I recently visted Petra with 3 children under 5. One walking, one in a stroller and one in a backpack. We arrived at the entance at about 9:30am. The entrance fee is 21 JOD per adult and free for children under 5. We walked from the entrance to the start of the siq, a distance of about 500m. A horse ride for 2JOD can be taken for this part of the journey, but not neccessary. The siq is about 1 km long of mainly smooth ground and finishes at the treasury. A horse carriage can be taken for this part of the journey, but once again this is not neccessary. From the treasury to the museum (start of climb to Monastery) is about 2-3 km. We started getting hastled by camel operators not long after the treasury. I am not normaly prone to these gimics, but in this case I was glad that I put the two eldest children on a camel, because the ground soon turned to soft sand which would have rendered the stroller useless. A camel costs 10JOD each way. We went straight to the museum and had a short break before beginning the climb to the Monastery. We put the two eldest children on a donkey for this part of the journey for 5 JOD.
We all walked back down (donkey optional for 5JOD) and had lunch at the museum at about 2pm. We brought our own lunch expecting the prices inside to be outrageous, however they were not that bad. Drinks cost 1JOD and a buffet lunch at the restaurant near the museum cost 10JOD. We then walked back from the museum to the Temple where we had arranged to meet the camel for the return journey back to the Treasury at about 3pm. We were back at the start of the siq at about 4pm and had time to look through the souveneir shop before continuing back to the entrance by about 5pm.
The only toilets are beside the restaurant.

During one of my side trips whilst working in Iraq for the UN Oil For Food organisation I had the pleasure of staying at Petra with a group of fellow Inspectors.

Being Australian it is hard to relate to civilisations this old but I was in awe of the place. Its beauty, size, colour and location was absolutely amazing (although the camel ride was a bit numbing).

Even though we spent three days there it wasn't enough to take in all the sites within this ancient city.

For those of you who are intending to visit Jordan I can only urge you to see for yourself the majestic buildings dug into the mountain sides and the sheer beauty of the place. There is no doubt in my mind that you will enjoy it.

Certainly not to be missed when planning a visit to Jordan. Impressive, fascinating, dramatic, at least worth a two day visit, Petra will keep your mind busy for a long time.

We went to Petra, the old Nabataean Capital, last July and we were fascinated. Sometimes you go with high expectations to a place and when you're finally there...it's disappointing. But not here. Don't be afraid, your expectations will be exceeded.
Of course everyone, or almost everyone, knows what at the end of the Siq (canyon): the Treasury. Yes, I saw "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" too. But anyhow, it's a breathtaking view.
But there's a lot of other things to see: the Roman Theater, the Kings Tombs, the amazing color of the stones etc. So be sure that you stay in Petra for at least one day.
If you are not too lazy you should take the walk up to the High Sacrifice Place. Take the long way up (1,5 h) and the short way down (30 minutes). Believe me, it's easier this way. You will be rewarded with a breathtaking view over Petra. Take enough water with you for this hike!
There aren't a lot of possibilities to buy lunch. The best thing you can do is bring your own food with you and have a picnic in these amazing surroundings. But there are a few places where you can buy a cold soft drink or have a refreshing, hot tea (no kidding, give it a try!). Make sure, that you drink enough. The summers in Jordan are very hot (100°F/40°C and more). And you will walk quite a few miles in Petra. So don't wear sandals or even flip flops. And make sure that you bring a sunglass, a hat and suntan lotion with you. Long trousers and a blouse with long sleeves are also recommended (the Beduins are Muslims and it will protect you against sunburn).
Although it's very hot in the summer I would go to Petra any time again. The summer isn't the peak season in Jordan, so there aren't that much tourists as in the fall (peak season). And the prices for the souvenirs are better, too! Don't forget to haggle with the Beduins (except at the shop with the sandbottles, the prices here are fixed). So if you don't bother about the heat, go to Jordan in the summer.