Backpack with Infant carrier?
 

I will be traveling to Rome, Florence, and Tuscan towns with my husband, 6 month old son and my mother. My husband is a photographer and will have a camera back pack. I will often be carrying our son in our Ergo infant carrier so a backpack will be easiest when sightseeing, however I'm worried about pickpockets. I've heard pickpockets prey on families since we are often distracted with our children. I'd love to have my mom keep her eye out on my back pack when I'm carrying the baby, but she's quite oblivious and can only worry about her own bag. Any suggestions?

>>I'd love to have my mom keep her eye out on my back pack when I'm carrying the baby,<<

Even if she was eagle eyed at all times pick pockets could very well get to you. . . . plus think about it, your husband's pack is just as vulnerable as yours so your poor mom will have a LOT of responsibility.

I honestly think a stroller and a cross body bag in front of you is better that carrying the baby and a backpack.

Yes, you will appear vulnerable, and that's never a good thing. Take a lightweight stroller and a cross-body bag.

I agree with the others. Also as a photographer myself I wouldn't use my backpack in cities. Very vulnerable, and awkward to use.
Perhaps you could suggest your husband considers a sling or messenger type bag that he has cross body too. It won't hold as much gear, but will ultimately be more useful to him I think. Make sure whatever bag he decides to use it doesn't scream camera bag - and many camera backpacks do.

My husband has always used his backpack camera bag when we travel abroad, he finds it very convenient, but that's been before our son was born when I could help keep my eye on it. I will have to see if he is willing to change his bag. Also, everyone is suggesting a stroller, which we are bringing, but I was sure a stroller isn't feasible in the hill towns...right?

Italians have children too, and manage with strollers. In the hill towns you may be OK with the baby carrier, but not in the cities.

So you have a backpack just for a camera? I guess if you have a lot of gear and lenses, etc. people do that. I just wouldn't have other valuables in this backpack, also, like money, etc.

Whatever you decide -- please don't make your mother your security. Isn't practical (and isn't fair really)

I was all over Italian hill towns with a stroller. Good exercise. What was a real PITA, though, was Venice, with the bridges.

Agree with the above. And your DH should not carry his stuff in a backpack - just asking for theft. He should minimize what he needs and carry in a cross body bag on the front so everything is secure. If he is trying to do professional level photography - he should work out now how to minimize everything to avoid these problems even if he has to get new equipment.

I'm one who would prefer to put baby in a backpack rather than a stroller. If concerned about security I'd also use a cross body bag (check pacsafe or travelon for bags specially designed with security features if you want). Easy to keep your hand on the bag if in a crowd (easier than if you're using two hands on the stroller). Another alternative is a small bag for valuables hung from your belt (and under your shirt if possible). ps. Is your ergo carrier a front carrier or back?

You say 'often' be using the backpack so do you have a stroller/pushchair for use as well?

What time of year?

If its June/July/August I would forego the backpack for only the places with stairs or uneven terrain as you will roast with your bub on board. I know that's not your original question but the heat is quite extreme at those times.

Pickpockets are opportunistic and strike when there are big crowds and distracted travellers - such as when people are bewildered by a map or ticket machine or the like. Just be alert and mindful of your belongings.

I would strongly advise you to ignore requests for help in Rome - such as the 'sign the petition against drugs' people who ply the area around Castel Sant'Angelo and Piazza di Pietra (between Trevi and the Pantheon). The drugs petition is a way to make you part with your money getting you to sign what looks like a real petition - and the operators are charming and speak good English. Just ignore and keep walking.

You wrote:

>>"I will often be carrying our son in our Ergo infant carrier so a backpack will be easiest when sightseeing"<<

and you also wrote:

>>"..everyone is suggesting a stroller, which we are bringing, but I was sure a stroller isn't feasible in the hill towns"<<

There is ZERO pickpocketing in Tuscan hilltowns. If you want to take a backpack to sightsee in Tuscan hilltowns, fine. The Ergo carrier, with the baby in front, could get hot -- but presumably you are not going to be marching around the hilltowns during the hottest part of the day.

As for Florence, you will definitely want to use the stroller, and while you'll run into some obstacles using it in Rome, it's still the better bet. But I agree with dreamon that maneuvering with a stroller wearing a cross-body bag is no more secure in pickpocket areas than a backpack.

Just don't put anything valuable in your backpack when you are out sightseeing. Have your mother carry the money, preferably in a money belt (or if she is oblivious, put the money belt on the baby! ;) But walking around sightseeing, you might need gear for the baby and a hairbrush for yourself, but you don't need your housekeys, jewelry, credit cards, driver's license, passport. Leave all that at the hotel (carry a photocopy of your passport and baby wipes).

If you are thinking about using a backpack as your sole piece of luggage on the trip, wearing it walking through airports and train stations, carrying the baby in the Ergo carrier at the same time, don't do that. Pickpocket issues aside, that's not a safe way for you and your baby to be moving around, weighted like that. Italian train stations are full of people not looking where they are going.

Sorry, I didn't read down further - you have a stroller.



<Leave all that at the hotel (carry a photocopy of your passport and baby wipes).>

Sandralist, as you live in Italy I am wondering why you are advising a visitor to leave their passport in their hotel. Can you please tell me why you are advising visitors to break the law?

So you link me to a Fodors discussion - lol - that basically says 'the law is an ass - I will do what I like' and the OP of that discussion wasn't even going to Italy.

Just because *you* have yet to hear of a single incident of someone being detained because they didn't have their official documentation on them doesn't mean people should be encouraged to break the law.

I would prefer to do the right thing - as should anyone visiting Italy. It is the law to carry your official documentation which for USA / Canada is your passport.
http://www.lineaamica.gov.it/rispost...genti-pubblica

Hi all,

In response to sandralist and blueeyedcod, we are traveling March 9-22 so it shouldn't be hot wearing the baby. My Ergo 360 carrier is front/back/side carry. We are definitely bringing the stroller for times when it will come in handy (airports and Florence). My husband will have a money belt on him. I broached the topic to my husband about his camera bag (backpack) and he isn't concerned because his backpack has a flap with straps and a zipper, similar to most messenger bags. He says it wouldn't be easy to get into it. Shoot, he's probably hoping his camera equipment gets swiped so he can claim the theft with travel insurance and get the latest-and-greatest as replacements ;-). My DH also suggested we put luggage locks on the backpack zippers to deter pickpockets. What do you all think of that idea? The backpack will be used in airports and when sightseeing. It will mostly just have a blanket, baby hat, change of clothes for baby, diapers and wipes in it when sightseeing. I've just got to be smart about where I put my cell phone. This isn't my first time traveling to Europe so I do know what I'm doing...it's just our first time traveling with a baby so it's a new challenge to ponder. Thanks all for your input.

I have never carried my pp around in italy, who knew i was such a crimminal, l

Op, i would bring and use backpack if you are used to it, and as for backpack , if u are just carrying baby food, jacket s who cars, your important things should simply not be in backpack, just put passport ( if you elect to carry it all the time) and credit card and large sums of money in, should not be bulky. Put 30-50 euros in your bra, inner pocket of jacket if wearing one, just for on the go cash( no need to dig in moneybelt in public to get money for a drink, in fact never access money belt in public.

Sounds like you've got it sorted and going in March your dodging the bulk of the tourists so crowds will be minimal. Main places to watch your belongings are train stations. There are *zero* pickpockets in Positano.

Justineparis - I don't know about keeping money in your bra? - lol - how strange. Fishing around inside your bra - how is that different to fishing around inside a money belt?

OP - have you considered a small cross body purse? Pacsafe make them with special mesh and anti-theft zippers.

http://www.pacsafe.com/travel-bags/s...ross-body.html

I've never traveled with moneybelts, nor would I put money in a bra. A small cross body bag will be fine.

I wouldn't want to carry a 6-month old for a full day's sightseeing. And what do you do with nappies, food, wipes etc? Just take a stroller, put the baby stuff in the bottom of the stroller. It's also much easier when you stop for lunch or a drink. And baby can sleep in it. I would only carry the baby if the terrain is really not suitable for a stroller.