In 3 weeks we are taking our 9 month old to Italy. I was curious if the restaurants are baby friendly. Do they have high chairs, put up with the extra noise, etc....

The Italians are probably the most kid friendly people I know of. Children are taken everywhere and are meant to be seen and heard! My 6 year old niece and 18 month old nephew were visiting this summer and were the centre of attention wherever we went. A friend had recommended a very good restaurant in Gubbio and even made reservations for us. We arrived with both kids and saw an extremely formal place, but they happily accomodated kids and yes high chairs are common. Specially in the smaller towns and countryside children are well looked after! However be warned that places like the Vatican and other museums are hard to maneouver with children/strollers.

smidgen,
I can't remember who said it but I read a quote recently. Whomever it was said that if he were reincarnated, he'd want to come back as a baby in Italy. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

Wliwl...what?

I actually did find quite a few places in Italy that didn't have high chairs. Seeing as with a baby your child's age you absolutely need one, invest in something like this: http://www.onestepahead.com/product/27216/31/117.html Or they also have a little stadium seat thing that First years makes that's the same thing. Not only can you use it to keep your child in a chair, they work great with older high chairs, ones with straps missing, etc., to keep your child secure.

Here is the First Years product. I actually like its design better than the one step ahead one. http://www.thefirstyears.com/product...sp?pValue=1091

..high chair maybe problematic.. I used to keep my munchkins in an umbrella stroller and they would have finger foods. We were not in elegant restaurants but outdoor cafes and neighborhood restaurants. ..9 month is a good age..much better than that horrible age both sides of his/her 2nd birthday..you should all be just fine!