Bebe15

My husband will be working in France this summer, and I plan on meeting him there and traveling to Belgium for four or five days in July. We will be traveling with a three month old. We plan on staying in Bruges and perhaps seeing Brussels and Ghent from there. We don't anticipate being too ambitious, just wandering around, checking out the towns and enjoying meals. We won't have a car and will travel by train. I was wondering if anyone had advice about things to see and do that would be baby-friendly. Are the beer houses kid-friendly? Any child-friendly hotels or B&Bs and restaurants you can recommend? Also I know that Europe tends to be a bit more progressive than the U.S., so is it safe to assume that nursing in public (albeit discreetly) would be OK? This will be our third child (the other two will be at home), so we know what to expect in terms of what the baby's needs will be. Thanks in advance for the advice.

lavandula

Here is a link to a restaurant search site - the advanced search allows you to search for restaurants that have children's menus and play areas so they would in principle welcome your little one. But at 3 mos you obviously don't need to worry about highchairs or any of the other things older children need - I would not be concerned about that.

http://www.resto.be/ware/detailed_search.jsp

What might altogether be more difficult is finding places to change a nappy (diaper). You might keep in mind that the shop HEMA (similar to Target, very cheap) often has a disabled toilet and that might be the closest you get - I think they may also have pull-down change tables in the disabled toilet, can't quite remember. I just looked at the website for Galeria Inno (the main department store in Belgium) but they don't give that sort of information on the website. Good luck!

Lavandula

Lawchick

Most restaurants in Belgium are generally child friendly.

We don't have beer houses - what ever they are, but regular bars. Yes you can bring a baby to a bar here - but normally they are not too nice. Since it's July you could sit outside which is normally better.

Changing facilities are sparse, but I've never found the need to go somewhere like HEMA. And yes there are changing facilities in Galeria Inno.

However, most "nicer" restaurants have changing facilities.

Breastfeeding in public is no problem here - just don't stick the boob under someones nose. I've done it in restaurants a lot when my little one was small. Number 2 will be here later this month, so I'm gearing up for it again.

Bebe15

Oh, diaper changing. Something I didn't really consider - I am a little out of practice! Thanks for the information!

I guess when I said beer houses, I was thinking more of places that have a wide selection of local beers. My husband is interested in sampling beers, which I suppose you can do in restaurants, without having to go into bars - I don't really want to take my baby to a bar, but he does want to be able to enjoy local beer and perhaps visit a brewery.

zeppole

When I visited Belgium, I drank beer in many places I would describe more like brew pubs that what many people would think of as bars. Many had some outdoor seating, but even those that didn't had light and were reasonably spacious and relaxed. There are also bars serving hard liquors, but they were different.

I don't know if Belgium has joined most of the rest of the world in banning indoor smoking, but if not, it is probably smoke more than anything else that will make you think twice about taking a baby to a pub.

zeppole

You might be interested in this, especially No. 10:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200.../brussels.bars

Bebe15

I am concerned about smoking too. Thanks for the info.

I thought of another thing - I know bikes rentals are popular. Do you know if they rent ones with baby seats?

Lawchick

Don't worry - smoking is banned here.

Bikes are not rented with child seats (ie the normal "villo" you rent on the street http://en.villo.be/) - however you can go to a spacialist shop.

On the other hand, unless you are an experienced cyclist, I would recommend that you don't cycle in Belgium generally - particularly in the cities and especially with a child.

eluckhardt

I would certainly not bike with a 3 month old in a bike seat. Baby cannot sit up, and maybe not even hold his/her neck up well enough. Though, as an aside, I just saw a mom biking while carrying her baby in a baby carrier (Ergo). Not a good idea, in my book.

If it's been awhile since your other children were babies, nursing covers are now quite popular and can come in handy. But you definitely don't need one.

Other than that, I would put the baby in a wrap/carrier, and go wherever you like while the little one snoozes. At 3 months, as you know, they are relatively easy to travel with.

Bebe15

Good to know about the smoking. Biking would definitely depend on what kind of neck-head control he has. My daughter was pretty stable at three months. My son, however, was not. My husband, who is a better cyclist than me, was curious about bike rentals. Would cycling be challening even in and around Bruges? Perhaps I'll let him go cycling while the baby and I nap! And I have a Moby wrap and nursing covers, so I'm set there. Thanks!

MyriamC

Bring a baby bjorn carrier if you'd like to make a bike ride. You can do a short ride with the baby, from Brugge to Damme along the canal for instance. A very relaxing ride.
I disagree with Lawchick. Cycling in Belgium is easy, also in and around Bruges. Just keep your eyes open! You could even bike to the coast. From Bruges to Knokke is only 18 kms.

Lawchick

Try cycling around Brussels - not so easy.....

MyriamC

I'm used to it, Lawchick. I've lived here all my life and I cycle everywhere.

tovarich

Try Antwerp.Fantastic city with a great zoo.Perfect for children.Paul