SAApris:
I think this is a troll. Don't you? There are so many dumb posts about little kids and European cities and then the poster never comes back or never asks any other questions.

I agree 100% with SAnParis and wliwl. It's amazing how many similar posts there are lately from "newbies". Mike

I am fairly new to this forum, and most grateful for all the assistance and expertise I received from many - while I have traveled fairly extensively, I truly appreciated the first hand knowledge from 'fodorites'.

I am catching on to some things (like someone having to explain to me recently what a troll was) and how some think questions are silly - but silly is subjective, some people just haven't had the travel experience of others and look for support, how to begin, or maybe aren't lucky enough to have people in their lives in similar situations to bounce things off.

Maybe this is a troll, maybe she is one of those people who only posts once and never comes back, maybe she has read the posts and doesn't realize how nice it would be to at least comment with a thanks for your opinons so far, keep them coming.

Or maybe since she has a 7 month old, she hasn't been able to long on the last two days b/c he is sick, or she is sick, or her life is just what a life can be like with a 7 month old. Maybe she lost her password under the pile of mail, diapers, bottles and whatnot on her kitchen counter....time will tell.

But no one should feel badly about their time giving ideas - someone else might read it and it could help them, or maybe she did go to the other threads so many ofyou kindly referred her to and just isn't tuned in to thanking you, which is too bad, could be she isn't tuned in enough to know she should, or is just not thinking, or is rude, we may never know.

I likely made a lot of mistakes in the beginning, and perhaps still am, I've even seen posts from people saying 'no one read my trip report" - maybe people did and didn't post a reply, maybe people will read it later when they are going to that destination, maybe no one was interested in that destination at this time - people learn as they go.

I would have been lost in the beginning with out some of you who so kindly pointed out to me how to search for similar threads on my question, how to post with a better title, etc -

Maybe Fodors should add a 'suggested manners' line to the use guide about returning to your post to at least acknowledge others, or that just b/c people don't post a reply doesn't mean they didn't enjoy your info, etc.....or maybe not.

Anyway, I loved all the ideas here and although my children are now grown, I learned things to pass along to my friends who do have small children.
So any posts here were not in vain.

Hi everybody!
Thank you so much for all your advise. And, I'm sorry I have wasted people's time because I didn't know how to go to previous forums about babies in Europe. I'm very new to all this computer stuff.
So, I'm pretty sure that I will go to Paris with my boyfriend and baby. I'm confident that it will be a good trip.
I will let you know.
Mapi

Congrats on your decision! You didn't waste anyone's time, and you got lots of good hints - it took me awhile to figure out the site when I first joined too - It will be an adventure and I'm sure a wonderful one - just go with the flow and soak up Paris - when you return and it settles down, post your trip report so we can see how you made out !

Mapi -- glad you came back. All the parents here realize that you can't read or post everyday with a little one. It has taken me 2 weeks to post even part of my trip.

I have three kids and I think the escargot's questions are right on. My oldest was so colicky that a trip to a wedding at 4 months taught me that plane travel in the US was just not fun with him.

That said, my daughter is really easy going and if she had been my first born I might have traveled more by plane, including Europe.

I do think -- and I have three -- that 7 months is about the perfect age for a baby to travel, if you are going to do so with a young child.

They are beyond the true infant stage.
Most sleep for longer periods.
They are not yet walking! In some ways I think a toddler would be more work. They want to get down, put things in their mouths, walk on their own. They have developed a stronger will by that age.

Another thought: even if you are not exactly 50-50 in childcare, you still outnumber him.

A baby backpack or frontpack would be better for all the stairs in Europe but some places would be good with a small stroller.

It is true about subways but in someways it is worse with a child than a baby you are holding in a Baby Bjorn or backpack. We got on a crowded train with my family in Rome, and my daughter especially started getting squished.

I was yelling bambini, and and another lady was worried and just shoved. My daughter is 7 but she is too short to be seen in a crowd. Once people knew they mostly tried to make room.

Sidenote: I am presuming that leaving your baby with Grandma is not an option or you wouldn't have posted. I have seen this suggestion posted before, and the reality is that many grandparents these days are still in the workforce themselves, have some health issues that would limit a weeklong babysitting job, or they may live several states away and not know the baby well, or maybe they simply are not that into babysitting (especially for a whole week).

mapi as a 3 time mon whose kids have lived both in NA and Europe...7 mo is much better than 2 years. The trip will be successful only if you realize this will be a family trip. You will push the carriage through the Luxumberg garden, You will do some sightseeing but if babe is fussy you must be ready to change plans. Dont think you will see all the sites in Paris or linger over a late dinner..you wont. If you have these expectations the trip will be a success. If you dont a disaster.

This is all very positive feedback (and realistic). I'm officially going to PAris April 29 to May 6-7. My son will be 7 months. I still have to organize the flights and hotel or apartment rental. But I already looked into previous forums and I've got many links. My boyfriend is going on tour in Paris with the Montreal Symphony and I go with him. My best friend will be there too (her boyfriend is also in the Montreal Symphony). So while my boyfriend works, I do stuff with my friend. So, I wont be all alone with the baby. It's exciting! I've been to Europe a few times but never with my family.
We will have a baby backpack and a small stroller. That sounds like a good idea (thanks 5alive). I've been busy and have not much time to email but I'm greatful for the support of these forum (a special thanks to escargot...).

SAnParis, how do I get to your trip report in PAris with your baby? I can't find it. And, how old was your baby during that trip?

Have a good day everyone!
Mapi

Just in case Sanparis doesn't revisit the thread, I don't know the thread info on her post, but if you click on her name here in her post to you, it will bring up all postings she has participated in and you might be able to scroll down and find it that way. Or, you can go to the Europe forum, and in the search bar, try putting in different things like "baby in paris" 'trip reports paris' or 'trip reports france' and you might find something.

If she doesn't return, and you haven't found the info you want elsewhere on this forum, you can always post a message to her personally like "san paris need help locating specific paris post"

The trip sounds wonderful - tell us all about it when you get back and post your trip report !

I hope you go to Paris! My husband and I are going with our 9-month-old. We are just now planning the trip. Does anyone know what we should do about transportation? I don't know if we will rent a car or take public transportation. Will we need to bring our own car seat? What about cribs/pack-n-plays? Do you think we'll be able to rent one there? Our baby will need a passport won't she? What kind of requests should I make for the flight? We are accustomed to traveling with our daughter, but we have never taken her overseas.

We have done it when our children were 1 and 5 and 1 and 6. We will be back this summer when they are 2 and 7. Very easy and fun. Make time to visit fun playgrounds. It is easy to find those that our fun for you and a child. We enjoyed the playgound in Place de Vosges (sp?) one afternoon watching the kids play and a strings group play various pieces. One of my favorite memories from Paris.

teamgrin: first, you should read all the other posts on here about traveling with babies (and some are mentioned in this thread) and just go to Europe forum, and type in things like 'traveling with baby'
"overseas flight with babies/long flights with babies/jet lag/ etc and see what you get for posts.THere is lots of info from what to bring on plane for them , to medications, etc.

Then, if some of your questions still aren't answered you can post your own questions about traveling with babies: and be specific in your post - should you rent a car? I don't know if I don't know where you are going. If you are staying in Paris, absolutely not. If you are driving the entire coast, probably. If you are renting an apt or reserving a hotel room, they should be able to tell you if they supply cribs, or where to rent.

as far as all passport info, go to www.state.gov and click on Passport Info and make sure you have what you need for everyone traveling.

If you click on my name if will bring up all other posts that I have responded to..it has been (coming up on 2 years since we were last in Paris) as we were busy having another baby in the interim. So probably March or April 2004 (for the post). Thanks for returning & enjoy your trip. There is a book (for when your child is a bit older) but useful for adults as well, titled "Fodors Around Paris w/Kids, 68 Things to do...". Also "Paris w/Kids" by Valerie Gwinner.