We plan to go to London and Paris with our 1yr old. If anyone else has done this, has ther been any difficulties with strollers, cabs, or restaurants? I don't think it will be extremely difficult, but am curious to hear tips from other parents. Vmc

I'll only suggest that you choose a centrally-located hotel so that you can easily pop back for a nap, change, toy time, snack,just a rest in front of the TV etc. Having a minibar or kitchenette would of course also be helpful; you might consider renting a small apartment.

Well, I've never had kids but obviously people with small children live in both these cities but I honestly have to say it looks like no fun to me to deal with a baby and a stroller on the Tube or Metro. Lots of stairs, steep escalators and crowds! Some places have elevators, but they are not always handy. We visit London & Paris every year and my advice would be to use cabs a lot. Stay out of the tube and Metro at rush hour for sure!
Our relatives in Paris have young children and they say it is not common to take little kids/babies to nicer restaurants. You just do not see a lot of it over there like you do in the U.S.
If you live in a big city the crowds may not be a bother to you, but pushing a stroller on a busy street (or a narrow cobblestone street) may be a challenge, particularly if it is raining too. In our many trips I have seen a few strollers on buses, they were the collapsable kind tho. Despite the fact that people with children do live in London and Paris I find neither city to be particularly child-friendly.

As for lodgings, I'd rent an apt. Not only will you have more room but you can fix some food for the baby and just in general kick back a little more then in a hotel.

If it's at all possible to have someone
watch your child...I'd go that route.
Yes, I know it's difficult to leave but
it's no vacation for a 1 yr. old. How
will you climb the 300+ steps to the top
of Notre Dame or St. Paul's Cathedral?
We left 3 behind went we first went to
London and Paris and I was a wreck...until we got there. Don't know
how long you're planning on going, but
take into account you won't be able to
be out from dusk to dawn...you may need
to extend your stay just so your child
gets some down time. Hope you have a
great time! We loved Paris!

VERY important: invest in a good umbrella-fold reclining stroller, the lighter in weight, the better. (I would suggest a Maclaren or a Chicco, but not the Volo or Caddy models, you'll need better than that.) Most of the tube stations in London do not have elevators. (I can't speak for the Paris Metro, but I'm guessing this applies there, too.) A good compact-fold reclining stroller will allow you to hit the museums while the small one naps. Your best bet is to plan to hit parks in the morning, and quiet places after lunch.

Essentially, this won't be the trip for cathedrals only reached by 300 steps, unless you fancy carrying 30 lbs. up and down those steps. Prepare to spend a lot of time at parks and playgrounds.

I second the recommendation for renting a flat. You didn't say what time of yr. you are going, but you will have the best restaurant luck with places that have outdoor seating.

If you can stand it both emotionally and financially you might consider using a hotel-recommended (assuming you are going to be in a hotel) baby-sitting service at least once while you're there. Unfortunately the child will not remember anything about the trip; fortunately, this will include the day s/he was in the care of the sitter. Just a thought..some can handle it and some would prefer not to.

I wouldn't worry too much about using the Tube..and I guess also the metro. I have always been surprised that total strangers just reach down and pick up the front of the strollers without even being asked so you can navigate the steps or escalators.

This was 32 years ago, but we had a back carrier and a very light stroller that was easy to fold. No problems with out 10 month old baby. You simply have to be willing to fold and carry the child rather than have an open stroller on public transportation as many parents do. Umbrollers, as they were then called, hardly existed in Europe, and we were stopped a number of times to ask where we got it. Our Parisian friends asked for our equipment after we were done using it so that they could have it for their baby. Which gives away our advantage: we were staying with friends. Restaurants were no problem. Once the patronne came by, asked if she could hold our child, and that was the last we saw of her until the end of the meal. What may be a big change: we carried from the States 50 lbs. of disposable diapers. Our French friends thought we were crazy until they had their baby. Food: Even at home we used a small hand grinder to feed the baby normal food. So she had restaurant food at the age of 10 months.

Michael, times have changed! European umbrella strollers beat US-marketed models all hollow for portability and comfort features, and disposable diapers are available everywhere. The British, in particular, have created lots of pre-packaged, organic, microwavable toddler food that would be the envy of many US parents if they knew about it.

We went for to Europe with 9 mo old 4 years ago. We had a baby carrier and we were able to see all the museums and cathedrals with her - no problem. Avoid super fancy places and allow yourself time to just sit down and relax. You will have no major problems and wonderful memories.

She is 5 years old now and we are going to Italy (along with her 15 mo old brother) in 10 days.

I believe that traveling with your children, no matter what age are they, makes your family closer.

You will have better food for your baby in London and Paris (ah, those fresh fruits and vegetables). And your child will absorb so much - you will be surprised!
Enjoy!

Ryn: I am well aware that times have changed. I mentioned our Parisian friends wanting the equipment as a way of emphasizing that the equipment was considered very practical. I would not recommend that a family coming from the States go out and shop for a stroller instead of bringing their own. But the family has to think of the practicality of what they already have. What may be practical with car travel may be too cumbersome for public transportation. As for diapers: I was happy with only one brand in the States, feeling that the others were more difficult to adjust to avoid the inconvenience of leakage and seepage. So even now I would consider taking a very light duffel bag stuffed with the diapers that work best for me.

Personally, I would try to stay in a very nice and very central place with a breakfast. With a baby, you might spend more time in your room, so it might as well be a nice one. Being squeezed in a dark, scummy little tourist hotel with no hot water, no view and no lift might drive you over the edge. With some place central, you might be able to take turns going out if you need to.

Definitely take a backpack and folding stroller. Do some research about which Tube stations you might want to avoid. Plan a slow trip. Do the parks and open air things. Check out stores like Marks and Spencer's for pre-made meals. My kids loved getting sandwiches and cup-a-soups for dinner instead of going out. Not all pubs would take kids but the ethnic restaurants did. Take a boat ride to Greenwich. You can see the sights of London in a leisurely way and there's a nice park behind the Maritime Museum.

I've been to London with kids and unencumbered but not to Paris at all. However, my basic impression of England is that children are better seen and not heard. And maybe not even seen. A friend of mine who is English
was in a B&B with her 2 kids. She had a feeling that the her kids were less welcome than the 3 dogs under the table. However, everybody loves a cute, quiet, well behaved baby. Know your baby and don't try to push the envelop.

nessstruve: Please do a search for "children" or "toddler". There are some great posts on this topic, prticularly regarding taking snacks, games and diversions for the plane, which is the worst part of the trip. Make sure you take into account the need for a car seat on the airplane. We have taken a large stroller (it folds up) rather than an umbrella stroller. I'm not sure if that is the best idea. It is difficult to fold up and lug around, but it is easy to push, carries supplies, is comfortable for the kid, and reclines for naps. In London, we could wheel the stroller right into the back of a cab without folding it, which was great (so we used the tube rarely). We packed all the diapers we thought we would need. They fit in the spaces in your luggage and make room for souvenirs as used. I could go on, but I and others have contributed on the other threads you'll find in a search.

You can find which underground stn's in London are easily accessible without stairs or escalators on the map at http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/content/tubem...ss_guide_1.gif
You'll find that all newer London buses will take buggies/strollers without being folded when they're not busy, but many buses in the tourist area are of the older 'routemaster' type. As mentioned, all black cabs in London should take a stroller without problems.

Two years ago, my husband and I took our 1 year old to Italy. It was easy. We're lucky that she's very adaptable with respect to naps...she cought them wherever she could. We didn't plan our day around naps and we did not go to the hotel for naps, either.
As far as gear and packing go...you can do anything, including climb 300 stairs, with a baby backpack. We hiked the Cinqueterre. I recommend a stroller that is compact, but reclines, so baby can nap in it. Our luggage system...push the stroller with the backpack hanging on the handles (took both everywhere...had a bike lock and locked the bike in places, like the Collaseum, and put baby in backpack), car seat on Dad's back in a canvass carrier, diaper bag/carry on/backpack on Mom's back. Then one rolling suitcase for Mom and Dad and one little case for baby.
Don't use disposable bibs...just bring a good plastic, washable one. Don't worry about extra diapers...pampers are easy to find.
Finally, bring plenty of snacks, quiet toys, and decongestant (whatever makes the little one drowsy) for the plane. A very small dose of decongestant can greatly improve a long plane flight.

Good luck.