Parenting is a tough job at the best of times, let alone during those times when we’re away from home and have to plan our day-to-day around travel. Staying in a hotel can be a new experience for many, but your baby may not be entertained by it. On top of that, while hotels do have all provisions accounted for, they may not have everything you need as a new parent unless specifically requested.
As such, it’s important to plan ahead and consider just what you may need when staying overnight, or perhaps for multiple nights, in a hotel room. Never fear, we are thoroughly aware of how disorienting travel as a new parent can be, and so in this post we hope to explain six essential hotel-staying insights for new parents.
Of course, the first secret tip is to make sure you go for a nice hotel that you won’t have to worry about. Resorts with large partying tourist populations may be a no-go. From there, consider the following:
Cleaning Your Baby Bottles
Of course, sterilizing your baby’s bottle is important to do. You may have brought along a small travel basin with you so you can sterilize them in advance, but if not, then the hotel may be able to help you with this, sometimes for free, sometimes for a small charge.
If you haven’t a kettle in your room then it’s worth requesting one or calling ahead. In general, letting the hotel know you have a baby in your room can allow you to ask for those provisions without surprise. Alternatively, hotels are usually situated near accessible shops and you may be able to find what you’re looking for there.
Opt For A Larger Space Room
It’s important to make sure you have enough space between your baby and you when it comes time to sleep, lest your child be somewhat surprised by the proximity to which you’re sleeping, having grown adapted to having their own room.
This is why it can be worthwhile to give them their own space, in a larger double room or suite, while you and your partner relax in the same bed at the other side. With great tips for choosing a travel play yard, they can quite happily play in a protected are as opposed to crawling around the hotel floor (this isn’t recommended).
Some people set up their travel crib in the bathroom so their baby has a quiter environment, and with a mini white noise machine you could emulate that peaceful sensation of being at home.
Managing Noise
It can be a good idea to request a room nearer the top of the building or at least relatively away from other guests, alternatively opting for a suite space can help you avoid the annoyance of loud noises either side of the wall.
Hotels can get quite busy, particularly during seasonal periods, and so sometimes you may need to manage that as best you can. If any guests are disturbing you, you are of course free to complain to the front desk and they will do their best to ameliorate the situation.
That said, don’t feel out of sorts of your baby cries during your stay, traveling can be exhausting for little ones and if they’ve picked up a small illness while abroad this can be equally uncomfortable. If they need to cry it out, you can always bring them into the bathroom and comfort them in a relatively noise-isolated environment.
Create A Changing Station
Using towels, linens and pillows to create a comfortable changing station, perhaps at the side of the sink, or on the table. You can wipe this down with anti-bacterial spray and wipes after doing so. This allows you to calmly and comfortably change your child in the most hygienic manner.
Organizing this little space can also help replicate the logic of the routine you have at home, which can help you fall back into your usual routine despite occupying different surroundings.
Bring Plastic Sacks
It’s good to bring some sealable bags with you so you can easily dispose of diapers and other waste where necessary. This can be carried into a larger bin area depending on the shute system of the hotel, or it may be carried out by housekeeping as they tend to have gloves and know what to do with it.
At the very least, organizing your waste in this way will make cleaning the room so much easier to do, and housekeeping will thank you for it. You can imagine the state in which they find hotel rooms, sometimes on a parents behalf, and so your extra effort will not be missed.
Consider Alternate Lodgings
Of course, staying in a strict hotel room is not necessarily what you may feel is right for you, particularly if you’re staying for so long. This is why services like Airbnb have exploded worldwide, as being able to rent out someone’s house for a particular period will allow you to enjoy the comforts of someone else’s home and a little more privacy, too.
Sure, you might not have room service or housekeeping, but here you have access to larger bathrooms (not just en-suites), bathtubs, sofas, and even refrigerators and freezers. It’s much easier to cook up your baby food when you can use a saucepan to boil the package as instructed, as opposed to continually asking the hotel to do it for you.
On top of that, these providers are rated by past users and transparency is assured. So if you’re struggling to find a good room or the right hotel for your needs, don’t be afraid to use this alternate option. You may even find a real discount for a last-minute stay.
With this advice, you’re certain to enjoy the best hotel-staying insights for new parents. Once you get this down, the next times you head out will be so much better and easier to deal with. From there, your growing child will become more familiar with sleeping in areas they don’t know, and that in itself can help them develop.
This post was submitted by Simone Devonshire.
