Short answer: The harbour has no railings, so a reins or a firm hand matters more here than most places. The Camel Trail is the genuinely toddler-friendly bit — flat, traffic-free and buggy-suitable. Gulls will take food from a child's hand.
Padstow is lovely with a toddler and has a few specific hazards worth knowing about before you arrive rather than after.
There are no railings around much of the inner harbour. The drop is real and the water is deep at high tide. This catches people out, particularly when the quayside is busy and you're distracted.
Padstow's gulls are genuinely bold and will take food directly from a small child's hand — which is frightening for them even when no harm is done. Eat undercover or with your back to a wall.
The best thing in Padstow with a toddler. Flat, traffic-free, buggy-friendly, and you can turn back whenever you've had enough. Bike trailers and child seats are available from the hire places.
Padstow's older streets are narrow with high kerbs in places. A smaller buggy is genuinely easier than a large travel system here.
Look for places with outdoor seating away from the immediate quayside — you get the harbour without the edge, and more room for a buggy.
Limited in the town itself. Worth using facilities at the beaches — Harlyn and Trevone both have them — before heading into town.
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