Where to buy baby items in Rome: learn where to source baby and toddler essentials while traveling in Rome with your family so you can pack light and have all you need.
One of the biggest worries for parents planning to visit Rome with a baby is finding baby essentials once in the city.
Rome is a large European capital, so you know you will find all the baby items you may need and more.
However, if this is your first trip to Rome, you may wonder where to find baby supplies in the center, what baby brands are avaiable and how easy it will be to find the right shops.
In this guide, I try to answer all this and more.
I am a Rome mama: I have two children and have bought more baby gear and toddler essentials in Rome than I can remember!
These tips are based on my knowledge and experience as a mama in Rome.
In this guide about buying baby essentials in Rome, we look at:
• Where to buy diapers in Rome, including brands and swimming diapers
• Where to buy formula in Rome
• Where to buy weaning products in Rome
• Where to buy toddlers’ snacks in Rome
• Where to buy dummies, teethers, and bay toiletries in Rome
• Where to buy baby medications
• where to buy breastfeeding essentials
• Where to get (buy or rent) a baby car seat
• Where to get (buy or rent) a stroller/pushchair
• Baby shops and baby stores in Rome
Where to buy baby items in Rome at a glance
In general, you can buy baby essentials in Rome in the following shops: supermarkets, mini markets, indoor markets, pharmacies, and baby stores.
Supermarkets in Rome – the best place to buy daily essentials for baby in Rome
Rome supermarkets carry big distribution brands for items such as diapers, weaning products, baby toiletries, occasionally dummies etc.
Depending on the size of the individual store, you may have a full aisle of baby products or a smaller section of the personal care aisle with essentials such as diapers, baby shampoo etc.
Supermarkets in Rome and Italy in general come in many sizes.
Some are very big and very well stocked, while others only have a limited selection and may remind you more of a good convenience store than a supermarket like those back home (I am think of supermarkets in the US specifically, often much bigger than those in Rome city center).
However, they are easy to find and since they cater to locals, you know you will find all the daily essentials you may need.
The best way to find a supermarket neat you in Rome is to use Google Maps, find your area and type ‘grocery stores’ – they will come up with exact location and opening hours although be careful as the opening hours are often unreliable.
Supermarket chains you commonly find in Rome include:
- Carrefour
- Conad
- GS
- Lidl
- Coop
- Pam
Need to know: supermarkets in Rome and Italy do not sell medicines, not even baby paracetamol or eye drops. For those, who need a pharmacy instead (see below)
Indoor markets
Rome has many indoor markets (mercati rionali) selling grocery and household items, including baby diapers.
Compared with supermarkets, the choice in market shops is likely to be more limited However, if you have a market neat you, it can be a handy solution.
Pharmacies – for baby medications and accessories
pharmacies are one of the best places to buy baby items in Rome and the only place where you can also find baby medications.
Pharmacies have baby medicines and remedies, formula, specialized baby, diapers, baby toiletries, baby wipes, and breastfeeding essentials.
Pharmacies are easy to find, and they are excellent for high-quality items, including some natural remedies.
You easily recognise them by the green cross outside.
They are more expensive than supermarkets, and they often have only a limited selection of basic items such as diapers as they are more selective with their brands.
However, they operate in shifts and some stay open 24h, which means they are excellent solutions in an emergency.
Pharmacies are everywhere in Rome but there are two that I find particularly convenient for visitors, due to their location and large stock:
- The Pharmacy on Piazza Barberini, in front of the Triton’s Fountain (Trevi neighborhood)
- The Pharmacy beside the Senate, on Corso Rinascimento (Navona neighborhood)
Baby stores – the best place to buy bigger baby items in Rome
Specialized baby stores are what you need is you are searching for items such as car seats, strollers, sleeping machines etc.
Baby stores come in all shapes and sizes: some are independent shops and some belong to larger companies.
The biggest shops are often outside of the city center, however, there are some that are only a short taxi hop from the city center if you are in need of a quick purchase.
A handy shop you can reach from the city center is the Chicco Store on Via Gregorio VII
Another well located shop is Binbin store – smaller shop in the Prati neighborhood, not far from the Vatican. It can be handy to contact them on whattsapp before going to make sure they stock what you need.
Well-known baby stores in Rome, should you need a wider selection or should you live in Rome and need to set up your full nursery are:
- Chicco
- Prenatal
- Bi di Bimbo
- Bimbo Store
Where to buy diapers in Rome
Diapers in Rome are sold in supermarkets, minimarkets and pharmacies.
Diaper brands you can commonly find in Rome include:
- Pampers – serval types such as Pampers Baby Dry, Pampers Sole e Luna, Pampers Progressi
- Huggies – serval types such as Huggies extra care, Huggies extra comfort, Ultra comfort mutandina, swimmers
- Supermarkets own brand: Lupilu (Lidl), Carrefour, Coop, Conad, etc
Diapers in Rome come in sizes from 0 (newborn) and up to about 30 Kilograms (66.1387 lb).
Please note: exact sizing depends on the specific brand and model – always check the sizing chart on the back of the packet.
Usually, in the same shop section as diapers, you will also find baby wipes, diaper rash cream, baby powder and disposable diaper bags.
Italian words that may be useful when buying baby diapers in Rome:
- Diaper / nappy = Pannolino
- Pull up diaper / pull up nappy = Pannolino mutandina / mutandino / mutandini
- Swimming nappies = pannolini piscina / pannolini nuoto / swimmers (see in the photo above, top left, the swimming diapers with the name ‘swimmers’). This photo is from a small, local supermarket in Rome.
On top of these commonly found diapers brands in Rome, you can also buy additional brands on Amazon.it
These include Eco by Naty diapers, which are plastic free and not as easy to source in brick and mortar shops.
Where to buy baby formula in Rome
In Rome, you can buy baby formula in supermarkets and pharmacies.
Common types of baby formula you can find in Rome include (in alphabetical order):
- Aptamil
- Hipp
- Humana
- Mellin
- Nestle Nidina
- Plasmon
Good to know: if you are looking for specialized brands or milk free formula, it is a good idea to ask in pharmacies. They tend to have more tailored brands while supermarkets tend to only carry big distribution items.
In Italian, baby formula is called latte artificiale or also latte in polvere per neonati.
Where to buy baby food and weaning products in Rome
Weaning products in Rome are available in supermarkets and pharmacies.
They include purees, powdered food, small pasta, baby porridge and more.
Compared with abroad, I have noticed glass jars are more common than baby pouches, although pouches are available especially for fruit.
I find Italy has a much bigger selections of weaning meats than anywhere else I have been; however, I have also notices there is less variety when it comes to vegetable pouches – jars seem much more common!
Common weaning product brands you will find in Rome are:
• Hero
• Hipp
• Umana
• Mellin
• Nipiol
• Plasmon
Useful Italian words when buying weaning for babies and toddlers in Rome:
- Baby puree = omogeneizzato
- Organic: biologioco / bio
- Manzo = beef
- Turkey = tacchino
- Chicken = pollo
- Vegetables = verdura
Top tip! if you need help to grocery shop in Italian, you can find here >>> my Italian / English bilingual grocery shops list (printable)
In the same supermarket section as baby purees, you also find baby pasta, baby porridge, formula, etc.
Where to buy toddler’s snacks in Rome
Before I tell you where to find toddler snacks in Rome, I want to address a misconception: the idea that Italians do not snack and that therefore you will not find toddler snacks in Rome.
This is nonsense!
Italians have a different approach to snacking than other cultures but the idea that we can go through toddlerhood without food in between main meals makes no sense: of course, we give snacks to our kids.
However, we tend to reach out for foods that may not be what you are used to and this may be where the misconceptions came from.
The types of baby and toddler snacks you find in Rome are:
- Rice cakes and galettes (gallette di miso / tortine di riso)
- Fruit
- Fruit pouches
- Yogurt
- Pizza (the one you buy at the bakery, not the round one you get for dinner)
- Bread
- Crackers
- Breadsticks
- Ciambellone
- Baby biscuits (plasmon, gentilini etc)
- Formaggini (soft cheese)
Good to know: one of the most common places to get something for toddlers to munch on, is the deli counter at the supermarkets and the breakfast aisle. The deli counter usually has a large selection of bread, focaccia, mini pizzas and other baked products that are fresh and ok for toddlers. The breakfast aisle is where you find biscuits including baby ones (gentilini, novellini, and plasmon are among the most popular for little kids.
Where to buy breastfeeding essentials in Rome
In Rome, you buy breastfeeding essentials in pharmacies and baby stores.
Pharmacies normally carry breastfeeding pads and creams and can usually source breast pumps if you place an order for them as well as breastmilk freezing bags etc.
However, some pharmacies are better equipped than others with baby gear, and you may have better luck in baby stores, where you will also find bottles, containers, replacement parts, muslin cloths etc.
Where to buy baby clothes in Rome
Baby clothes are readily available in department stores, high street stores and baby boutiques.
Shops selling baby clothing you can find in several locations in Rome are:
- OVS – department stores with clothes including baby clothes (line fagottino = small bundle), inexpensive. A handy one is on Via del Tritone, close to the Spanish Steps and Trevi
- Upim – department stores with clothes including baby clothes, inexpensive. A central one is on Via del Tritone and another one close to Termini Station, in front of Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
- Original Marines
- Zara Kids
- H&M Kids
- Du Pareil Au meme
- Chicco
- Prenatal
You can also find many baby boutiques and independent shops both in the center and in residential areas.
Where to get car seats in Rome
If you need to source a baby car seat while in Rome, you can:
Buy a car seat in a children’s store – if you use google maps, you can search for a Chicco Store or Prenatal near you
Rent a car seat – if you do not need to buy one, you can try to rent one locally. A good company that covers several locations in Rome is called Babonbo.
In Italian, Baby car seat is ovetto (baby seat but lit little egg), or the general category is called seggiolino auto. You may also see the term navicella, which is specific for the newborn baby seat that lies flat.
Where to get a stroller in Rome
If you need to source a stroller, pram or pushchair while in Rome, you can:
Buy a car seat in a children’s store – if you use google maps, you can search for a Chicco Store or Prenatal near you
Rent a car seat – if you do not need to buy one, you can try to rent one locally. A good company that covers several locations in Rome is called Babonbo.
Useful Italian words should you need to source a stroller are:
- Pushchair / buggy / Stroller = passeggino
- Baby pram in Italian = carrozzina.
- A baby travel system in Italian is called trio.
I hope you found this overview of where to buy baby products in Rome useful and that it helps you set your mind at ease for your first trip to Rome with children. Safe travels!
Additional resources for enjoying Rome with a baby
Visiting Rome with a baby – essential guide
The best baby friendly hotels in Rome
Where to buy baby items in Rome – pin this!
