Planning your first trip with a baby? Or maybe you’ve done it, survived, and are now wondering how to make it *less* like a marathon? We took our twins to their first hotel when they were 3 months old to Solvang, CA and it definitely felt like quite an adventure. Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, hotel travel with a baby is a whole new adventure. Spoiler: there’s more to it than just stuffing diapers in a suitcase! In this blog post, discover our 7 valuable tips for a hotel stay with baby, making hotel travel as smooth as possible!
1. Bring Painter’s Tape!
Hotel rooms aren’t exactly baby-proofed, but a simple roll of painter’s tape can work wonders! It’s easy to pack, won’t damage anything, and can help you make the room safer for your little explorer.
Start by taping over any electrical outlets to keep tiny fingers out. You can also use tape to secure loose cords or wires that your baby might pull on. If there are sharp corners on furniture or pointy drawer handles, put a few layers of tape over the ends and edges for some cushion.
If there are drawers or cabinets at baby level, painter’s tape can help keep them closed! It’s a quick and easy way to turn any hotel room into a safer space for your baby.
2. Blackout Room
Trying to get a baby to sleep in a bright hotel room can be tricky! To create the perfect sleeping environment, make the room as dark as possible. Many hotels have blackout curtains, but if they don’t quite do the job, here’s a quick hack: pack a few clothespins or clips to close any gaps between the curtains. You could also bring contractor bags and painters tape to have even more coverage.
If the room still isn’t dark enough, use blankets or towels to cover windows or other light sources like glowing clocks. A dark room helps your baby settle into sleep more easily, blocking out distractions and making it feel more like bedtime. And remember, the darker the room, the better chance you have at getting some extra sleep too!
We love our Slumber Pods!! We bought them to use for a trial run once because I fell into an Instagram ad trap, but since using them we’ve never looked back! It feels like your baby has their own little nested area to sleep and it also allows us to turn on the room lights at night so we don’t have to forage around and sit in darkness all night once the boys go to sleep at 7:30 pm.
3. Clean/Sanitize Room
Bring lots of wipes to wipe down the floors, cabinets, chair legs, all of the things! Our boys love to lick everything from the refrigerator door to trash cans to table legs so we make sure to get down on the floor and wipe down as much as we can.
4. Create a Play/Crawl Area
A hotel room might not seem like the best playground, but with a little creativity, you can make it work! Start by choosing a corner of the room to set up your baby’s “play zone.” Lay down a blanket or a large towel to give them a clean, soft space to play on. We like to bring a spare bedsheet to lay down on the ground so the twins can play around and crawl, or do tummy time. You could always ask the hotel for extra sheets, but we just like to bring a clean one from home.
Bring a few favorite toys from home to keep them entertained, but don’t go overboard—just a couple of small items will do. Our boys love their fidget spinners and they’re great for suctioning onto the hotel dressers. Painter’s tape is great here for taping the dresser doors shut while your baby plays.
You can also get creative with what’s in the room! Pillows make great soft barriers, and a desk chair can be turned into a mini tunnel for crawling.
This setup will help your baby feel comfortable and give you some peace while they play!
5. White noise
The white noise machine is your new best friend for travel.
White noise machines help drown out unexpected noises, like slamming doors or chatty neighbors, so your baby can sleep more peacefully. Plus, the sound is familiar and soothing, which can make a strange hotel room feel more like home. Trust me, when you’re traveling, anything that helps your baby sleep better is worth its weight in gold!
Another good idea for loud neighbors is a towel covering the crack under the door to help muffle out any unwanted sounds!
6. Diaper Tips
First, always pack more diapers than you think you’ll need. You never know when a delay or a surprise blowout might happen! Keep a stash of diapers, wipes, and a changing pad in an easily accessible bag, so you’re not digging through your luggage in a panic. We like to set up an organized diaper changing station right when we get to the hotel.
Second, ask the hotel for extra ice bags when you check in. They’re perfect for tossing out dirty diapers on the go and keeping things smelling fresh. You can also bring your own disposable diaper bags or doggy poop bags if you have them.
Lastly, try to stick to your baby’s usual diaper routine. A happy baby means a happy trip!
7. Set Up a Bottles Station
I love organization and a having a system when we unpack all the baby items in our hotel room. This means an organized washing/sanitizing station for bottles at the same sink where you’re brushing your teeth/getting ready for bed. It might be a little easier if you only have one baby and half the number of bottles, but with two it can take up quite a bit of space. If we had enough space to pack it, I usually traveled with a travel bottle drying station. Once the bottles are semi-dry, I moved the bottles to my clean bottle station, ready to sanitize for the next use.
In summary, our top 7 tips for making hotel travel with a baby easier are:
- Bring painter’s tape
- Blackout the room
- Clean and sanitize room
- Create a crawl and play area
- Use white noise
- Set up a diaper changing station
- Set up an organized bottle washing station
