We are thinking of a trip to Paris in December. Our baby will be 8 months old. Are we nuts!!?? Need lots of advice.

There are two aspects to your question: the "perspective" angle of traveling the first time with your baby accompanying you - - and the angle of traveling to Europe (generally, Paris specifically) with a baby.<BR><BR>I've been to Paris plenty, and we traveled with our first daughter on two "good big trips" (in the US) during her first year of life. But I have never traveled to Europe with an infant.<BR><BR>I would say go. Your baby's "personality" is already about the same now as it will be this December. You have a few choices - - squeeze in a little travel here in this next year or two WITH your baby - - or get used to leaving with an empathetic grandparent or other caretaker - - or just forget about all big trips for 4-10 years. Because if you can't do it in the next year, it will only become harder in the following half-dozen years.<BR><BR>I don't think you will find travel to Paris (even in December) any harder than travel to Seattle, Chicago or any other big city.<BR><BR>You'll probably get some specific advice from others who have specifically traveled with a young infant.<BR><BR>And of course, if this is your first trip to Paris (or to Europe), then you might want to specify that, and you will ant some general info useful to first-timers.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex Bickers, M.D.<BR>Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics<BR>Westerville, Ohio<BR>

Although what Rex says makes sense and is valuable, listing his credentials is idiotic. Everyone knows that he's a neonatalogist. Rex, do you think that you have added some validity to your statements by listing your credentials? And since you have provided your credentials, if this woman does take your advice, and something happens to her child, you have provided advice which means that you now have a liability, as you have provided your credentials showing that you are an expert. Here's to hoping you're keeping you're paying your malpractice insurance premiums when they come due.<BR><BR>When is Rex ever going to learn?

Correction to the last sentence in the first paragraph. It should read: <BR><BR>Here's to hoping you're up to date, paying your malpractice insurance premiums when they become due.

Fiona:<BR><BR>We traveled to Paris with infants a few times and had a wonderful time. BUT we always did it in spring or summer. I'm trying to imagine what it would have been like in December, and I must conclude that so many of the things that made it easy (rocking the stroller to put baby to sleep while sitting an an outdoor cafe, letting the kid crawl around on the grass in the Tuileries, walking for hours along the Seine....) just wouldn't be possible in December. Having said that, I'm sure you can do this; it will just require a bit more flexibility than it would to do it other times of year. I imagine there will be a lot of wrapping and unwrapping the baby in warm clothing. And probably more time at the hotel than I would normally like to spend (I normally like to spend NONE). <BR>I think if you go without grand expectations about how much you will accomplish, and with a whole lot of STUFF that you wouldn't need to bring on a summer vacation, you'll be just fine. After all, Paris is full of babies.

&lt;&lt;Everyone knows that he's a neonatalogist (sic).&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>No previous posts ever by "sdsualum" - - how would she know that I am a pediatrician (neonatologist) by training? [note: correct spelling]<BR><BR>Does it add something to my advice. Yes, I think that it does.<BR><BR>And I did not give any medical advice. I never would without, some reasonable semblance of taking a history or performing a physical exam. There were no medical questions asked. My expertise comes from our raising three daughters, and the natural affinity for infants that comes from 24 years experience in pediatrics (pretty much all neonatal).<BR>

Fiona:<BR><BR>My husband and I took our 6-month old daughter to Rome in 2001. Everyone said we were crazy to do it, and I was dreading the flight, the hotel, everything. I got myself sick over it. And, maybe it's because my expectations were so low, but we had a wonderful time! She's now 2 years old, and quite a handful, so I'm glad we were able to take this trip when she was fairly immobile.<BR><BR>Some things were a hassle - I wasn't able to nurse her, so I had to pack a lot of formula, and I brought tons of jar food, because I didn't know what would be available in Italy. I'm glad I did this - there was only one grocery near the hotel, and the selection was horrible. Also, I brought lots of diapers. But beside packing, everything else was a breeze!<BR><BR>Two things you should definitely consider:<BR>1. Bring a Baby Bjorn, or a Snugli. We stayed at the Vatican Museum for 7 hours, and she was happy as a clam.<BR><BR>2. We brought an umbrella stroller, which didn't have good shock absorption, and the cobblestoned streets were kind of rough on her. I don't know if they make umbrella strollers with shock absorbers, but if they do, you may want to look into it if you're going to be walking a lot.<BR><BR>The hotel provided a beautiful crib for her, and in the morning, while we were dressing, she watched the Italian cartoons ("Hello Kitty" in Italian - it was so cute!). Restaurants and museums did not seem to have a problem with her, everyone was very accommodating. If you have more specific questions, please ask. I would encourage you to go.<BR><BR>Margot

Where are you from? Are you used to the weather you can expect in December in Paris? I can't imagine bundling up the baby and unbundling.The weather would be my biggest turn off,cold,damp, miserable.

At least a million babies in North America will experience their first winter above the 40th parallel, where there is the beginning of winter weather in December. Probably 3 or 4 million worldwide. Their parents will bundle them up and take them places. Not to worry.<BR>

Rex,go away,you'll scare the baby!It's past midnight,I know,but you reaaly need to go haunt someonelse or rest up for your patients.

Thanks for all the advice! <BR><BR>We live in San Diego where it does not normally dip below 60' in the winter. Perhaps spring or summer would be better for us. Especially since it is difficult to find heavy duty winter clothes in Southern California. <BR><BR>Rex, we were in Paris in May of 2001 and LOVED it. Thanks for the matter-of-fact outlook on traveling with children. <BR><BR>Good to know what to bring...thanks Margot!

Fiona good for you,I'm in Arizona and take students to Europe in the Spring. Even then they complain it's cold.It's all relative but putting a baby in outfits that take up so much room is a pain,I remember those days!

Let's do this math. Your baby will be 8 months old in December. Born in April. Conceived in July, 2001. Obviously, your May trip to Paris was the beginning of a great summer for you!<BR><BR>Ought to return to the scene of the "inspiration" at the earliest time that suits your style!<BR>

Hi Fiona,<BR><BR>We took our then 6-month-old son on a wonderful trip to Luxembourg and Belgium a few years ago. Though we felt as though we were packing the entire house, the trip was made so much better by him being with us. Babies open up doors that otherwise remain closed. People talked to us to find out about the baby and ended up giving us suggestions that we hadn't even considered. We even had busloads of (German, we think) tourists taking photos of our son on my husband's back in the backpack. By the way, I highly recommend this mode of baby transportation since, as Margot mentioned, the sidewalks are rough going for small strollers. (We used a Madden backpack - hard to find, but well worth the extra dollars.)<BR><BR>My advice: go now, before she's too, too mobile! We're embarking on a five-week business trip all over Europe with a two-and-a-half-year-old! Talk about stress!<BR><BR>Have a wonderful time!

You're very welcome, Fiona.<BR>

up<BR>

Please don't stay anywhere near where I will be - I don't want to listen to a jet-lagged baby cry all night....

Oh, be quiet, xxx - are you that dopey wrestler who's named triple x? Maybe you are, seems like you must have hit your head a few times. too late for a helmet for you.