How To Do Paris With A Baby

Jordan in Place des Vosges, 2012

The number one question I received after "How was Paris?" is "How was it with a baby?"

In a word: awesome.

Experiencing Paris with a 1-year old allowed us to discover a side of the city we didn't know existed: the gorgeous parks, the famous carousels and the Parisians whose warmth touched our family.

We had taken Jordan to California twice and Cabo San Lucas, both relatively easy flights on which she did quite well.  The challenge of taking her across the pond was a big one and one we considered not doing.  Since my days are full with so many commitments at work, I wanted to spend all my time with her, something I rarely get to do.  Perhaps it's because I'm a relatively new mother but I'm still cherishing every moment with her.  Many mothers tell me they can't wait to get out of town and away from their kids.  I'm sure that time will come but it hasn't hit me...yet.

I also believe in parents living their lives. Want to go to Paris? Do it. It's a healthy selfishness I sense too many parents relinquish once they have kids. The thing is, it usually works out for the kiddos in giving them a worldliness or experiences they wouldn't otherwise have.

Jordan riding the carousel at Parc Monceau

Getting to Paris was easy.  We love to travel with Air France.  We booked business class tickets from DFW to Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport.  Don't judge. I spend money on jewelry and travel. This was an investment, admittedly probably not the most financially smart one, but one that was worth it while traveling with a toddler.  We got through security quickly, had lounge access at every airport and an incredibly easy experience at check-in.  We connected in Atlanta which gave us the chance to break up the flight.  She slept like, well, a baby on the flight to Europe.  Not one issue, only one diaper change and we were pretty fresh when we landed.

Coming back to the states was a different story.  Any time you travel from Europe to the west, you travel into the sun, totally messing with your sleep patterns.  We had "the" screaming baby on the plane for a solid hour.  We had with us ear drops, Benadryl and plenty of Poilâne bread to satiate her. Doing so took time.  We finally got Jordan to sleep and she was okay the majority of the flight. 

Flying with her at this age is almost ideal because lap infants under two years of age are typically free of charge on domestic flights and cost 10% of our ticket price on international ones. Yes.

Under two years of age, kids fly free as lap infants on domestic flights and at significantly reduced rates on international flights.  (Rules cary by carrier)

Air France was wonderful. The flight attendants heated up French baby foods for Jordan, which she didn't really eat. She is fully into whole food and snacked on our meals and the snacks we brought on the plane with us.

Asleep on the return flight....finally

There were some challenges but the fun we had far outweighed them and success overseas with a 13-month old boiled down to a few key things:

• Having a good, quality breakfast
• Attempt the language
• Using a sturdy yet compact umbrella stroller that allowed her to sleep while we walked
• Patience, flexibility and a smile when she threw the inevitable tantrum in a restaurant or on the plane