We were planning to bring our running stroller to Italy so our baby would have a place to sleep. Now, we're not sure. Do we bring the running stroller or a lighter umbrella stroller or no stroller at all? We want to make sure our 9 month old can sleep if she needs to.
Thanks!
I've been traveling with my 2 year old all through Europe since she was born. I've been through 4 strollers. I really recomend a decent umbrella stroller. A jogging stroller or any big clunky one won't fold up small enough to store on trains.
We have an umbrella stroller--it's a no-name european brand. Look at spending at least $60 on one. My best friend tried a Jeep brand umbrella stroller for a while. It was horriable for the cobbelstones. She now has a Maclaren and loves it. We also bring a backpack to carry our daughter in. She sleeps pretty well in the pack. She sets her head forward and sleeps away. Let me know if you have any more traveling with baby questions.
Take an umbrella stroller. A running stroller, as Michelle says, is too big.
An umbrella stroller works well. It's light and folds up. We carry-on only (our eight year old carried a day pack with her clothes). You may not be able to carry-on, but you could buy it in Italy and donate it to charity when you leave to save the hassle of packing it.
I agree with everyone that an umbrella stroller would be best. I personally would pay a little extra for a decent one....one with good wheels(imagine trying to navigate the cobblestones) and that reclines comfortably so that your baby can nap. The really cheap ones don't recline... Oh, and a shade cover would be good to protect baby from the hot sun. A baby backpack would also be good...Are you sightseeing in places with stairs?...I guess it depends on what you are planning on doing....Have fun with you little family...
From a mother of five!
NOPE. I disagree. It depends on where you will be going for SURE. For instance, in Venice? Jogging strollers are ideal because the huge wheels can bump up and down the bridges ;-) They also do much better if you will be in cities with a lot of pedestrian-only, cobbles streets. If you will be in larger cities (i.e. Rome, Naples) and on and off transport, THEN I'd say the umbrella. and definitely bring a stroller!!!!!! Some of our most memorable meals in Italy were when my son was young...and we'd wheel him around until he was asleep and just roll him right into the restaurant ;-)
If you are going to be getting on and off of public transportation there is no WAY I would bring a jogger, it just won't fold up small enough and would be so heavy to carry. If you aren't and it will only be going on the plane then go for it. Otherwise I'd go with a Maclaren. Not a lower one than the Quest. The Maclaren lays down the most of any umbrella stroller, is comfortable and easy to push, has a decent basket and folds up small. The jogger is easy to push but can you imagine trying to take it on a bus or train? (I can barely stand to have ours on the tram at Disneyland.) If you get a Maclaren, my bet would be that it becomes your all around stroller, we love ours so much, totally worth the cost.
Taking a 9 month old to Italy? Really? Try to have fun anyway.
Pack lightly! Having to lug a huge stroller with baby in tow is not practical, not to mention it will make it easier for a pickpocket or thief to rob you while you are distracted. Simplify.
"Taking a 9 month old to Italy? Really? Try to have fun anyway" are you serious, John??? We have had some of our most memorable experiences with my son in Italy! watched him toddle along with the pigeons in St. Marks...he learned to read on an expended winter in So. Italy...lost a tooth on the Amalfi coast...helped press olives for olive oil...gets little gifts and sweets and free desserts all the time from locals to his delight...and the list goes on....babies are looked upon very kindly in Italy and we got all kinds of special treatment when my son was a baby! We have also met so many people that we wouldn't have had we not been travelling with a child! We certainly love our time spent travelling as a couple...but we have never, ever had to work at having fun as a family either! Travel makes for well-rounded and informed kids...travel with a baby makes you instantly have common ground with locals and they have always gone out of their way to be kind. (i.e. one trip in Venice, a local woman took the time to walk us all the way to where we were going just to get there with the laast amount of bridges to get the stroller up and down! other parents go out of their way to help)
We bought a Graco IPO Umbrella stroller for our daughter on a trip to Disney, its easy to fold and light enough to carry it around on stairways....She loved it and its not as pricey as a maclaren and It has an awesome recline that she was able to sleep comfortably.
Please do take a Baby Bjorn or a sling (I prefer the baby bjorn as long as your baby has not outgrown the weight, its easier on the back) for the times they refuse to sit on a stroller.
They are not as bulky as a backpack and can be showed in basket of the stroller.
