When someone asks the question ”what is your favorite place you’ve ever visited?” I smile, and without hesitation I give my response… Ireland.
We visited Ireland with our 11 month old son and our friends. This was our first international trip with a baby, and I’m here to tell you that traveling around Ireland with a baby is very easy!
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Transportation in Ireland with Toddlers & Babies
The very best way to ensure you can experience all that the Emerald Isle has to offer, especially if traveling to Ireland with a baby or toddler, is by renting a car. This gives you the freedom to up and go as you please. Just be aware that in Ireland they drive on the other side of the road! This was a major adjustment for us being from the US.
Ireland with Baby Carrier or Stroller
We travel with a lightweight, compact umbrella stroller so it was not much effort to bring, but we mainly used a baby hiking carrier on this trip. We didn’t use the stroller as much because of the terrain in many places we visited. We’re still glad we brought the stroller to Ireland as it was helpful at times as a place to nap or even a seat for eating!
Find out the best countries to travel with toddlers and why traveling Europe with a baby is so rewarding!
6 Tips for Travelling to Ireland with a Baby or Toddler
1. Don’t Stress about Time
Ireland is very much a go-at-your-own-pace kind of family adventure, especially if you have your own rental car.
2. Eating at Restaurants and Pubs with a Baby or Toddler
Most restaurants and pubs offered a ”baby bowl” for young children in Ireland. It would usually consist of mashed potatoes and a cooked vegetable or soup. It isn’t on the menu, but you can always ask! In many cases we found that the baby bowl is free!
3. Changing Diapers in Ireland
Some places in Ireland do not have baby changing areas, so this may need to be done in the car or on the ground. Packing a small blanket or a travel change mat is a good idea.
4. How to Dress Your Baby in Ireland
We found that the Irish weather was constantly changing throughout the day. Dressing in layers is key! For babies and toddlers, it’s best to dress them in too many layers (which can be removed as required). The weather could go from cold, rainy and windy to sunny and warm several times a day! We usually dressed our baby in a snowsuit while out exploring.
5. Baby Essentials in Ireland
Virtually all baby travel essentials and food can be found at stores in the bigger Irish cities, so be sure to stock up before venturing out to the Irish countryside.
6. Getting Around with a Baby or Toddler in Ireland
A baby carrier or hiking backpack carrier will be the best option for exploring with a baby or toddler. See a list of the best baby carriers for travel or our recommended hiking backpack carriers.
For toddlers, we recommend a toddler specific carrier. If you plan to bring a stroller, bring a lightweight travel stroller that will also be good on rough terrain!
The 7 Best Things to do in Ireland with Toddlers or Babies
As one of the best countries to travel with a baby, you’ll discover plenty of family friendly activities in Ireland.
1. Blarney Castle with a Baby or Toddler
We assumed Blarney Castle was just a cheesy touristy area, where people go to kiss a stone and leave. That presumption was so wrong! I recommend planning at least half a day to explore all that Blarney Castle has to offer. The gardens and walks around the area are gorgeous.
If you are visiting Ireland with a toddler, Blarney Castle is a great place to visit since there is plenty of room to let a toddler explore! We really loved the poison garden, but you really have to keep kids away from the plants!
We had our baby in a hiking carrier while we explored. And of course, what trip to Blarney Castle would be complete without kissing the stone?
If you are flying with your baby or toddler, don’t forget to check out our tips for flying with a baby, our best airplane activities for babies and toddlers and these tips on flying with a toddler!
2. Dingle Peninsula with a Baby or Toddler
The Dingle Peninsula was, by far, our favorite part of our holiday in Ireland with a baby. We took a day to drive around Dingle Peninsula and made several stops at ruins and ancient sites. The scenery along the rugged coast is unbelievable, we couldn’t stop hopping out of the car to take pictures of all the sites.
We stopped at Inch beach before driving west around the Dingle Peninsula, leaving plenty of time to stop along the way to explore: the beehive huts, ruins, ogham stones, old forts, beaches, and many opportunities to count sheep! We used this self-guided tour and went at our own pace.
Ireland Family Photoshoot
A family photoshoot is an excellent way to preserve memories from your trip to Ireland! Get $25 off your first Flytographer photo shoot.
3. Kilkenny Castle with a Baby or Toddler
If you like Irish history and exploring castles then you’ll want to make a stop here. We used the baby carrier for touring inside Kilkenny Castle, but there is plenty of beautiful outdoor space for toddlers to run around – making it another great place to visit in Ireland with a toddler. There is also a fairly new playground at the Castle Park on the property for toddlers to play.
If touring the Kilkenny Castle, tickets are fairly inexpensive at 8€ for adults, and children over 6 years old are 4€. The town of Kilkenny is cute to walk around as well.
4. Doolin Cave with a Baby or Toddler
This is definitely for the adventurous momma and you’ll need the hiking carrier for this one. We visited Ireland with another couple, and while the men went golfing at Lahinch, the girls visited the Doolin Cave!
The Doolin cave is home to the great Stalactite, which is the longest free-hanging stalactite in the Northern Hemisphere! We called ahead and made sure it was okay to do the Doolin cave tour with a baby in a hiking carrier.
You need to be in somewhat decent shape to be able to ascend and descend the steps in the Coolin cave with the weight of the baby in the carrier, it’s quite the workout! It really was a fun adventure!
Don’t miss all our best tips on hiking with a baby.
5. Kylemore Abbey with a Baby or Toddler
Kylemore Abbey was not originally on our itinerary but decided to take the extra time to visit. I’m so glad we did! We were lucky to have a sunny, warm weather day. I’d definitely recommend going to Kylemore Abbey when it is warm to be able to fully enjoy the outdoors!
The Kylemore Abbey was originally a castle, and now the Benedictine order of nuns own and use the property. You can tour parts of the Abbey as well as the church and woodland walking paths.
The best part of this place was the walled Victorian Garden! The pathways are mostly gravel, so depending on your stroller, you may want to use a baby carrier. There are several cafés on site with kids activities and play areas.
6. Cliffs of Moher with a Baby or Toddler
The Cliffs of Moher is definitely a MUST SEE when visiting Ireland, even if you are traveling with toddlers or a baby. I would plan at about two hours to explore the area. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to spot interesting wildlife, such as puffins!
There are plenty of paved walkways around the viewing sites, making it easy to use a stroller at the Cliffs of Moher with a toddler or baby. The visitor center has some activities and information, as well as a family friendly café and diaper changing station.
Tickets at the entrance are 8€, however if you book online, you can save 50%. Children under 16 are free!
Love hiking with your kids? See the best baby-friendly and toddler hikes around the world or the best family-friendly hikes in the USA.
7. Dublin – Guinness Storehouse Tour with a Toddler or Baby
Our family trip to Ireland ended in Dublin, and we didn’t have much time to explore. We chose to do the Guinness Storehouse Tour. The tour is go-at-your-own-pace, which is great for families traveling to Ireland with kids. We enjoyed learning about the history of Guinness and process of making beer.
At the end of the Guinness Storehouse tour you can use your “free pint” ticket at the Gravity Bar, which is included with admission, to have any beer you choose! The Gravity Bar has excellent views of Dublin and a great place to kick back. We used the baby carrier for this experience, but the stroller would have been just as fine!
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This post was written & edited by:
The Flying Hens
We are the Henard family, aka “The Flying Hens.” Mr. Hen is a pilot for a major airline and we are able to use those flight benefits to travel the world with our children. We love to share our stories of adventures near and far.
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.