First trip to Italy for my husband and I; we're 30-ish and will be taking our 15 month old with backpack and umbrella stroller. Not a tight budget but certainly need to be economical. Have approx. 2+ wks. Plan to take it easy on the itinerary with the baby. Interested in flying into Rome and out Florence or vice-versa. Hoping to spend a few days in each city and plant ourselves in Tuscany at a "home-base" for the days in-between. Would love opinions on arrival and departure cities. (Rome intimidates me, but we are Catholic and would like to experience it.) Should we fly in Florence and out of Rome to ease ourselves in? What about Lufthansa as a kid-friendly airline? Also, any villas/B&Bs anyone recommends for families? How about driving in the countryside - should we try it?

Hi PumpkinTraveler, we(my husband and I and 3 year old) are travelling to Rome in May too.
We have booked Le Cretaoile in Pienza. Supposed to be very kid friendly but has no swimming pool.
www.cretaoile.it
I booked an apartment thru B&B association in Rome. www.b.b-rm.it. The lady is very helpful.
I found Tripadvisor.com very helpful for places to stay and also Slowtrav.com great info. too. and of course searching this site.
Ginder

PumpkinTraveler,
Look at La Crociona http://lacrociona.com/index.htm just outside Montalcino.

Children are fine anywhere in Italia. I have been traveling back and forth to Europe with my child since she was 4 months old (she is now 5 1/2 years old) and have never had a major problem(s). I am single, divorced mother doing it alone, it will certainly help to have your husband there assisting you!

There are only 2 slight inconveniences to consider - many train stations do not have elevators or escalators. That means lots of steps up and down. It can get a bit cumbersome trying to lug up a child, stroller, and suitcase(s) but you will manage with your husband's help. Also, your decision to stay in large cities (i.e. Florence, Rome) is a good one as there are many amenities similar to what you would find in large U.S. cities. The smaller, hill-towns and out-of-way places that aren't easily accessible via a train or public transportation, can prove to be more challenging. However, you will be fine based in Rome and Florence.

Since you mentioned wanting a "home base" in Tuscany for the days in-between Rome and Florence, I would suggest Lucca. It is accessible via train to all the neighboring cities in Tuscany, as well as 1 hour away from the Cinque Terre. It is a charming, lovely city that is easy to navigate (flat, with no hills) that I am sure you would enjoy. It is one of our most favorite cities in Tuscany. Also, you can make a daily "passegiata" (walk) along the top circumfrence of Lucca's famous city walls. You can join the locals and other parents-with-strollers-and-kids walking the approximate 45 minutes around the whole city and it's great exercise too!

Also, the "Il Terrenia" area on the coastline between Livorno and Pisa makes a nice day-trip for children. It is a seaside resort area/town that has lots of sidewalk cafes and ristorantes. Not to mention flat, wide, sandy beaches with umbrellas to rent and relax amongst the other Italian families there. Across from the beach, there are a couple amusement parks (Italian style) with lots of play areas and toys (for climbing), as well as several rides with pretend animals/characters for the kids to enjoy. My child loves going there and it is a return destination every time I am in the Tuscany/Cinque Terre area.

In terms of what to bring, I had my light-weight umbrella stroller for gate-check at each airplane when boarding/de-boarding. I took it with me on trains, busses, metros, etc as it folds easily and can be put on the floor next to my seat. (Unfortunately, last year was the last time I brought my convenient stroller as I got looks from people thinking my child was older than she was - she was a tall 4 year old!) To avoid having to stop in cafes and buy water bottles, drinks, etc. I also brought along a thermal lunch box type container that I would keep in the basket area under the stroller, under the seat. (You could keep in your backpack). I usually pack a baggie of fruit, crackers, water bottle, and/or small fruit drink for quick snacks while out and about. I still bring that with me now in my purse! You can easily pick up some provisions at the local supermercatos near your hotels. (BTW, the yogurts are fantastic in Europe - my little one especially loves it in Italy. They offer them in small cup sizes and are very creamy). They also sell the Kinder chocolate (German brand) everywhere and in small packages that make for a nice treat too! Another tip re: eating....just order plates for you and your husband. You can ask for a separate, empty plate for your child, and then just share with him/her. No sense buying an entire primi dish that will go to waste! I still do it all the time with my 5 1/2 year old.

I fly Lufthansa/United to Italy. (I generally fly Lufthansa into Munich or Frankfurt, then transfer on Air Dolomiti (Lufthansa/United code share airplane) to either Rome or Naples). When booking your tickets, ask for the bulk-head seats so you can have more room, also request a child's meal. Lufthansa is good about giving each child on board a small baggie consisting of a toy, crayons, and a coloring book. They have different items all the time, so it will vary.

I would recommend flying out of Rome as there will be more options in terms of flight times. If you are like me, you will not want to catch an early, early morning flight out with your child, but one that is more mid-morning. You would have more options in a large airport such as Rome's Fiumincino versus Florence's airport.

I can help with more specific details if you need them, let me know! Have a great trip and enjoy yourselves.

We will also be in Rome this May with our 2 1/2 year old. We have found that renting an apartment makes for a better experience. It is generally more economical than a hotel, there is more privacy, you don't have to worry about noise (happy or otherwise) and the ability to do a little cooking and snack prep is key. This trip we are staying in Trastevere. Our other choice was Prati near the Vatican, Borghese would also have been good. A neighborhood will have more outdoor spaces, grocery stores etc.

The great news is that Rome in general is fairly family friendly. There are lots of pedestrian only areas, green spaces and piazzas to walk/run around in.

The museums are probably best for nap time if you really want to enjoy yourselves. We have found our Kelty backpack to be a lifesaver - as someone mentioned no strollers in the museums.

Pizza, noodles and gelato have long been food favorites for our little fellow. Start introducing them now (if you haven't already) so that they are familiar foods.

We always fly British Airways from Seattle. Invest in a portable DVD player. Baby Einsteins are great for long flights.

Sorry this is so rambling. You will have a wonderful time. A last note is that May is high season and many places were already full. I would make reservations soon.

and thanks to Huitres for the info about Il Terrenia. We will put it on the agenda. Favorite place to stay?

Hi goingwithbaby:

I've never stayed at a hotel near "Il Terrenia", as I've always been with friends in either nearby Livorno, Cinque Terre, or in Lucca. Il Terrenia is easily accessible via train/bus from all these locations. You can even take a bus out from Pisa to the coast (takes about 25 mins). It's a nice, off the tourist radar place and we like it a lot.

In Rome, I tend to stay in the Campo Dei Fiori area in a hotel. I ask for a quiet room and it has worked out nicely for us. The hotels I have stayed in serve an ample breakfast, which we eat late and that holds us for the majority of the day. I usually save eating out at a ristorante for the evening, as we get a panini or piece of pizza at lunch mid-afternoon from the walk-in shops around the area. You will like staying in the Trastevere area as it is truly a Roman neighborhood with lots of local shops, cafes, etc. I walk over the Ponte Sisto to wander around there when I stay in the Campo as it is close by.

I have taken my light-weight stroller into the Borghese galleries, museums, etc and have never been discouraged to not do so. However, at that point, we usually walk through without it and look at all the paintings. The Rome Zoo in the Borghese Gardens area is a nice place to visit (costs ~8 euros) with kids too. Also, taking a day-trip out to wander around Ostia Antica with a picnic lunch is interesting and fun too....

IMPORTANT - I believe that Florence airport (aerodrome would be a better description) is or will be closed for the next few months while they expand it - check that. The nearest alternative is Pisa. You should stay in the Chianti countryside and make your day trips into Florence, not vice versa, with a child. This place is ideal for a couple with a little one who needs a bit of safe space: http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/podere-casa-nova.htm
You can take the bus into Florence because of the hassle with parking, but a car for exploring Chianti is ideal. A possibility in Rome: http://www.apartment-saint-peters.com/

Here's some more on Florence airport works, BUT BE SURE TO CHECK IT DIRECTLY:

Florence Airport operations will soon be temporarily discontinued due to runway maintenance works.

Closure period will last up to three months starting with 1st March 2006 at latest.

Reopening is therefore planned not later than 1st June 2006.