Hello,
My family is taking a trip to Italy from the US in early September and will be visiting Rome, Florence, and Todi/Umbria. My husband and I are traveling with our newly 1-year-old son and have a few logistical questions I’d love opinions on:
Stroller or no stroller?
I’ve seen mixed advice. Some recommend bringing one but warn about navigating cobblestones, dirt, and tree roots. Others say it’s not worth it. We do have a compact, easy-to-collapse travel stroller. My worry is our son being stuck in a carrier all day, so the stroller feels like a nice option—though I also don’t want to haul something impractical. Is it actually useful or just wasted space?Car seat or skip it?
Our plan right now is to rent a seat through our rental car/shuttle service when we need one, but not bring one from home.
Where I’m less certain is for getting around the cities themselves. In Rome and Florence, we may need taxis to get between our hotel, sightseeing, and the airport, and I keep running into conflicting information about what’s actually required by law for babies in taxis versus what happens in real life. Has anyone navigated this recently? Were you able to use taxis without a car seat, or did you find it was necessary to bring your own? I’d love to hear both what the official rules are and what parents have actually experienced on the ground.
I know the recommendation is always to use a car seat, but it feels impractical to bring one just for quick intercity rides or an airport transfer before picking up our rental car in Florence. We’re also planning to use buses when possible, but since there may be a strike in Rome during our visit—and because some of our tours start very early—I want to be prepared for situations where a taxi may be the most realistic option.
Bonus: Any other random tips/tricks for traveling in Italy with a toddler would be hugely appreciated!
Thanks so much,
—An anxious mom trying to plan, research, and prep for everything