Rome with a toddler - a documentary family travel story


Travelling to Rome with a toddler is not something most people describe as relaxing, but it was one of our favourite trips as a family. We visited Rome with our 18 month old and approached it slowly, documenting real moments rather than trying to see everything. This post is a documentary family travel story about navigating flights, heat, food and long walks through Rome with a toddler in tow.


Rome with an 18 month old felt like a bold choice. Busy, hot, loud, full of people and history and steps everywhere. But it’s also full of life, and that’s exactly what I wanted to photograph.


Flying to Rome with a toddler


The flight was actually fine. Better than fine, honestly. It’s short, which helps, and we went armed with snacks, snacks and more snacks. A few books, a few distractions, a lot of sharing food and suddenly we were there. I went in expecting chaos and got calm. A good reminder that sometimes the worry beforehand is worse than the thing itself.


The heat though. The heat was real.

Empty outdoor cafe tables with orange chairs and umbrellas line a charming cobblestone street in a European city.
A person in red stands outside an Italian storefront with wooden shutters and warm lighting at dusk.
A panoramic view of an outdoor book market stall with shelves of books under a canopy in a natural setting.
A sequence of photos showing someone in mint green shorts taking pictures against a rustic stone wall with photos displayed.
A small child sits on the floor playing with a green toy while others relax in the background.
Outdoor art vendor stalls with postcards and prints displayed under shady trees on a sunny day.

Rome with an 18 month old


One day it nudged close to 40 degrees and you could feel it radiating off the pavements. Percy was sweaty, we were all sweaty, everyone was shiny. It’s probably not a city I’d rush back to in August with a toddler, if I’m being completely honest. We went in October before and it was much more bearable. But even with the heat, it was still beautiful. Slower, yes. More breaks. More shade hunting. But still lovely in that hazy, sun soaked way.


We lived on pizza, pasta and coffee. Proper coffee. The kind that makes you wonder why you ever drink it anywhere else. There’s something very comforting about food in Italy, especially when travelling with a small child. Simple dishes, no fuss, eaten late, often standing or squeezed around tiny tables. Percy was more than happy with endless bits of pizza and pasta, and so were we. We walked everywhere. And I mean everywhere. We didn't bother with public transport.

A baby in red is playfully lifted in front of the historic Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy.
A couple walks hand in hand down a charming cobblestone street lined with historic buildings in a European city.
Child sips from a glass while sitting at a restaurant counter with multiple beverage glasses visible.

Is Rome with a toddler a good idea?


I forgot just how walkable Rome is until you’re pushing a buggy down cobbled streets and then watching your toddler insist on walking it himself. He did so much walking. Tiny legs keeping up, stopping to point at scooters, fountains, dogs, pigeons. We slowed down naturally, because you have to. You don’t rush a toddler through a city like Rome. You let them set the pace, and in doing that you notice more.


The looks he got were one of my favourite parts.


Little old ladies, proper Roman Nonnas, stopping to smile at him, chat to him, touch his cheeks, tell him how 'Bellisimo' he was. Language didn’t matter. There’s something incredibly soft about watching strangers show such warmth to your child, especially in a city that can feel so grand and overwhelming.

Narrow cobblestone street with historic buildings and lush greenery in Rome's charming Trastevere neighborhood.

This trip wasn’t about ticking off landmarks. We saw them, of course, but mostly in passing. A corner of a building here, a glimpse of something ancient there. What mattered more were the moments in between. Him walking ahead of us down a sunlit street. The way he clutched his dummies. The way the light fell in the afternoons. The quiet moments inside cafés when the noise dropped for a second.


That’s always what draws me to family photography. Not perfection. Not posed moments. Just real life unfolding. Travelling with a toddler strips everything back. You carry more. You plan less. You react more. And in doing that, you end up with memories that feel honest and full. Rome gave us that, even in the heat, even with tired legs.


These photos aren’t a guide to Rome. They’re just our little story of it.

Narrow cobblestone street with yellow buildings and street signs in an old Italian neighborhood.
A young child with blonde hair drinks from a straw while sitting near a fountain in a European city plaza.
A baby in a striped shirt eats at a restaurant table with a partially eaten pizza slice on a checkered tablecloth.
A panoramic sequence of Rome's skyline viewed from an elevated vantage point with a blurred foreground object.
Three sequential photos show a toy figure jumping off a stone bench against the backdrop of Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome.
A joyful moment captured in a sunny park as a parent lifts a laughing baby high into the air on a warm afternoon.
Someone enjoying a sunny outdoor meal at a wooden picnic table under a white umbrella with purple flowers in the background.
A child plays on a wooden deck patio with green umbrellas and outdoor furniture at a restaurant or cafe.
A caregiver helps a child get situated in an adaptive mobility device with blue and yellow components outdoors.