Rome with a toddler. Good idea or not?

I went with my then 5 year old and tbh I wouldn't go with a child younger than that. It's a lot of walking around on cobbled streets with no shade (around the main attractions, that is). I wouldn't find it very pleasurable with a toddler.

Wouldn’t be my number one choice with a toddler.

We took our DS3 last year and she loved it

I agree. Say yes to Rome always. Every time.

Children are always welcome in Italy.

Id do it in a heartbeat.

Do it! You, and he, will have a super time. I took my child when they were 18 months and again at 2.5; both were great. There’s a super playground called Area Giochi “Claudio” with toys to play with round the edge and lovely parks and play spaces - Borghese Gardens are super too. Your child might enjoy Explora which is a science space for children with lots of hands on activities. Plus, Italy is so child friendly you can do some of the more traditional tourist bits too. I hope, if you go, you have a super time!

It’s fine but take the buggy

We stayed at a euro camp called Fabulous about 25 mins out of the city was brilliant pools and kids club. Uber in and out or train/bus. City is very pedestrian but lots of steps/hills.

What do you think locals do?? Of course you should go! Have fun.

What a sad view some people have of little children.
Go.

I took DD to Rome when she was 18 months, and again when she was 3. She loved it, and Romans loved her. Like most of Italy, people in Rome generally like kids. The carabinieri police helped me get the buggy up and down the kerbs, they were really kind!

I wouldn’t go. I would celebrate her birthday before/after.

Is your DH going to have to attend work events in the evening?

Mine loves museums as toddlers, wandering round looking at interesting stuff or even being pushed around looking at stuff. I was surprised too tbh

Me neither! Do they not think the Romans have children?!!

We went with a 3yr old and had an amazing time!! So many things to do. We did all the tourist stuff (Vatican, London Forum, Coliseum, etc.) and they loved it. Not to mention all the pizza, pasta, and ice cream!

I've taken toddlers and babies to Italy several times including the big cities and had a great time. I think if you want to go take him got for it but a few caveats from my perspective and experience:

Italian museums are not kid friendly like they are in the UK. DCs got shushed and frowned at in Uffizi and Galileo museum and they were basically the only under 18s in the buildings.

I would focus on being a family in a city rather than trying to do sites - find playgrounds, cafes, pedestrian only piazzas and parks. Keep expectations of what you can 'do' very low.

Italians love children but 'child-friendly' means something different - really struggled to find high chairs, baby changing and convenience stores in some city centres (in Florence I had to buy bottles of milk from the cafes as the only corner shop I could find was never open.)

Rome has lots of lovely museums and parks and outdoor venues. We did a city and beach break 2 weeks ago to Gran Canaria and I brought the reins which were invaluable around the airport and out and about. We had the buggy too for walking to places then the reins for pottering about museums etc. Everything went well with lots of stops at parks, playgrounds and cafes for ice cream which appeased our toddler and made it a nice balance of culture and kid's stuff. The locals seemed to enjoy my attempts at speaking the lingo and made a fuss of our son, I imagine the Italians will be the same. Enjoy!

Also..your toddler doesnt know any different! Every day is an adventure for them whether its in a city or by the beach ( or in a supermarket!)

Apologies if I come across as over invested but I can’t fathom people who are saying don’t do it…

Yep! Bizarre. We’re not beach holiday people so when we had kids they just tagged on to our city breaks. There are so many great interactive museums out there. We’re so excited to go to Valencia’s science park this summer 😬

Wouldn't contemplate it. Cancel!

I’d do it

by the time my daughter was 3 she’d been all over Asia

several Europe city breaks

and we live in London so always out and about in the city

toddlers do like museums - they don’t care where they are once they can have a bit of a walk around

there’s always kid friendly things in cities if you go and look for them.

i found soft plays in random office blocks in Tokyo for example

I’ve heaps of-playgrounds in Paris bookmarked on my map as we go loads

my 3 year old loved going to eat and loves being able to stop at cafes for pasties and stuff

or you can go for some ice cream

find parks to run around in

Mine did! Now tween/teen they still love restaurants. Less so museums

3 year old will love all those museums and gardens.

I would go but not for the whole week unless you are used to city living with a toddler. It is full on. Also with a young child I would want a hotel with a pool for cooling off and a different kind of play.

Rubbish! It's as safe as any other city.