On our most recent trip to Europe we spent four days exploring Paris. We’ve been to Paris before and we love the city, particularity its delicious food, rich coffee and beautiful architecture. Because of this, we decided to make another trip to Paris while we were in the neighbourhood. But, what we failed to notice on previous trips was that Paris is not very baby friendly (likely due to the fact that we didn’t have a baby at the time!). Don’t get us wrong. We’re NOT saying that if you have a baby you shouldn’t go to Paris. We think everyone should visit Paris – at least once in their life. However, if you are planning a trip to Paris with a baby, here are a few things you should know. The Paris Métro, a.k.a. the Métropolitain, is one of the densest Metro networks in the world. The first time we visited the city, we took the Metro everywhere. It was the most efficient and cost effective way to see the sites. On this recent trip, we assumed much of the same – we would take Baby B on the Metro.
No brainer – right?It didn’t take long to realize it was going to be difficult getting in and out of the stations with our baby stroller. Very few Metro stations had elevators and if they did they were rarely working, so we had to lug the stroller up and down several flights of stairs. Tip #1: Bring a baby carrier for the Metro – ditch the stroller The stairs were difficult enough (sometimes 50+ stairs), but the most annoying part of the process was passing through the turn styles. Often they weren’t big enough for a stroller, so we needed to unpack the stroller, fold it up and carry it through. This is no easy task with a squirmy baby and his baby travel gear. And if they did have a turn style big enough to fit a stroller, we needed to be buzzed through by an attendant that clearly hates his job. At one point, Baby B was actually stuck on the opposite side of the turn style – with us on the wrong side and no way to get to him! The whole process was ridiculous.
After the second day, we ditched the stroller and used our Ergo Baby Carrier instead. In North America, it’s common for all restaurants to offer high chairs to families. In Paris, we only managed to find a high chair once. We ate in a number of restaurants in different parts of the city, and each time we asked for a high chair we were told they didn’t have one. Tip #2: Bring a portable high chair – you’ll need it Most times we kept Baby B in his stroller, but other times (when we ditched the stroller because we knew we’d be using the Metro) it was extremely handy to have our My Little Seat Infant Travel High Chair. It folds up small, fits in a diaper bag and works on almost all chairs. It was a life saver in Paris. Traditionally, hotels rooms in Europe are small, at least when compared to North American hotels. But in Paris, they are extremely small. Add a crib to the mix and there is literally no room to move, let alone space for baby to crawl around and stretch his legs.
We spent a long time searching before deciding on our Paris accommodations. We booked a triple room with hopes that it would provide more space for a crib. We did manage to get the crib in the room but just barely! And it took some rearranging to fit our luggage in the room and we had to leave our stroller and car seat in the hallway! Tip #3: After booking, call the hotel and request a crib and a larger room. Hotels will usually accommodate if they know you’re traveling with an infant. Paris is a fabulous city, worthy of every European itinerary. But if you are traveling with a baby, make sure you bring a baby carrier, a portable high chair, and try to find a hotel within your budget that offers larger rooms with cribs. It will certainly take away some of the stress that comes with baby travel. Have you traveled to Paris with an infant? Do you have any travel tips or advice? Share your experience and feedback in the comments section below!Our Engineering Lab rated 28 high chairs on how easy they are to use, store, and clean and how well they stand up to wear and tear — and these winners came out on top.
How We Tested: First we made sure chairs complied with national safety standards. Then we compared assembly time, design, seat comfort, and more. We dropped trays at least three times, and stains like pasta sauce sat for two hours before cleaning. Monopoly Just Got Rid of the Thimble Britax Recalls 700,000+ Faulty Strollers After Infant Injury Reports Children's Items & Toys Meet Riley, the Ridiculously Cute New Gerber Baby BabyBjorn Bouncer Balance Soft The Best Toys to Buy Your Kids Toys R Us Recalls Tonka Truck After It Goes on Fire and Explodes The 10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2016 Have Been Revealed HighchairsHighchairs safely seat your baby at meal times. By placing the highchair at the family table – at the same level as everyone else – you also help develop your baby’s eating and social skills. Our highchairs are designed with rounded edges, a wide, stable base and a safety belt.The 20 Best High Chairs for Every Style of Family Whether you want a high chair that's sleek or one that has all the bells and whistles, these are the best high chairs to choose from.
Choosing a high chair can seem incredibly daunting, especially with so many to choose from. Here are some of the best high chairs available, with some tips from experts who are in the trenches of parenthood -- flying peas and all."The high chair will be one of your most heavily used and messiest items, so choosing one that saves you time every time you use it is important," says Chad Carter, the co-founder and editor of Dads Who Diaper, an online resource for parents. "Look for a seat that's made of a continuous piece of plastic or cloth, which eliminates places for food to hide. Also, look for high chairs that have removable components for deep cleaning."Another thing to consider is the chair's ease of use. "Find one that you like, that's not too heavy and that's easy to pull the tray on and off with one hand," shares Anna Lane, the creator of Misadventures in Motherhood. "You don't realize the value of the one-handed operation until you have a child, but trust me, it's a necessary feature."
Keeping in those tips in mind, check out these top 20 picks.For Families Who Need Room Stokke Tripp Trapp ChairA high chair that pulls right up to your kitchen table is the perfect way to save space in your kitchen, so try the minimalist Tripp Trapp Chair, which grows with your child. Fisher-Price Space Saver High ChairYou'll find all the functionality of a full-size high chair in the Space Saver High Chair, but in a version that fits right on one of your kitchen chairs. Chicco Polly Double-Pad High ChairFold the Polly Double-Pad High Chair up when it isn't it use -- it has a super slim eight-inch profile that you can easily tuck away in a closet. Mamas and Papas Pixi High ChairThe Pixi High Chair easily folds up and just as easily unfolds when your little one is ready to eat. Evenflo Convertible 3-in-1 High ChairIf you put longer legs on your favorite booster seat, you'd get this Convertible 3-in-1 High Chair that is great for small kitchens.For Families Who Love Modern Design Ikea Antilop Highchair With TrayYou can't get much cleaner or simpler than the Antilop Highchair with Tray that leaves the frills at the door and goes strictly modern.
Babyhome Taste High ChairThere's something so chic about the babyhome Taste High Chair that seems to just float above the ground. It's certainly one of the best high chairs for modern families. OXO Tot Sprout High ChairCombining wood with a bright pop of color and sleek, simple design, the Tot Sprout High Chair from kitchen brand OXO is a can't-miss. BabyBjorn High ChairAvailable in both white and red, the modern BabyBjorn High Chair is good looking and functional, as well as easy to clean. Phil & Teds Poppy High ChairThe Poppy High Chair looks like it walked straight out of the future and into your kitchen with extra-long legs and mod-style seat.For Families Who Want to Splurge Fresco Chrome High ChairNot only is the Fresco Chrome High Chair gorgeous and modern, but it's the highest baby high chair in the world. Peg Perego Tatamia High ChairThe Tatamia High Chair rivals any other piece of furniture you have in your home and is available in four pretty leatherette colors. Posh Tots Sleigh High ChairWhen you're looking for a serious splurge, this elegant hand-carved Sleigh High Chair is the way to go.
Joovy HiLo High ChairWith a cool modern design, the HiLo High Chair looks like anything but baby gear, and grows with your child. Newport Cottages Provincial High ChairA high chair that looks like it is fit for the Royal Baby herself, the design of the Newport Cottages Provincial High Chair is a classic style at a high price point.For Families Who Are On-the-Go Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster SeatThe ultimate in travel high chairs, you can fold the Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat down into a smaller travel-size high chair to keep in your car. Chicco PocketSnack Booster SeatThe PocketSnack Booster Seat has a ton of options, like three adjustable heights, and it comes in the best colors available for an on-the-go high chair. Foundations Secure Sitter Tip and Slip-Proof Feeding ChairThe Secure Sitter Tip and Slip-Proof Feeding Chair is a simple, easy-to-clean high chair that you can take with you on vacation without having to worry about clean-up. Ciao Baby Portable High ChairPerfect for families who love to camp or spend time outside, the Ciao Baby Portable High Chair will make being on-the-go with your baby easy.