Which Napa wineries with infant?
 

Which Napa Valley wineries would be best to take a 10 month old baby to? We live in San Francisco and are just going to one or two as a day trip. Thanks.

I think it depends on what kind of wine he/she likes.

babs, are you sure you don't mean what kind of whine he/she likes?

What features would make one winery better than another for a 10 month old?<BR><BR>My advice is get a sitter!

Which vineries cell special baby souveniers - wine in baby bottles?

I don't see how any winery could be fun or beneficial for a 10 month old! Ceratinly nothing for them to do. When my little one (now 5 years old) was 10 months, he was just beginning to toddle around. He had just started walking so it was a novelty to hime and he wanted to walk aorund and inspect everything! Hoard to confine him to a stroller or carrier until the novelty of being able to walk wore off (later on when they get bigger and weigh a lot more they switch and all teh sudden want to be carried again LOL!) anyway my point is, you are going to have a hard time enjoying your day as pacifying your child and keeping him entertained will take up all your time. If it is just one or two days, why not go the babysitter oute and you and husband enjoy some alone time and the adult entertainment a winery has to offer.

Why subject all of the other couples trying to have a romantic getaway to a crying baby? Drop him off with relatives or stay home, but don't ruin the vacations of everyone else.

I don't think i've ever seen anyone bring a baby winetasting up here in Napa/Sonoma. It's tough to hold a kid and sample wines at the bar at the same time.

Yup. That's just what I want to do. Travel all the way to Napa so I can go on a winery tour and have some screaming kid next to me. Thanks a bunch.

Susan, I have a bit of a hard time believing that you live in San Francisco and a) have never been to any wineries, and b) don't have anyone, like a neighbor or coworker, you can ask. Assuming this is a legitimate post, your first choice should be to get a babysitter for the day and take the 1.5 hour drive to Napa. You'll be back by 6:30 anyhow, considering what time the wineries close. If you really must take your child, then you should go to any winery that isn't crowded, so you can get in and get out before your child gets restless. But really, why would you do that?

Susan, I'd like to make a request. <BR><BR>As soon as you narrow down which wineries you will be visiting, could you please post the list on Fodors together with the dates and times, asap?<BR><BR>We all want to make sure we stay as far away from you and your darling offspring as possible.

Susan, you are incredibly naive. Try a baby sitter, grandparents, uncles, aunts, neighbors to help you out and GET A LIFE and have some time to yourself!!! The only way to keep a cool head and enjoy yourself is to take some time off from the newborn. Please take this advice for the sake of the child.

I am a parent...yet I agree that a winery is not the place to take a young child.<BR><BR>BUT...for all of you suggesting she leave the baby with grandparents/aunt/uncle, etc....have you for one moment thought maybe she does not have anyone?????? Please, you have no idea of her situation yet you assume. I can tell you from experience that not everyone has family that lives near them...and even if they do live near family maybe there is another reason they cannot leave the child with that person. <BR><BR>Please do not be quite so hard on her. A nice answer would make everyones day. Did any of you not learn anything from yesterday or last year????

Susan,<BR> I saw a few children in the wineries and they were supremely bored. But at 10 months, maybe baby will be nappy and sleep in stroller? If not, you and your husband could take turns strolling the grounds with baby while the other tastes. Timing is everything! Also, choose a time when it's off-season.<BR> If I were you, I'd drive to Sonoma. An easier drive, very pretty area. Pack a lunch, then plan picnic with baby....maybe near a lake with ducks, etc. You can read about wineries offering picnic grounds on the internet.<BR> V Sattui in Napa was one such place. They had an excellent deli and many people had their children there outside eating at tables. (No lakes or ducks, tho LOL)<BR> Anyway, sorry people have been so rude to you.If you can't get help, this isn't such a bad age to take baboo- mine weren't walking at that age and were usually happy just looking around at anything. Just respect others if he/she becomes agitated. have a good time!

I didn't mean to come off as rude earlier. I am a parent too. All I was saying was that if your little one has just started walking as mine had at that age. It is something new and different to do and keeping them contained in a stroller or carrier is almost impossible! I understand about maybe not having family to babysit. We don't either. We live in DC, my family lives in Austin, TX and husband is from New York (we both came here for school and stayed for jobs). Everyone does however have the option of hiring a babysitter! It will only be for 1 day or at most 2 if you spend the night. Getting away is healthy. It is important to spend time with your children but it is also important to spend time alone with and be connected to your significant other so that you make a loving environment for your child. Please don't take my post the wrong way, I just feel that this isn't something your child will enjoy or get andy benefit whatsoever from, so why not enjoy it more yourself.

By far the dumbest question I have ever read.

Linda,<BR><BR>"Anyway, sorry people have been so rude to you."<BR><BR>Think about it, Linda. What is rude is some parent bringing their 10 month old baby to an adult wine tasting experience.<BR><BR><BR>Seriously

If you can't find a sitter, don't go. Just because you feel it is you right to take you child with you, I think it is unfair to all the other people at the wineries with you.

Do you all seriously believe that a mother would take her baby out of all places - to a winery??????????<BR><BR>I bet Susan is laughing her behind off reading all the posts. And so do I.

Faina, I'd really like to believe that this was all one big joke, but unfortunately I have the feeling that Susan was very serious in her query.<BR><BR>There are too many people around who only think of themselves. Sort of like the people who take screaming babies into R rated movies on a Sat. night.

I was in Spain in May, and at several wineries in the Rioja region (less formal set-up than Napa, but still tour and tastings at some), there were plenty of kids/babies. A winery is a fine place to bring them---it's interesting, cellars can be dark and spooky, amd the culture of wine history is interesting. The babies I've seen slept through tours and if they started to whine, a parent takes them outside.<BR><BR>I've also gone wine-tasting on Long Island with friends and their 1.5 year old. When she fidgeted, a grown-up would play outside with her. Not a big deal.<BR><BR>Frankly, it's the grown-ups who can be more whiney, anyway, sometimes---the ones who pretend to know a lot about wine, or who keep prattling on about how fabulous the wines they've had are, or the ones who take advantage of the tasting and drive off drunk. Give me a sleeping baby or two anyday.

I guess I need to grow up :) A winery would be the last place I'd take my (now grown up) sons.

J, you say a winery is a fine place to take children; the culture of wine history is interesting. Can you tell me what a 10 month old will learn about wine? Will there be a quiz later on? Seriously, I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old and would never dream of taking either one to a winery. Children don't necessarily nap on command, especially in a new environment. Sure an adult could go outside with the kids when they get fidgety, but why should that have to happen? My husband and I learned long ago if we can't hire a babysitter for things that are inappropriate for children, we don't go. Sure, we have missed out on many wonderful events, but that is what happens when you have children.

ilisa--of course a 10 m.o. isn't going to learn about wine or be expected to take a quiz. I was talking about babies and kids. The kids I saw in Spain (ages maybe 4-7)were quite interested in how wine is made and were asking questions, especially about how egg whites used to be used for clarification. (Yes, they were Spanish kids who have grown up having sips of wine, maybe that's different than an American kid who generally hasn't had wine as part of the dinner table in any cultural way.) Sure, you wouldn't spend 3 hours on a tour, but 20 minutes can work, depending on the kid.<BR><BR>People have different opinions on this, obviously, so you take your kids where you'd like to and leave others free to take theirs where they'd like. If a kid is acting rowdy in a place you consider inappropriate (and I agree that a winery would be one of those places), then I think you have every right to ask the parent to take them out of earshot to calm down.<BR><BR>Happy trails to you and your kids, and I hope they get to an age soon where you don't feel like you need to give up activities you enjoy.

J, you said you were talking about kids and babies. Um, a 10 month old is a baby. And yes, you do have the right to ask a parent to take a child out of earshot if the kid gets rowdy. My point is that it should never get to that point. The child should not have been in that child-inappropriate environment in the first place. And no, we have not given up activities we enjoy. We have made adjustments. That is what people do when they have children. And, that is what Susan should do, instead of taking her baby to a winery.

ilisa,<BR><BR>Congratulations!!!!!! I don't think anyone could have expressed it any better than you did. <BR><BR>Subject closed!<BR><BR>HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!<BR><BR>Seriously

Susan: I just reread your question and am sorry about my earlier reply. I thought you were going to Napa for two days from SF, which is why I doubted your sincerity (because of course most people would just go up there for the day if they had a baby in tow). I did take my daughter to wineries at that age. Maybe some people don't realize that some of us go to wineries to buy wine, and like to taste it first! My advice still stands, only go to the uncrowded wineries, so you won't be pushed around, and have a bit of space for your baby to feel comfortable. If you're only going to a couple, then your child should be fine--all day would be a problem, but then you probably know that.