justineparis

blueeyed.. going into to teens and places that serve booze.. well way off topic( this thread was about babies) .. but by your standards Canada is not friendly either ( as a rule most places are not allowing your kids in the bar.. but they will be welcome in CERTAIN areas.. I don't think its an issue but it obviously has bothered you, we allow kids in some pubs in some areas now too.. but since we do not welcome them every place.. guess we are on the "unfriendly " list.. lol

Blueeyedcod

Sorry Justineparis I didn't mean to sprint off topic - it's not about the alcohol as such - but more about children of any age being welcomed and allowed to access all areas of an establishment - as they can in Italy.

StCirq

sats, start a new thread.

budgettravelwithkids

How about Germany? We spent a month in Munich on a working holiday. Great public transportation. Lots of open spaces to visit (English Garden, Olympic Park,walking by Isar River), BMW museum ( if hubby is into cars), city gates,castles, castle gardens and day trips out. Some day trips we did were to Nordlingen ( town built inside Meteor Crater with intact tien wall to walk on). Town wall walk can be done with backpack carrier. Even some parks in the moat to little one to run around in. Fussen was also a beautiful stop. Charming town by a real blue River and a castle just outside town. Nuremberg has beautiful medieval bridges to cross, Mittenwald a beautifully frescoed town. If you wanted to, you could day trip out to Salzburg. We traveled with 3 not-always listening kids between ages 8 and 4. Lots of trouble, yes! Would we do again? Yes! Let me know if you'd like more info.

bvlenci

Interestingly, I saw an article in an Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, just a few days ago (although it was from last year) about a growing trend for some Italian restaurants and bars to refuse entry to small children after a certain hour. Many of the examples they mentioned, however, didn't seem to ban kids when I looked at their websites.

Italy isn't outwardly baby-friendly, in the sense that there are lots of streets where it's almost impossible to pass with a stroller. Many building (and metro stations) are not accessible; often I offer to help a mother carry her stroller, with child inside, up steps. Changing tables aren't ubiquitous in bathrooms, nor are high chairs reliably provided in restaurants. Most of the time, you won't see a kid's menu. Howver, I've never seen a place, pace the Repubblica, where the presence of children was frowned upon. Parents tend to take their children everywhere. When I was a newcomer here, one evening I invited four other couples to dinner, and was very surprised that two of them brought along their small children. I hadn't expected it, given the late hour, and it never occurred to them that I wouldn't have assumed the children would accompany them. A little embarrassed, I had to set two more places at the table.

Although there's no kid's menu, waiters will be happy to suggest something suitable for a child, maybe some pasta with just a light tomato sauce, or a simple risotto with just butter and parmigiano. You'll make lots of new friends when traveling with a small child.

CherriesJubilee

I'm a mom who has raised two kids in Vienna. Overall, I'd say that Vienna is not the most friendly when it comes to small kids. Lots of disapproving looks when the child is crying; small kids are really seen at sit down restaurants; good luck finding a bathroom with a diaper changing facility. On the plus side, it is a great place to get around with a stroller; breastfeeding is well tolerated. If you are traveling outside of Vienna, look into staying at a Kinderhotel which has facilities for small children.

CherriesJubilee

Typo in the above - it should say that small kids are RARELY seen at sit down restaurants.

I'd also add that we have felt much more welcome with our kids in Spain, Greece, Italy and Croatia.

justineparis

Cherries makes a point that can be expanded on. I think in north america we are more child centered, parents want to take their kids everywhere, even nice restuarants..whereas culturally most locals in countries like France expect a nice dinner out will not include a crying child at next table. Also meals at nice restaurants can take hours, so of course it is considered that a 3 yr old should not be expected to sit quietly for that long, so child is not brought.

There are however child friendly family type restaurants, even in Paris.

ltr

We traveled to Paris with my 13 month old Grandson and had a great time,but there were some things we would have done differently.

We researched strollers and were told by several to get a Bob brand because the suspension and bigger tires were better on cobble stones. It sounded like a good plan, but in reality, it was cumbersome and hard to use. It was too big to take on the metro so we ended up with Cabs or Buses. We should have bought a little $25 umbrella stroller that folded up easily.

We rented an apartment and it worked well. We were able to have breakfast before we set out, prepare some snacks for the little guy and and he had space to move around when we got back in the evening.

We just got back from Japan, traveling with a 2 and 4year old, using planes,buses,trains, and cars. My one suggestion coming from this trip is to make sure everything you take can fit into your suitcase when traveling between sites. Don't carry anything extra like a purse or camera,diaper bag etc. Even if it means taking a roller carry on and a larger checked bag. Traveling with young children is distracting and it is so easy to leave something behind as you are trying to get out of a taxi or bus or train.