Europe with a 1 year old

Travelling with a baby is easier than you may think. Travelling with seven will help. We travelled with a 10 month old and again when she was 22 months. We used an Osprey Poco Plus with a rain shield. It is a backpack that carries her. She was comfortable. We attached her pacifier, favorite toy and sippy cup to tethers attached to the carrier so she would not drop them to the ground. It has enough space at the bottom for a diaper bag, food, change of clothes for her. It has a build in sun shield that we used during the day to keep her protected. The rain shield can be put on in under a minute. It has a stand so if she falls asleep while walking and you want to sit down for dinner, just open the stand and she is fine. It is also works as a high chair. I carried it most of the time. It is quick to adjust to different torso heights. We started sitting her in it the carrier several times each day for increasingly longer and longer periods of time. Everytime we left the house, we took her in it. We both had to get used to carrying it. We took longer walks to get her used to the movement. Eventually she would take naps in it. It was more comfortable to carry than our daypack my wife was carrying.

FLY WITH A EUROPEAN AIRLINE. European airlines treat families with babies much much better. Airlines have bassinets they can mount to the bulkhead wall so you can lay the baby down and strap her in. Ask for one. Iberia, Lufthansa, and British Airways moved us there as soon as they saw the baby. American refused and had empty seats on the bulkhead row during the flight. European airlines flight attendants stopped and checked on us more often because the baby. Better food, entertainment systems, in seat chargers kept baby and preteen entertained.

We visited the most important sites in early in the morning when they opened. We would let her keep sleeping and load up the backpack and go. Sometimes we would go back to the apartment for naptime. But most days, she would fall asleep in the carrier. Later in the day, she would get tired of being in the carrier and one of us would spend time with her in the lobby or outside under a tree. We were not always able to get to a restroom to change her. Our daughter held her head, my wife undressed her, I grabbed a diaper and wipes. We were so good at changing diapers. We could finish before most people noticed.

Italy loves kids. Our little one was too fussy about food. We carried enough food for her. Be bought diapers and wipes there.

I traveled with all of my kids at that age and didnt really do much to accommodate them. We had a kid carrying pack from the get-go, so that was a staple, and yes its a necessity imo. If you rent apartments or houses I would look to see if there are stairs, and if yes, gates for stairs, and if stairs with no gates, I would rent elsewhere. And see what other accommodations the places offers (do you want a high-chair? Where will the child sleep - maybe with you, so you'd need a queen bed ... or I would ;)). The fact that there are so many of you means more eyes to keep track of your child (if they are toddling around an apartment getting into knick-knacks that can go down their throat, for example), but in general, I traveled with mine the way I traveled before them. I ditched the nap schedule when traveling. Sleeping in general will be wonky because of adapting to the time change coupled with a 1 yr. olds' typical schedule, so trying to anticipate naps will make you crazy, and make site-seeing harder. Flexibility is key. Flying - bring lots of the toys and books and snacks they like and plan to be walking up and down the aisle a lot ;) Most rental-car companies offer car seats. Good luck. Have fun!

Bless you my child...I would have nightmares just thinking about it. Having said that, I have been on trips (remote ones) that I have seen family traveling with ease and joy. I think I would have the crying breakdown before some of the kids would.

Thank you so much for those great ideas!