Kids in Paris

You're right and that's too bad that they won't remember it, but we're thinking more of trying to do things that hold their interest just to make it easier on us!. They're not going to do well standing in long lines for museums, etc. We plan to try to find as many carousels as we can, but hope there might be children's museums or other things for young kids, too. They'll be there for 3 years so the adults will go back at some point without them, then we'll do the big things.

I lived in Paris between the ages of 18 months and 3 yrs. I spent a lot of time playing in the sand pits in the parks, which are plentiful, and of course free! Swings, icecream vendors and sandpits, what more could a 3 year old want?

They will enjoy the Luxembourg Gardens, there is a fun playground there, there is a fun but smaller one in the Tuilleries Garden also. I would do stuff like take them to the Louvre, visit about an hour, then, take them out to the Tuillieries playground, let them play for an hour or so, then eat lunch( a picnic or at a nearby cafe) then hopefully at least the little one will conk out for an afternoon nap in his/her stroller and you can duck back into the Louvre for another hour or so. A good stroller will help,, and yes, you can in and out with your ticket,, and learn the better ways in,, the lines for security and tickets are WAY shorter to nonexistant at lesser used entrances.. avoid Pyramid entrance. I use underground Caroseul entrance myself. There is also the Jardins de Plantes,, I think I botched that spelling, lol , but its a fun hour or so wandering through simple gardens with some birds etc as I recall around,, ducks etc. Depending on when you are there you can also take them to the Paris Plage( literally Paris Beach) , its set up on the banks of the Seine and has fun stuff for kids, sand, and sprinkler water play type place( suitable for young children, no water slides ) Pack a picnic and spend some time there, the kids will likely enjoy it.

Great place for kids that age are the Luxembourg Gardens, as Pat suggested. Great playground with things geared for that age but also a carousel, marionette shows, donkey rides and lots of space for them to run around and play. There are two cafes there, one right next to the playground. Over by the other cafe they often have live music. Not only will the kids love the LG, you will too. It's a great place to people watch and be around Parisians that are relaxing and enjoying themselves.

I forgot... there is also the Jardin D'Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne (park on the western edge of Paris) a very old-fashioned, very enjoyable amusement park great for young children.

The Rodin Museum is also a nice place to mix a museum visit with an opportunity to let the kids run and play in the gardens. It's really beautiful...

Thanks for all the great ideas. Sounds like the parks are a great bet for keeping the kids busy while we get to hang out in beautiful places.

There are carousels everywhere. Little public parks are always around the corner. Paris is surprisingly kid-oriented when you stop to notice.

Carlene, we just returned from a month long stay in France with our 3-year-old. I think Paris is a PERFECT place for them to be. This was my daughter's second trip to Paris and she does have memories from being there before. I agree with many of the previous post about Luxemburg and Tuilleries gardens - great fun, carrousels, playgrounds, bouncy trampoline areas, ice cream. My daughter LOVES the Louvre an other museums and since they are free for kiddos you can get a museum pass and come and go as you please. We continue to find Paris very family friendly so I'm sure you will have a great time!

While I can't speak to Paris specifically, I just returned from 3 weeks in Italy with my 10 month (turned 11 months while there) old daughter and she had a blast! In Rome, we sought out grassy areas and Parks (luckily for you, Paris has far more of these places than Rome) and quiet Piazzas. The stroller also jetted us to the front of many lines (vatican museum, St. Mark's Basilica, for example), so it's worth asking. Of course, the Gelato was a hit, too...