Rome with toddlers?

[hol92]

I have a 1 year old and 3 year old, has anyone been to Rome with toddlers? We are looking at going in March for 4 nights, just wondered if anyone has been with kids and how it went 😃

It all depends what you’d want to do while in Rome. Will they both be in buggy/buggies? Restaurants will be child friendly.

Won’t they be bored? Rome is a lot of walking and looking at things. Even my teens would be bored with that, but DH and I love it and will walk 25k steps a day. However, I like an easy life so wouldn’t put myself through it. I have friends who took their baby skiing at 8 weeks, it’s just not for me.

We took ours when they were 6, so a fair bit older.

they liked the food. Chocolate and ice cream.
lots of pizza.

the big bendy buses were also popular.

i’m not sure they remember any of the historical sites we went to.

I wouldn’t take children that age on holiday to Rome. What do you anticipate doing with them?

Ugh no, don't do it! Everywhere is cobbled with no pavements and scooters and cars whizzing around corners etc. Even restaurant tables are just at the side of the road there's no pavement. My toddler insisted on walking, but tripped constantly on the cobbles. She had to be contained all the time in the buggy or a high chair, which she hated, but the streets are so narrow and there just wasn't anywhere she could be put down safely. I'm sure some parts would be different but we just weren't able to relax or enjoy it much.

I love Rome, but no.
Wait until they're 8 or 9, and then they'll really enjoy it.

We're off to Rome for 4 nights in March(for the first time) but with older children.

It really isnt great with toddlers. Cobbled streets and very busy. It's somewhere you want to appreciate the major sites, which isn't going to be easy while trying to keep toddlers happy. That's why i've waited till mine are 16 and 11. The 11 year old says she is looking forward to going to the Colluseum but one of the days well will still do the Zoo, so they don't get fed up with just historical sites.

It's very " city" if you get me. All buildings, cobbled streets, it's very busy. Very limited open space. No grass etc. I'm not sure if find it easy with a pram not much for kids there either. I went in June and it was also so hot and just so busy. If you go earlier it may be different. It is stunning though but it's more just looking at buildings really

Okay maybe it’s a bad idea 🙈 haha so the only reason I’m thinking of going is because my husband is going there to watch England v Italy rugby so he said about us all going and making a weekend of it, but think I may be put off now 😂 maybe we will just stay home hahah!

If your husband is going anyway and you’re happy to just let the kids run about in parks, go for food, see if there’s any kid friendly stuff about then go for it. If you want a weekend of culture and proper sight seeing then leave it for at least another 6 or 7 years.

I wouldn't
As others have said, so so busy at any time of year, and cobbled streets that aren't great for buggies
I found the restaurants didn't have much "kids" menus with small-kid sized portions. Not a big deal for older kids as there's plenty of pizza/pasta etc
Didn't see much in the line of playgrounds etc

Bucking the trend, but I took mine when they were 2 and 4, this was 2016 so not recently. The kids can't remember it obviously, but at the time we all enjoyed ourselves, ate lots of gelato and husband and I have happy memories of the trip. The 2 year old was in a ergo baby carrier, the oldest walked everywhere, maybe the odd piggyback. We went to all/most of the main sites; the Vatican, Colosseum, Palatine hill, Spanish steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon and other churches too. I have always loved a city break, have perennial itchy feet when it comes to travel, and found that if we didn't pack the days manically busy then our kids were amazingly portable, for which I am eternally thankful.