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Visiting Rome with Your Kids

Traveling with your kids can be both rewarding and stressful, but the key to a successful trip lies in the planning. The following are some tips and advice for getting the most out of your trip to Rome with your children.

Infants:

1. Most of the streets in Rome's center are paved with uneven cobblestones, so bring a stroller with sturdy wheels. When traveling during the summer months, make sure the stroller has a parasol or some kind of shade for the sun.
2. Besides a stroller, consider bringing a backpack child-carrier. These can be more convenient than strollers, especially if you plan on using public transportation, which is usually packed. Plus, Rome abounds in cars and scooters, so a child in a backpack is less prone to direct exposure to car fume.
3. Items such as diapers, baby food and baby wipes can be found most easily in pharmacies. Some neighborhood convenience stores and supermarkets also carry them.
4. Babies normally suffer less from jetlag than older kids and adults since they usually sleep more and are more adaptable to their immediate surroundings.
5. Keep in mind that most public restrooms in Rome are small and don't have diaper changing facilities, so it's a good idea to do changes at your apartment / hotel before heading out.

Toddlers:

1. Plan nap time in the afternoons because most restaurants in Rome open for dinner around 20.00. If your kids don't rest up before dinner after a long day of site-seeing, they may not make it through dinner.
2. Italians love children and almost all restaurants here are child-friendly. Don't hesitate to ask your waiter to modify standard dishes for your child; ex., "pasta in bianco" (pasta with a bit of olive oil or butter), instead of pasta with sauce.
3. Spend a bit of time each day in your apartment / hotel since a full day of sightseeing might be too exhausting for smaller kids. Give them some play time, bring some of their favorite toys or books.
4. Squares in Rome such as Piazza Navona, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, are great pedestrian-only spaces for kids to explore. Piazza Navona for instance is colored with street acrobats, musicians and live statues.
5. Try to be particularly careful of oncoming scooters when walking with your child in the streets. Many side streets in Rome don't have pedestrian lanes, and scooters can zip by from around a corner when you least expect it.

Older Kids:

1. Perhaps the best way for older kids to get the most out of their trip to Rome is to involve them in the planning stages. Ask for their input when outlining itineraries and about particular places they would like to visit.
2. Prior to the trip, suggest that they do some reading or see some films about Rome. Learning a few basis Italian words or phrases beforehand may also enhance their experience.
3. Suggest that they keep a written and/or photographic journal of their trip, this is something they could share with friends back home.
4. If you're staying in Rome center, it's generally safe to allow older kids to go out by themselves.

The following are some more resources, advice and books on traveling to Rome with your kids:

• Visit Rome with Kids -- An overview of things to keep in mind and sights to see, when you are visiting Rome with kids.

• Children and Rome -- Rome may not be the most ideal place to bring children under 7, writes Stuardt-Mikhail Clarke, but if you do bring kiddies, they will be most welcomed.

• Ancient Rome -- Roman history for kids, from history and art, to food and games.

• Rome with Kids: An Insider's Guide (Rome With Kids) -- By J.M. Pasquesi, book featuring an insider's guide to fun activities, engaging stories, step-by-step tours, and time-saving tips in Italy's Capital.

• Spend the Day in Ancient Rome: Projects and Activities that Bring the Past to Life, Ages 8-12 -- by Linda Honan and Ellen Kosmer, this book transports children to Rome at the peak of its empire.

• Kids Europe Italy Discovery Journal -- by P.L. Byrne, an informative yet fun guide and journal for kids 6 -16 traveling in Italy.

   

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