China," said Sun. "After the babies are old enough for free day care, they have nothing to do during the day."

Language and cultural barriers also prevent many grandparents from feeling at home in a foreign country.

Xue Lanying, who looked after her 8-month-old granddaughter in Toronto, returned to Shanghai after six months.

"I couldn't understand their (the local Canadians) conversations," said Xue. "I would love to spend more time there, but it seems everything wasn't right for me."

(Shanghai Daily December 14, 2005)