🇫🇷 Guide to Traveling to France With a Baby and Toddler: The Ultimate Parent's Guide (What to Know Before You Go)
By Little Feet Big Trips
Traveling to France with young children may sound intimidating, but with the right gear, planning, and expectations, it can be one of the most magical family vacations you'll ever take. From stroller-friendly parks to kid-welcoming cafés, France is far more baby- and toddler-friendly than many parents expect.
Below is your complete guide: what to pack, where to stay, how to get around, and the cultural quirks that make traveling with little ones surprisingly smooth.
✈️ Before You Go: Plan for Baby- & Toddler-Friendly Travel Days
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Book flights that align with sleep schedules
Red-eyes are great for U.S. → France routes because long-haul nighttime flights give babies and toddlers a better chance at sleeping.
Choose seats with extra space
Parents typically prefer:
- ✔ Row with bassinet option (request early!)
- ✔ Window + middle seats to contain toddlers
- ✔ Bulkhead seating for more floor play space
🧳 What to Pack for France With a Baby or Toddler
France is stroller-friendly, but you'll want to pack smart. Here's what most families find essential:
Baby + Toddler Travel Essentials
- Lightweight travel stroller (Paris sidewalks can be narrow!) We use the Nuna TRVL and Doona as they are compact for airports and sidewalks
- Baby carrier for navigating busy streets. I like the comfort the Ergobaby Omni Dream offers for me and baby
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Travel sleep setup:
- → Truly a must have is the Slumber Pod. We have utilized this in hotel rooms allowing our baby to get uninterrupted sleep while we go about our routine. It has pockets at top that we use for a monitor and sound machine.
- → Our favorite pack n play is the Babyjorn. At only 13 pounds it is lightweight and fits in my checked bag
- → Portable Sound Machine: I like the simplicity of the Frida Baby 2 in 1 with the nightlight feature.
- → Amazon Basics Blackout Curtain Shade is also a must. This suction cup curtain shade is 50″ x 78″ making it a must have for travel with the unpredictability of how dark the curtains will be for sensitive little ones that need very dark rooms to sleep!
- → Compact changing kit
- → A few favorite snacks
- Sippy cups/straw cups (hard to find in France) - I like the WeeSprout Silicone Baby Cup
- Booster seat or portable high chair - Oxo Tot Perch Booster Seat
🏠 Where to Stay in France With Kids
✔ Apartments are a game changer
Especially with babies and toddlers — separate rooms = better sleep for everyone.
Look for:
- Elevator access (many Paris buildings don't have them! But keep in mind that elevators may be small and not much help!) Having a bike lock in the entryway was extremely helpful for locking up our stroller.
- Crib availability - I was very shocked to find many Airbnbs that had actual toddler sized beds or full sized cribs!
- Nearby parks and playgrounds to get energy out!
- Proximity to transportation
Great family-friendly areas:
Paris:
- Le Marais
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Canal Saint-Martin
- 7th arrondissement (Eiffel Tower area)
🍼 Eating Out With Babies & Toddlers in France
Good news: French culture is extremely family-friendly.
What to expect:
- Most restaurants welcome children
- High chairs exist but are not guaranteed
- French waiters love toddlers and babies
- Mealtimes may be SLOWER — embrace it! Bring snacks and things to do.
Toddler-friendly foods you'll find everywhere:
- Bread (pain)
- Yogurt
- Fruit compotes
- Ham + cheese
- Pasta
- Croissants (your toddler is about to be spoiled)
Silicone Placemat → This portable silicone placemat made eating out stress-free
🚶 Getting Around France With Little Kids
✔ Paris Metro
You can do the metro with a stroller, but not all stations have elevators. Many parents prefer:
- A lightweight stroller, we use the Nuna TRVL and the Doona for baby
- A baby carrier for busy stations, for the metro I wore baby in the Ergobaby Omni Dream Carrier, which made it easier to just carry the Doona down stairs if there was no elevator.
- Walking more than expected (Paris is very walkable)
✔ Trains (TGV + regional trains)
Great for kids!
- Spacious
- Smooth
- Kids under 4 are usually free
- Bring snacks + small toys
✔ Renting a car (outside Paris)
Perfect for Normandy, Loire Valley, Provence, Riviera and Chamonix.
WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat → "If you're renting a car, this is the travel car seat we always bring."
🎡 Best Things to Do in France With Babies & Toddlers
Paris
- Jardin du Luxembourg (incredible playground!)
- Tuileries Garden
- Jardin d'Acclimatation amusement park
- Seine river cruise
- Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
- Carousel near the Eiffel Tower
😴 Baby & Toddler Sleep Tips for France
Sleep can make or break a trip. Here's what works for us: For international flights from the United States to Europe, we try to book an overnight flight on the way there, trying to time it close to the kids' bedtime.
✔ Stick to a flexible routine
Not perfect — just familiar.
✔ Blackout options
Many European curtains aren't very dark.
→ We bring the Amazon Basics Blackout Curtain Shade everywhere.
✔ Bring comfort items
Loveys, books, PJs, bedtime sound.
→ Love the simplicity of the Frida Baby 2 in 1
✔ Recreate home sleep space
Sound machine + portable blackout = magic.
💡 Cultural Tips for Parents
- French people adore well-behaved children
- You'll get smiles, not eye rolls
- Waiters often talk directly to toddlers
- Kids are expected to join everyday life — cafés, museums, markets
France feels like it was designed for family travel.
❤️ Final Thoughts: France With Kids Is a Dream
With stroller-friendly cities, child-loving culture, and endless parks and treats, France is one of the best destinations for traveling with a baby and toddler. Pack smart, slow down, and embrace the relaxed pace — your little ones will love it, and so will you.