Traveling to Rome with babies

I think you'll get better tips if you say when you'll be there. Good luck.

A baby will get in get in free to the sights. Strollers are not allowed in St Peter's Basilica, I'm not sure about other churches. I've never seen a changing table in a bathroom in Italy. Make sure your accommodations are centrally located so a nap is never far.

If going in summer its roasting hot,, plan downtime in hotel in afternoons, and make sure you get hotel with air conditioning. Heat stroke not fun.

Clothing, its hot in summer.

Food, kids at that age all eat about same stuff, noodles with little or no sauce, fruit, etc.

I've made the transatlantic trip several times with a baby on my lap. It's certainly do-able if your baby has the right temperament. If he/she is happy sitting still on your lap at home for extended periods you'll certainly have better luck than if she needs her space. And remember, pacifiers are your friend (and the friend of those sitting near you!).

One thing to keep in mind: even though you don't have to buy a ticket for the baby, the airline will charge a number of fees (taxes maybe?) that will end up costing quite a bit for the flight. I booked one flight for my family through Orbitz and didn't notice until it was too late that my "lap child's free ticket" cost close to $500 (to this day I don't know how I didn't see it-- it must have been the new mother haze!). Had I realized it at the time, I'd have just shelled out a bit more for a seat for her. I honestly can't remember how much I was ordinarily charged for the "free ticket."

and how much clothing is needed for 2-3 weeks? the trip is in May 2011 and to avoid excessive luggage I was considering laundry machines.

Also, Any positive experience with overnight flights to europe carrying the baby in your lap instead of paying an extra sit?

thanks for the info

Mario,

Get a seat for your child on the plane. One year we had to sit next to a mother with a toddler - she tried to hold her on her lap for the 9 hour flight. The child screamed most of the flight because she was so uncomfortable. Not to mention Mom's nerves rapidly deteriorating across the Atlantic.

Meredith,

that was an expensive "free" ticket. Usually, "free" tickets on points or babies cost us around $200 for a round trip to Europe.

Whether you need an extra seat for your baby or not depends in part on the baby as well. I've taken my kids at all ages and there was really no big difference between an 18 months old lap baby and a 2 year old in her own seat. The latter one usually still ended up spending a lot of time in my lap. At this age, toddlers are just not meant to sit still for long stretches of time. They either want to run around or sit in mom's lap to be entertained.

For Italy: Try to rent an appartment instead of a hotel. You have more room, can keep kid appropriate drinks and snacks in the kitchen facilities, and many appartments come with a washer which makes your packing list lighter.

Ha ha,, a baby of 18 months is more of a toddler and not a baby,,meaning it is most likely NOT going to happily sit on your lap for 10-12 plus hours. GET A SEAT.

We once flew from west coast to Hawaii( 5-6 hours) with our friends. We both had babies , ours was 9 months old, theirs was 12 months old.

I watched them struggle for hours,, holding up the baby, bouncing the baby,, trying to feed baby and hand back and forht, plus food tray for themselves as person with child on lap couldn't put their food tray down. It was horrible. And their child is/was not a particularily difficult child.

I blessed the choice we made,,our child sat, ate and slept in their carseat with an occaisonal time out for a cuddle or change.

Great feedback, thanks a lot.

Any ideas about sleeping option, because with 18 months is probably too big for a crib.

My oldest daughter has always been on the 90th percentile for growth (she's 5'10" now at age 14) and did not move out of her crib till she was 2 years old. We took her to Greece when she was 20 months old and fit easily into the simple crib the hotel provided us. You should mention the need for a crib when you make your reservations.

Hmm,, I think this trip must be for next year,, as you are projecting growth.

As Beatrix says,, most 18 months old do sleep in cribs. Whether your child will accept sleeping in a strange crib is another matter altogether. plus, some hotels supply those porta cribs, which aren't as comfy and some kids hate them. Two of my three kids did( hate them) .

If you can get a king size bed( almost impossible on a budget but who knows) then child can sleep with you,, even could fit in a true queen size bed, although many of the queen size beds in Europe seem to be two beds pushed together and single sheeted,,, so not so nice to sleep on the crack in middle for child.

Have you travelled much with child yet?? I have three children ( as I said) and to be honest ,, two of them were NOT fun or easy to travel with until they hit about 4,, but, our youngest was fine.. so each child takes changes in food and schedules differently.Some kids are fun and easy to travel with, some , not so much. Just a thought.

Pat,

I meant that most 18 months old babies will fit into a crib and aren't too big. Whether they want to sleep in one is a completely different matter. I remember a trip where my then 18 months old baby slept in my arms every single night - if she was sleeping at all and not awake and nursing. She really didn't like travelling at that age quite contrary to her older sister who was the one we took to Greece. But that is something you really can't predict a year ahead of time.

btw if somebody is wondering why I'd travel to Europe knowing that my toddler hates travelling: it was a visit to be at my grandma's 75th birthday - the only day in her entire life she had all her kids, grandkids and great-grandchildren in one room together.