Looking for Kid-Friendly Paris Book and Information
Feb 23rd, 2006, 11:42 AM
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Looking for Kid-Friendly Paris Book and Information
My 3 1/2 year old daughter and I will be accompanying my husband on a work trip to Paris in late April thanks to reasonable airfare on NW ($448!!!) and accomodations at my father-in-law's apartment in the 15eme. My husband and I have spent time in Paris and visited the major tourist sites - but now that we'll have a young child with us, I'm looking for kid-friendly Paris information. I am fortunate that I will have assistance from some locals (my father-in-law and his French wife) but they won't have any kid-friendly insights.
Of course, I will thoroughly search the threads here and do my homework ahead of time but I am wondering if anyone can recommend a good "Paris with Kids" book - there appear to be several. And if anyone has any specific advice or tidbits to make a visit to Paris with a 3 year old that much easier or fun, it would be greatly appreciated!
Of course, I will thoroughly search the threads here and do my homework ahead of time but I am wondering if anyone can recommend a good "Paris with Kids" book - there appear to be several. And if anyone has any specific advice or tidbits to make a visit to Paris with a 3 year old that much easier or fun, it would be greatly appreciated!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 12:03 PM
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I like the Cadogan guide "take the kids to Paris and Disneyland Resort Paris" book. (No, we're not going to the Disneyland Paris either!). It has helpful info and fun, color pictures. I also have the Paris with Kids book by Valerie Gwinner, helpful, but no pictures. Have fun!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 12:59 PM
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Hello Iowamom,
We're going to Paris 9-21st of April with our 3½ year old daughter as well.
We plan to stay in an apt. in the 14th Arrondissement.
So far she's been with us 1 month in Italy when she was 4½ months, 10 days in Provence when she 13 months and 12 days in Tuscany when she was app. 2½ years old.
Last time she enjoyed the local playgrounds and was very interested in other children.
This is actually my main concern this time - she'll certainly miss the company of other children after a week.
We'll try to accommodate her with frequent if not daily trips to the playgrounds and carrousels in Jardin du Luxembourg, on Champs de Mars and the small zoo in Jardin de Plantes.
There should be a funfair somewhere in Bois de Boulogne - it might be interesting.
We're also planning a trip to the toddler section of Cité de Sciences et l'Industrie.
http://www.cite-sciences.fr/english/..._enf/index.htm
We haven't seen Versailles together and there should be farm animals in the small "Marie Antoinette" village somewhere on the premises.
If all else fails I'm sure she'll appreciate Eurodisney - we might even too ;-)
IMO another practical aspect of touring with a toddler is knowing the location of the nearest public restroom.
This link to the municipality of Paris provides the excact locations to put on your street map if need be: http://www.mairie1.paris.fr/mairie1/...d_rubrique=421
If you google "toilets Paris" you can find more locations (in public parks, department stores, museums etc.)
The "Icecream of the day" concept has served us well in the past. Maybe we'll convert it to "crepe of the day", but that remains to be seen.
In general I'd recommend having the restaurant meals with your daughter at lunch (early 12-13) especially the nicer places.
It is cheaper than dinner and everyone are reasonably well-tempered at that time of the day.
Showing up early/making an early reservation means that you'll finish your meal ½-1 hour after the "adult guests" without sacrificing on the quality of the food by going to a fast food restaurant unless you'd prefer that.
Bring a doll/bear, paper and watersoluble crayons + some other occupational therapy and accept if she climbs under the table and plays if she's happy and quiet ;-)
If there's sign of too much fuss/noise we use one of the following solutions: 1. The adults take turns to go on a walk with our daughter, while the other finish and enjoy the meal.
2. make a quick decision to leave with/without a doggy bag - one adult leave with our daughter immediately, the other explain the decision to the waiter and pay.
Don't think or stress too much about it - just make the decision and leave. In that way you've saved yourselves (daughter included) and all the other guests from a stressfull end of an otherwise nice lunch ;-)
3. don't go that particular day
We bring our laptop and her dvd's (Postman Pat, Pippi Longstocking et al.) - some old and beloved some new and interesting.
That's all I can think of right now.
I'll post on this thread again if I think of something else - hope you'll do the same.
If you're interested in a "Toddlerite-get-together" on a playground somewhere in Paris please let me know.
Have a nice trip.
Cecilie, Copenhagen
We're going to Paris 9-21st of April with our 3½ year old daughter as well.
We plan to stay in an apt. in the 14th Arrondissement.
So far she's been with us 1 month in Italy when she was 4½ months, 10 days in Provence when she 13 months and 12 days in Tuscany when she was app. 2½ years old.
Last time she enjoyed the local playgrounds and was very interested in other children.
This is actually my main concern this time - she'll certainly miss the company of other children after a week.
We'll try to accommodate her with frequent if not daily trips to the playgrounds and carrousels in Jardin du Luxembourg, on Champs de Mars and the small zoo in Jardin de Plantes.
There should be a funfair somewhere in Bois de Boulogne - it might be interesting.
We're also planning a trip to the toddler section of Cité de Sciences et l'Industrie.
http://www.cite-sciences.fr/english/..._enf/index.htm
We haven't seen Versailles together and there should be farm animals in the small "Marie Antoinette" village somewhere on the premises.
If all else fails I'm sure she'll appreciate Eurodisney - we might even too ;-)
IMO another practical aspect of touring with a toddler is knowing the location of the nearest public restroom.
This link to the municipality of Paris provides the excact locations to put on your street map if need be: http://www.mairie1.paris.fr/mairie1/...d_rubrique=421
If you google "toilets Paris" you can find more locations (in public parks, department stores, museums etc.)
The "Icecream of the day" concept has served us well in the past. Maybe we'll convert it to "crepe of the day", but that remains to be seen.
In general I'd recommend having the restaurant meals with your daughter at lunch (early 12-13) especially the nicer places.
It is cheaper than dinner and everyone are reasonably well-tempered at that time of the day.
Showing up early/making an early reservation means that you'll finish your meal ½-1 hour after the "adult guests" without sacrificing on the quality of the food by going to a fast food restaurant unless you'd prefer that.
Bring a doll/bear, paper and watersoluble crayons + some other occupational therapy and accept if she climbs under the table and plays if she's happy and quiet ;-)
If there's sign of too much fuss/noise we use one of the following solutions: 1. The adults take turns to go on a walk with our daughter, while the other finish and enjoy the meal.
2. make a quick decision to leave with/without a doggy bag - one adult leave with our daughter immediately, the other explain the decision to the waiter and pay.
Don't think or stress too much about it - just make the decision and leave. In that way you've saved yourselves (daughter included) and all the other guests from a stressfull end of an otherwise nice lunch ;-)
3. don't go that particular day
We bring our laptop and her dvd's (Postman Pat, Pippi Longstocking et al.) - some old and beloved some new and interesting.
That's all I can think of right now.
I'll post on this thread again if I think of something else - hope you'll do the same.
If you're interested in a "Toddlerite-get-together" on a playground somewhere in Paris please let me know.
Have a nice trip.
Cecilie, Copenhagen
Feb 23rd, 2006, 01:27 PM
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lynny - thanks for narrowing down my book selections!
Cecilie - Thanks for the great information and suggestions. We arrive in Paris on the 21st so unfortunately we won't be able to arrange a Toddler get together. We've traveled a lot with our daughter both in Europe (we were living in England when she was born and moved back to the US when she was eight months old) and in the US. We don't go anywhere without the laptop either! My biggest concerns are: her missing the company of other children, finding a restroom at a moment's notice and finding food she'll eat - both of us are not very adventurous eaters. Have a great trip - I hope all goes well for you!
Cecilie - Thanks for the great information and suggestions. We arrive in Paris on the 21st so unfortunately we won't be able to arrange a Toddler get together. We've traveled a lot with our daughter both in Europe (we were living in England when she was born and moved back to the US when she was eight months old) and in the US. We don't go anywhere without the laptop either! My biggest concerns are: her missing the company of other children, finding a restroom at a moment's notice and finding food she'll eat - both of us are not very adventurous eaters. Have a great trip - I hope all goes well for you!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 01:46 PM
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iowamom this was in the NY Times, no cost to register.
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/02/1...el/19kids.html
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/02/1...el/19kids.html
Feb 23rd, 2006, 02:10 PM
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