Venice with a toddler - yay or nay?

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

That's it really.

Would like to go - have never been but will I spend the whole time rescuing 2 year old out of canal or carrying bugaboo on and off gondola ?

Also will be a January trip - how cold do you reckon? Less than zero?

We are quite well-travelled and have dragged him all over the place but if it is a total pita to do the tourist bits with him we might as well go somewhere else.

V cold.

Deep water everywhere.

But the Italians LOVE a bambino! - he will get lots of free icecreams etc.

Good point MMB. He's already conquered Sicily and is quite famous there

Scared about the water. Should not have watched Don't Look Now so many times.

(Not that the drowning happens in Venice but there is an association IYSWIM!)

For January you need a city with plenty indoor stuff to do.

Hmm, tbh when we went to Venice DH and I commented on what a nightmare it would have been to have DC with us. It depends what you want to get out of it, I guess - we would not have been able to explore the city in the same way with the constant fear of a child falling in the canals!

Venice in January is very cold.
I'd wait until the spring (say late April) to visit. Avoid the high of summer (too hot and too humid)
The best time to go to Venice is late September.
Canals aren't a problem, Venetians still breed . You'll need a light buggy.

Hmm but my DC wouldn't have thought much of a holiday where they were strapped in a buggy for much of the time!
It really does depend on what you want to get out of it, a visit with young children could probably be great but quite different to a visit just for grown-ups!

We took DD to Venice when she was 12 months' old. Lots of lifting stroller (Maclaren Quest) up and down over the little bridges, no high chairs or playgrounds (yes, Italians love children, but don't seem to "cater" for them in a practical fashion) and few indoor places to take her (the Accademia was not good - v quiet and DD's squeals echoed everywhere). Luckily it was hot weather so she could walk around in the squares, and the odd church, but I wouldn't recommend in winter w an active 2 year old. Dh and I commented that we wouldn't return w DCs until they are about 7 or 8 years old.

Depends on the toddler. If he is an adventurous wee one who will head straight for the canal every time your back is turned, then it might not be particularly relaxing for you.

Weatherwise it shouldn't be colder than in UK, probably warmer. Ski suit or thermo trousers and he will be fine.

Don't take a bugaboo - take the smallest McClaren there is (the travel one).

Oops, just noticed Franca's post about it being very cold. Is it really? Friends of ours were there in February and said it was cold but fine.

But I suppose that people still take a buggy when they travel with a 2 yr old, regardless of how much time the toddler spends on it. And because Venice is full of steps I suppose a light buggy is the way to go.

Venice is a wonderful place, and there are lots of "campi" not near the canals where a small child can run around.

But January is really too cold to go, imho.

Lindt, I'm Italian, therefore I feel the cold probably more than people from Northern Europe.
January is a cold month. And Venice is humid. Cold + humid makes you feel the cold even more.

(or at least that's the Italian thinking )

Venice is a small town with a shrinking population (and not because children jump into the canals), therefore there aren't many amenities for little ones. I agree that older children might enjoy a holiday there more.

I've been a few times with my dc's and it's one of their favourite places. The youngest was probably 3 the first time we went.

Don't know about January, have only ever been there over the summer, but it was fairly cold in June. Be aware that there are very few public loos, and I can't remember seeing many places to change a baby.

There is a lovely little park with swings etc, on the other side of the canal from the train station though!

Speaking as a local - I have a Bee and its great but I pull the buggy up and over the bridges and I get used to it. If you have a frog or similar then pulling it upbackwards with the big wheels first it is actully mega easy as the wheels are so big.
Yes it can be cold but it can also be fresh and cold ( as well as damp and cold who knows). I would give a gondola a miss to be honest but getting on and off vaporetti ( buses) is simple with abuggy no problems at all - Just watch out with the circular vaporetti ( 41/42, 51/52 ) that the wheels don't get stuck in the gaps of the steps if you go inside.
There are lots of streets that don't have canals as well plus some squares for running . If you are worried take some reins or a wriststrap.
Any other questions just ask. I can be found on Little Italy if I don't see your post.

I was in Venice with a 18 monther in September, and to be quite honest I probably wouldn't recommend it - she loved running away in the direction of the canals and I really couldn't take my eyes off her for one moment. The bridges get exhausting and nobody bar a couple of tourists offered any help with the buggy.

Oh and using public loos to change baby? [hollow laugh] I got the special loo ticket things, only to find several times that said public loos are behind turnstiles and the rather grumpy lady who takes your ticket says no, she won't watch your buggy while you take the baby in. On the upside, I did change DD on the floor of a very very posh restaurant loo, after charming my way past the man on the door!

Accademia not v child friendly as there are a lot of pictures at low levels behind ropes which just tempt little hands. Great acoustic for a paddy though

We spent most of our time outdoors (eg on river boats, she enjoyed that) as churches often manned by not very child friendly people.

Sorry to be a downer, it's just that my holiday ended up being basically the usual toddler duty but without the comforts of our own home and surroundings, and the addition of scary water hazards everywhere.

Nightmare with buggy ime, I came back with massive biceps after a few days in Venice with ds1 aged 1 - all that lifting over bridges. You tend to walk around a lot when sightseeing after all. 2nd half of jan is a good time to go as not too many tourists. I was there last Jan and last Feb and it was magical, with high water. I'd say take long wellies and a baby back pack and have fun!

Oh yes, bunnymother I forgot that the fabled Italian bambino love doesn't extend to providing high chairs, changing rooms etc.

Maybe somewhere else then and keep Venice for DH & me. Madrid? Paris? He does love Madeleine

Thanks for all your feedback.

Barcelona? (has a beach - bit cold in Jan though!) Rome? - get the culture but without the risk of water?

Paris is pretty cold in Jan I think.

Have friends who took 2 yo to Marrakech in Feb last year - loved it! And was warm too.But they are much more adventurous than me!

At least in Paris there are lots of street corner playgrounds. And the childrens section of Le Bon Marche is great, as is a v supervised wander through Deyrolle. You will get priority entry at the Louvre, he cafe of which does have highchairs. Although imagine it is v cold in Jan.

Can I just defend Venice - yes we have water but would you let your toddler run 5 ft in front of you if you were on a busy street with cars say in Paris,London or Rome? NOt every street has a canal on it either !

I honestly really think that Venice is far less dangerous than Rome (or any other Italian city) where people drive as if they were all possessed by Satan (I'm Italian and I can say it ).

There's lots of things that can be done in Venice with children, like taking the ferry and go to Pellestrina, or the lido or Murano, where you can witness people making glass.
Venice is magical (I adore Venice, can't you tell?)

I don't see Venice as being more stressful than other cities with a small toddler. But I'm sure that your ds would appreciate what's on offer when he is a bit older, and can understand the magic of a city without cars and traffic noise and wonderful buildings.

Yes, Franca and Rosa - see what you both mean and you make good points. I live in inner London - another place that people would be nervous to bring a toddler to if they didn't know it!

Food for thought...mmm Italian food.

Oh, I wouldn't hesitate to bring a small child to central London (I adore London !)

Me and rosa have a long list of lovely restaurants in Venice. However, my advise would me to wait for a milder time of the year to visit.

I'm told that Madrid is great with little children. A friend has just visited with her 3 yr old dd and they loved it. They went 2 weeks ago, and while here in northern italy it was rainy and depressing, they had 3 sunny days at 18 degrees!

You've both (Rosa and Franca) been really helpful. I'm going to chat to DH and I may be back with questions at a later date . Especially about restaurants!