Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by admin

Rome with a baby

I’m excited to launch a new topic on the blog: Rome with a baby! Now that I have one, I’m seeing the city in an entirely different light.

In this first post, I’ll share what I’ve learned so far on the basics of navigating the Eternal City with a little one, and as I build up content on the topic, I’ll be sure to link to it.

>>> Pssst. Coming to Rome with a little one? Let me plan your baby-friendly trip to Rome!! <<<

Let’s get straight into Rome with a baby 101.

Is Rome baby friendly?

Possibly the most frustrating answer when you’re looking for a concrete one, but, yes and no. Yes because Italians in general love babies, and no because Rome is an ancient city with a lot of crumbling, bumpy sidewalks, small spaces, and few guarantees of accessibility, which can make getting around with a stroller and a bunch of baby gear tough. Also, some accommodations, like changing tables, are rare.

So, starting with the positives, I think it’s fair to say that Italians, overall, are extremely welcoming to babies. 

When I’m out and about with my daughter, people regularly smile at her, stop to chat to us, exclaim how cute she is, etc. Some days it feels like being with a little celebrity. This seems to be true across age groups – I would say that elderly people are the most effusive when encountering a baby, but teens and even kids also engage with a smile or a comment. 

Now, on to the negatives. In addition to the points about accessibility and poorly maintained walking paths mentioned above, people also regularly park their cars on crosswalks and sidewalks, which is both unsafe and infuriating when you’re pushing a stroller. 

Spaces are small in Rome, and elevators are also non-existent sometimes, further adding to stroller woes. 

To sum up, when you’re visiting Rome with a baby, be prepared to be charmed by how much people love your little person and also frustrated by how hard it can be to get around certain areas.

Breastfeeding in Rome

Before I had a baby, I said I’d never be one of those moms who just breastfeeds anywhere with no covering. Then two things happened: I realized that shields can be really hot and annoying, and then my daughter became dexterous enough to ball and/or lift up the shield, defeating its purpose entirely. 

Now, I nurse discreetly but without a shield, and guess what – no one looks twice or says anything. I’ve breastfed in restaurants, cafes, parks, gelato shops, and even once standing up in an art exhibit (the next level of moming was unlocked with that one). 

Feel free to do what you’re comfortable with, of course, but if you’re a whip-the-boob-out-and-go-for-it mom, it’s fine.

I have not come across any designated breastfeeding areas here, except for one museum that had an easy chair and changing table set up in a little area off the entrance specifically for moms (more of this, please).

Changing diapers in Rome

Along with the bumpy sidewalks, the lack of changing tables in this town is reeeeeally annoying. They aren’t common at all, so you’ll find yourself needing to change on the go.

Just make sure you bring a changing pad and ALWAYS put it down. This has nothing to do with Rome and everything to do with the fact that I recently had to change my daughter in her stroller, and I didn’t put down the pad because I was trying to be quick. Of course, she took the exact moment between when I slipped her dirty diaper off and put the clean one on to have a nice, big pee, soaking herself and the stroller. Rookie mistake.

Dining out with a baby

Babies are welcome at restaurants in Rome, and generally, waitstaff is extremely accommodating with space, strollers and even some occasional screaming.

Highchairs are also available.

My girl won’t take a bottle so I’ve never had to heat one while out and about, but I’d bet that hot water would be provided if you ask.

The only tricky part about having dinner out in Rome with a baby is that most restaurants don’t open for service until later in the evening. Some places open at 7 o’clock, but that’s generally seen as early. Typically, dinner reservations are made between 8 and 9, or even later in the summertime.

If you have a bedtime baby, you might do better to rent accommodation with a kitchen so that you can cook dinner after your little one is asleep.

Don’t worry, foodie fam – I’m currently putting together a list of good places that open early! Feel free to comment below or email me (luggageandlife@gmail.com) and I’ll send it to you while it’s still a work in progress.

Where to get baby necessities in Rome

In need of diapers, wipes, barrier cream, or baby soap? You can find these things at most supermarkets and pharmacies, and also at shops that sell cosmetics and items for household cleaning and personal hygiene. Here are two of those: Acqua e Sapone and Tigotà.

Where to get medicine for a baby in Rome

If you need baby Tylenol, go to a pharmacy and ask for Tachipirina (tah-key-pee-REE-nah), which is paracetamol (called acetaminophen in the US). They may ask you how much your baby weighs in kilograms to get the right dosage, so make sure you know (or that you can calculate it on your phone).

Simethicone gas drops are sold under the name Mylicon. 

Navigating Rome with a stroller

As I have mentioned, getting around Rome with a stroller isn’t always easy.

Unfortunately, ramps are as scarce as fettuccine Alfredo in this town. That is to say that yes, they do exist, but they are not ubiquitous. 

A friend recently showed me how to turn on the accessible mobility option on Google maps. I didn’t know it existed until she showed me, so I’m passing along this golden tidbit for you, in case you didn’t know about it either. 

This function will help you avoid stairs, which are much more common than fettuccine Alfredo.

The best stroller to use in Rome

This is not an easy question to answer, because ideally, you want a stroller with monster-truck wheels to deal with those holy Roman sidewalks, but one that is also lightweight and small to go up and down those holy Roman stairs and into our city’s very tiny elevators. 

Based on the hours of research my husband did before my daughter was born, this stroller does not exist. 

(Business idea: design a stroller with monster-truck wheels that is also lightweight, small, and collapsible and market heavily to Roman parents). 

We opted for a model with the monster-truck wheels, and we have taken it out of the house a grand total of three times. Why, you might ask? Because each wheel weighs approximately 7,000 pounds, and because it is too big to fit out of our apartment door, into our elevator, aaaaaand out of our building’s gate. Even collapsed. 

When the baby was about seven weeks old, we bought a much lighter one that we use every day (and when I say “use” I mean we take it out and our daughter sits in it for about 45 seconds before letting us know in every way possible that she wants to be strapped to one of us in a carrier instead. While essentially ornamental, the stroller is handy for chucking things into). 

It’s probably not top of mind for someone who is visiting Rome to contact their accommodation to find out if their stroller will fit in and out of the elevator and doors in the building, so my advice is this: bring the smallest, lightest stroller you can find (the one we bought isn’t available in the US, but that one is pretty similar). Yes, the wheels might take a beating on the cobblestones, but you’ll be happy that you can maneuver and lift it easily.

I mostly see people walking around town with Yoyos. They are pricey and the wheels are tiny, but you know what else is pricey? Having to order a second stroller that you can actually get out of your house.

The best baby carrier to use in Rome

As you may have gathered from my comment above about our ornamental stroller, we have a barnacle baby who pretty much never wants to be put down. We have cycled through three different carriers in her tiny life. 

She’s five months old now, and I still use a carrier every day after she’s had her 45 seconds of stroller time.

The first carrier was a Koala, which was great for those early days, because it’s soft and cozy. We then shifted to a Baby Bjorn when she got slightly bigger. She loved both, but they did a real number on my back (which was already pretty destroyed by an old injury, pregnancy and labor). 

One day when I was talking to a lactation consultant about my back troubles, she suggested the Ergo Baby, and I can’t thank her enough for it. It turned out that we had one, but I had just forgotten about it. 

I whipped it out of the drawer it was gathering dust in, and we’ve been using it since then for all of our babywearing needs. My back still gets sore on some long days, but overall, it is MILES better than the other carriers we tried, thanks to the waist strap. 

It’s imperative that you bring a carrier to Rome because, crumbling sidewalks and small spaces aside, not all sights allow strollers in, and others make you leave them at the coat check. 

Others still are so crowded that it would probably be a terrible experience to bring one – the Vatican Museums come to mind. The Colosseum allows strollers, but not all areas of it are accessible with one. 

When booking anything, be sure to check websites for details on whether or not your stroller will be welcome!

Save yourself the disappointment of not being able to visit something on your list because you have a stroller in tow, and get yourself a nice structured carrier that will support both the baby and your lower back. 

Taking public transport in Rome with a baby

My baby and I are on public transport a few days a week, and if I’m being honest, it’s not great because elevators and escalators are often out of service or nonexistent, and because there’s lots of overcrowding, especially at rush hour.

There is a website that lists accessibility information for Rome’s public transportation system, but they unfortunately do not update it when maintenance work is being carried out. 

For example, at the metro stop closest to my house, the elevator to get from the street level down to the turnstiles is out of order, but this information isn’t listed on the website. All it says is that the stop has an elevator. 

Here’s more on how to navigate the different public transportation options in Rome with a baby.

Taking the metro with a baby

This is my preferred mode of transport with my daughter, mostly because it’s fast. If she’s howling, at least the ride will be over soon. 

Unfortunately, whether or not the metro station you’re closest to has elevators/escalators and whether or not they will be operating is a total crapshoot, like I said above. You could consider asking your host or hotel reception if there are elevators and if they’re working at the nearest metro before you come so that you can be prepared.

Many stations have escalators, and while it says that you’re not supposed to take strollers on them, sometimes you have to if the lifts are out of order. 

I would strongly advise avoiding the metro at rush hour, because it gets very crowded, which might be overwhelming for a little one.

Pro tip: I always wait at the end of the platform and try to get onto the last car, which is generally less crowded.

Taking the bus with a baby

In my experience, the bus with a baby is the pits. Maybe it’s because I’ve only taken it a few times out of desperation when my daughter has been at the end of her rope, but in general, the bus is slow, bumpy and crowded.

There is an area at the center of the bus that is meant for passengers in wheelchairs and those with strollers. People generally move to allow you to stand there if you have a baby. 

You will have to lift the stroller to get it up into the bus.

Taking the tram with a baby

I don’t mind taking the tram with my daughter, especially if it’s at an off time – generally there’s lots of space and it’s a smoother and faster ride than the bus. 

She likes looking around out the window. There aren’t designated areas for strollers, I don’t believe, but I have generally been able to find space for us to sit or stand and keep the stroller nearby. 

Taking a taxi in Rome with a baby

You may want to have the option to take a taxi during your stay, but you probably don’t want to lug a carseat around.

In Italy, it is legal to take a child under 1.5 meters in height in a taxi or NCC (a private car with a driver or an Uber) without a carseat provided that they sit in the back seat and are accompanied by an adult.

Of course, holding a baby on your lap in the car presents risks, so you’ll have to decide if you’re comfortable with it or not.

Questions about traveling in Rome with a baby? Any topics you’d like me to cover? Let me know in the comments!

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