I'm working on a trip recap but if you have a specific question, please let me know. I'll be sure to include it while its fresh in my mind.
Oh Baby: Paris!
We spent most of last week enjoying Paris and seeing it a whole new way with a toddler in tow. We had a great time and I'm definitely missing the city of lights but like all good things, our trip came to an end and it's back to work today.
I'm working on a trip recap but if you have a specific question, please let me know. I'll be sure to include it while its fresh in my mind.
I'm working on a trip recap but if you have a specific question, please let me know. I'll be sure to include it while its fresh in my mind.
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I'd like to know how you dealt with naps/bedtime etc. Did you rent a place with a separate bedroom? Thanks :-)
ReplyDeletePS that photo is adorable. She may not remember the awesome trips you've taken her on so far, but you certainly will!!
Generally we try to rent 1 bedroom apartments since it so much better to able to put her to sleep earlier and still enjoy the evening in another room. But on this trip we were staying in a hotel with points so no separate bedroom so I was a bit worried about how we would handle it. As it turns out, the room we got had a huge walk in closet with its own window and plenty of space that was even bigger than her bedroom at home so we put her crib in there and it worked out perfectly.
DeleteOh and to answer your question about naps/bedtime - we sort of role with the punches but leave the first day completely free for jetlag adjustment. Meaning we don't even attempt to stick to a schedule on Day 1 and like us, she seems to mostly adjust to the new time by Day 2. Its never exactly like it is at home but it all works out.
DeleteThat is a great photo!
ReplyDeleteAlso interested in how you handled her sleeping schedule? Did ya'll take a stroller? What about jetlag? Everleigh's on one major mid day nap.. and has never slept in bed with us. We'd love to take her on a major trip.. just think that we'd spend the majority of the time working around her nap than enjoying ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI always worry about sleep the most but as with our prior trips, it only takes about a day to get to a mostly normal schedule. On this trip, she had a later bedtime than usual but still went to bed at a decent hour. In fact, its much easier for her to adjust than for us since she can nap in her stroller whenever she is tired.
DeleteThe #1 tip to adjust faster (and this goes for the whole family) is to get out in the daylight as much as possible that first day. Seeing the sunlight really resets your body clock.
The nap schedule was pretty easy for us since she would normally take one before we went out for the day and then one in the afternoon after we had been out. When happened to be out doing something that coincided with a nap, we just put her stroller back and let her sleep in there. Easy peasy.
Yes, we did take her stroller. We considered bringing our super light fold up one since it would be so much easier in restaurants and on the metro but so glad we brought the Bugaboo since it served as a good place to store our lunch/shopping bags as well as allowed her to sleep when she needed it since it reclined.
In other words- you should totally do it. Believe it not, I enjoyed this trip to Paris just as much as I've enjoyed my previous ones. It's just a different kind of experience but no less wonderful.
Cutest picture ever! Can't wait to read the recap :)
ReplyDeleteKids in tow makes you slow down and see Paris from a different perspective. Did you make it to le jardin d'acclimatation...it spoke to my mommy soul when I took my kids there. Art and gardens and rides and play structures - all mixed together in the most charming way...and bonus, no silly barriers everywhere since they are not a very litigious country. If your kid loses a toe, it's because you or your kid were too stupid to not lose the toe...old school, loved it. And bonus, it's very cheap to get in and half the park requires no tickets. So there are oodles of local parisian kids running around after school and on their breaks. My favorite was the MONSTER splash pad in the middle of the park - and yet again, it's like a snapshot from my childhood - All the kids just stripped down to their undies and jumped in. Hundreds of kids running around in their underwear - my kids didn't know what to do!
ReplyDeleteNo, we never made it to the jardin d'acclimatation but we spent many hours in the other parks. There were so many and it was always great to be able to let her run around and enjoy herself.
DeleteAs you say, the parks are a lot more carefree than they are here. She is still a little too young to roam on them (almost every playground has min age 2 structures which of course she loved to climb but were a little beyond her skills now). I think she mostly enjoyed the open grassy areas to run free - which were everywhere!
How is it traveling with a toddler? Do you feel like you are missing out with baby around? Or is the experience enhanced with a little one?
ReplyDeleteI was talking with some friends the other night and she was mourning not being able to travel Europe and abroad until her kids are grown (her first is only 1). I immediately thought of you and how you travel with your toddler.
It's a totally different kind of experience. When you have a very young child like I do, you definitely miss out on certain things. Like I couldn't spend hours taking in a museum or spend evenings out on the town or leisurely read a magazine on the plane over. But we got to do other things like enjoy the parks and markets more like a local, shop for french baby clothes which is super fun and other little things which is a definite upside. All that to say is that we really enjoyed our trip despite some of the limitations so I would encourage anyone to travel if its important to them.
DeleteShe is dressed just like a little French girl would be. I especially love the anklets.
ReplyDeleteStunning pic!!!
ReplyDeleteI have to show these to my mom, she used to live there in the 70's-- I can't imagine how much it's changed from then to now for her.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fabulous picture!
ReplyDeleteI love this picture. This is a framer. :)
ReplyDeleteAdorable picture and I love you travel with your daughter. Just love it!
ReplyDeletefabulous! can't wait to see the recap, and btw, i asked you a while back if i should take my dlsr when i went. i did, and i got some amazing pictures, so thank you for telling me to take it!
ReplyDeleteb
Glad you took it!
DeleteHi...I am loving your blog and have been following for a long time. My husband, son (4 years old), and I area headed to Paris for a long weekend in July. We will be on the coast of France for one month. Any toddler friendly ideas/places to visit while in Paris! This will be my first trip to Europe and I am thrilled! We are very munch role with the punches type of people! Lori
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading.
DeleteThe #1 most awesome thing about Paris (and I assume other parts of France but can't say first hand) is that there is a wonderful park tucked around every corner. You probably know about the big ones already but there are lots of smaller ones that you just run into. So there is always an opportunity to let your little one out to run around and burn off lots of energy that will get you through the stroller sitting required for shopping or restaurants.
There are also plenty of playgrounds if your toddler is a bit older than mine. Agatha was a little too young to enjoy most of the play structures but I'm sure in a year or two, she will go crazy for them. (The trampolines in the Tulleries seemed pretty amazing!)
The photo is absolutely beautiful!! She just gets prettier!!! I'm so glad you had a great trip!!
ReplyDeleteShe looks like a little french girl..very cute!!!
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