By: Shanon Morris
I am a third-culture kid who was born in Taiwan, but raised in the U.S., and ’ve been back to Taipei more than 20 times over the last 30 years. But nothing compared to the experience of traveling to Taipei with a baby, when my husband and I spent four months exploring the city with our daughter in tow.
I was raised by an expat and an immigrant, so my fondest childhood memories were of long-haul plane rides, often toggling between Chicago and Taipei. Determined to keep ties to Taiwan, my mom brought me back to Taipei every year during summer break. For me, it was never really a vacation, but more of a sprint of obligations from paying respects to family, seeing ALL of the Ah-yis (aunties), eating as much as possible, and stocking up on Taiwanese essentials I couldn’t find in the U.S. The combination of the hurriedness of the experience coupled with my mom’s determination to ensure I had cultural ties to my ethnic background always made our annual trips to Taiwan a somewhat stressful experience.
When I got pregnant, I knew I had to find a different way to teach my daughter about her heritage. I’ve only ever known Taiwan from the lens of a child tagging along on someone else’s plans, so the first thing I had to do was to experience it from a different perspective.
When my daughter was nine months old, my husband and I brought her to Taiwan for the first time so we could see what it was like to travel there with a baby. My two cents? Taipei might just be Asia’s most underrated destination for pregnant travelers and new parents. Having spent three months exploring Taipei with our daughter, this is what I learned:
Taipei is built for convenience.
For expecting parents and families traveling to Taipei with a baby, convenience is everything, and Taipei delivers.
- Public Transit: Taipei’s MRT (metro), buses, trains and High-Speed Rail are clean, efficient, air-conditioned, and easy to navigate, with or without a stroller. Elevators are in every station, and surprisingly, it’s the older generation that will selflessly give up their seats for anyone with a baby.
- Taxis & Rideshare: Taxis and Ubers are everywhere, affordable, and save you the headache of parking. Driving is usually the less convenient option unless you thrive in aggressive traffic and enjoy solving tetris to find parking.
- Wellness on Demand: There are 24-hour massage parlors–good for pregnancy, or for late-night relaxation when your baby finally falls asleep. Healthy grab-and-go options like sweet potatoes, tofu, and bento boxes are even available at 7-Elevens, which are on every block.
The only challenge in Taipei while traveling with a baby is finding diapers. Baby wipes and feminine hygiene products are in abundance at any convenience store, but you often need to find specialty baby stores like Akachan Honpo or select large grocery stores like Costco or Carrefour (not every location) to find diapers.
Modern family needs are a priority.
Unlike many cities where parents feel like an afterthought, Taipei makes family needs a government-backed priority. The Taiwanese government mandates nursing rooms in nearly every public building. These aren’t just afterthoughts, but private wings with couches, hot water dispensers, padded changing stations, and sometimes even attendants. Breastfeeding is legally protected and increasingly normalized, even if culturally it’s still seen as a private act. The Taiwanese government also has set up free parent-child play centers in every district in Taipei, providing safe, clean, air-conditioned spaces to play. These spaces are well-patrolled, sanitized on the hour, and have extensive play areas for kids of all ages, some with several stories of activities. Public transportation has easy stroller access, elevators, and the MRT even has designated safety zones for women traveling alone. Traveling to Taipei with a baby is seriously a breeze.
The Culture: Family at the Core
Taiwanese culture is deeply family oriented. Multigenerational households are common, and elders are revered. Filial piety (respecting and caring for elders) is still widely practiced, and multigenerational travel is a growing trend. Children are cherished, but also expected to be quiet in public, which can be tricky with toddlers. There are plenty of options for family-friendly activities (the zoo, parks, play centers) and meals (Din Tai Fung anyone?) to choose from, but there’s an underlying expectation for quietness on busses, MRTs, trains, and other public establishments to be aware of.
One cultural quirk to prepare for: photography. Taiwanese love taking photos, from a thriving professional photography industry for every occasion to elaborate selfie photo booths with curling irons and makeup stations for your use. It’s common to see people, especially tourists, walk around with their phones recording everything in sight. Especially if your child is mixed-race or non-Asian, strangers may approach, touch, or photograph them. While rarely malicious, the lack of consent culture can be jarring. On the flip side, professional family photoshoots here are affordable, polished, and widely available.
Safety, Service, and Wellness
For a crowded city, Taipei is remarkably safe. There is little to no gun violence, women can walk alone at night, and public spaces are well-monitored. That said, mild earthquakes and typhoons are a normal occurrence on the island. The infrastructure has been upgraded to be more structurally sound, but it’s important to understand the climate before you go and have a sense of how to react in case of emergency. Taiwan news apps for English speakers like Focus Taiwan are a useful and reliable source for staying up-to-date with alerts.
Taipei takes pride in its service industry. Hotels in Taipei will go to extraordinary lengths as a baseline to cater to families. Even four star hotels provide bottle warmers, baby beds, etc. without an additional cost. All major hotels in the city have English speaking staff, and five-star hotels often come at a fraction of the price compared to Europe or the U.S. Kids clubs aren’t your typical McDonalds ball pits, but highly sanitized spaces designed with little ones (even infants) in mind that allow the entire family to enjoy luxury experiences from big city excursions, to hot springs getaways.
Pregnancy and postpartum wellness is also a thriving industry. Taiwan’s postpartum “confinement centers” are a $400M market and growing, blending medical care, chef-prepared meals, and 24/7 support. While not every aspect fits Western preferences (newborns often stay in nurseries, not with moms), the investment in maternal care is unmatched.
The Not-So-Perfect Bits
No destination is flawless. Taipei has its quirks that pregnant travelers and new parents should know before arriving:
- Climate: Humid year-round with unpredictable rain and earthquakes. Typhoons are seasonal but worth monitoring.
- Food: Taipei is a foodie paradise, but if you’re strict about clean eating, you’ll need to hunt. Seed oils and added sugars are common in restaurants and popular night markets. Stick to steamed veggies, soups, and fresh market finds.
- Space: Taipei is compact and crowded. If you need wide open spaces, the density may feel overwhelming. Although most indoor spaces and main roads are stroller-friendly, most side streets, picturesque alleyways, and night markets are not. Pack your carrier and avoid being outside on hot, sunny days.
- Medical Culture: Prenatal and birthing care tends to be highly medicalized, with higher rates of intervention than in some Western countries.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re on a babymoon, visiting family, or just exploring, Taipei redefines what it means to travel well during pregnancy or with a baby. It’s a city that pairs spotless infrastructure with unbeatable hospitality, all while honoring family at its core.
For me, bringing my daughter here wasn’t just about convenience or food or service, it was about redefining my relationship with Taiwan and figuring out how to teach my daughter to understand her heritage. This time, I wasn’t just tagging along, but leading the way, by exposing her to new environments, setting boundaries (for both of us), and showing her that Taipei is more than obligation and errands. It’s a city where pregnant women and young families are not only accommodated, but celebrated.
If you’re looking for Asia’s best-kept secret for traveling with a bump or a baby, Taipei deserves a spot at the very top of your list. For detailed how-tos and recommendations, check out Trimester Abroad in Taipei: An Expecting Parent’s Guide, Trimester Abroad in Taipei: A New Parent’s Guide, or the Trimester Abroad in Taipei Bundle.
