When faced with two vastly different options — one being the chance to embark on an extraordinary, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime journey across Europe with your baby, and the other, a far more ordinary evening spent at home watching repeated episodes of a familiar children’s show — the logical and emotionally thrilling choice seems clear. Naturally, most people would select the first option. Although I had previously traveled internationally several times, venturing across countries with an infant in tow revealed itself to be an entirely distinct experience — one filled with both unexpected challenges and beautiful moments of discovery. In the end, my husband and I decided the trip was entirely worth the effort and chaos. Still, if someone had asked us during one of our more trying moments, such as a public meltdown on the bustling streets of Paris, we might have hesitated before answering. Reflecting on that adventure, we now recognize three major missteps that significantly complicated our time in London and Paris — errors that, had we anticipated them, could have made our travels far smoother.
The first and perhaps most impactful mistake was that we failed to plan our itinerary around the needs and natural rhythms of our baby. In ways both subtle and unmistakable, our child effectively became the unspoken leader of our journey. When a well-meaning friend without children volunteered to arrange large parts of our trip, we gratefully accepted — only to later realize that their meticulously crafted plans, though delightful on paper, were not remotely suited to life with a baby. I made the naïve assumption that our little one would effortlessly nap on the go and that we could simply slip away early from dinners to keep his sleep schedule loosely intact. In practice, this proved to be wishful thinking at best. One glaring example stands out: we had excitedly purchased tickets to see a grand London theater production, confident it would add a touch of culture to our stay. The flaw in our plan became immediately clear — theaters are hardly the ideal environment for infants, and we had no readily available babysitter in a foreign city. Inevitably, those coveted tickets went unused. And this wasn’t an isolated case. We forfeited numerous prepaid excursions simply because, at times, what our exhausted baby required more than anything was a quiet, dimly lit space to rest. In hindsight, I wish we had sought out green open spaces, cozy cafés with room for strollers, and baby-friendly attractions rather than battling narrow sidewalks and unforgiving cobblestone streets. In Paris especially, the absence of high chairs in many restaurants, the abundance of stairs, and the stroller-hostile urban design turned each outing into an endurance test. Were I to do it again, I would forgo the stroller altogether — embracing a baby carrier as both a practical and liberating solution.
Our second mistake came from clinging too tightly to the structured routine that worked so well at home. Our baby thrived on a precise daily schedule — consistent nap times, predictable feedings, and a regular bedtime. Naively, I believed we could transport that structure intact across continents. But babies, as it turns out, have no allegiance to carefully color-coded calendars, particularly when they are grappling with jet lag and an unfamiliar environment. The turning point arrived when I surrendered the illusion of control. Instead of timing every moment by the clock, we began to follow our baby’s cues. If he happened to drift off to sleep while nestled in the carrier midafternoon, so be it. If dinner ran late and bedtime was postponed, we accepted it without guilt. By releasing the pressure to adhere to our old routine, we unexpectedly created space for joy and spontaneity. Once I embraced the reality that traveling through Europe with a baby is far more about adapting and surviving than about maintaining rigid structure, the entire experience grew lighter, freer, and significantly more enjoyable.
The third mistake, which in retrospect seems almost inevitable, was our tendency to overcommit. Enthralled by the idea of making the most of our trip, we built an ambitious schedule filled with museum tours, riverside cruises, elaborate dining reservations, and day-long excursions. On paper, it was an itinerary worthy of seasoned travelers. In practice, it became unsustainable almost immediately. Traveling with a baby means operating on their schedule — not yours. By the second day, fatigue had settled in. Our pace was relentless, and our baby’s exhaustion quickly translated into collective exhaustion. Infants do not care that the tickets to iconic landmarks are nonrefundable, nor do they marvel at masterpieces when hunger or discomfort strikes. When our little one reached his limit — whether at a crowded museum or even in front of the Mona Lisa — the outing ended, no matter what. Reflecting on this, I wish we had approached the trip with a less-is-more philosophy: focusing on a few key experiences that truly mattered to us and allowing generous pockets of rest, quiet, and unplanned exploration between them. Traveling with a baby doesn’t mean abandoning the possibility of an amazing time; it simply requires redefining what an amazing time looks like.
Despite the moments of frustration, I harbor no regrets about taking that journey. The memories we created — imperfect, chaotic, and fleeting — are priceless. Admittedly, there were times when the chaos threatened to overshadow the joy, and both the baby and I shared our fair share of emotional breakdowns. Yet, when I recall carrying him through ancient streets, watching him giggle under unfamiliar skies, or holding him close as we sampled pastries at a Parisian café, I realize those fleeting moments are irreplaceable. We will never again experience Europe through the lens of that particular season of our lives — seeing it anew through our baby’s eyes, at that tender age of wonder. Choosing between staying home, cocooned in routine comfort, and stepping out into the unpredictable beauty of travel with all its inconveniences, I would choose the latter every single time. After all, there is incomparable joy in eating a croissant on a sunlit Paris sidewalk with your baby on your hip — even if it means you miss half your planned itinerary along the way.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/bringing-baby-international-trip-to-europe-mistakes-family-2025-11
