Baby + Hotel: Tips? (XP Feb '12)

butterandeggs · July 2012

Hello traveling mamas,

My work's largest conference of the year is coming up, and I'll be bringing R with me. I went back and forth for the longest time about whether bringing him would be too disruptive (for him), but my fear of 5 nights away from baby killing my milk supply won out. Plus I'd miss him too much! My husband couldn't get the time off, but fortunately my mom is coming, too, which is awesome.

For those who've stayed in a hotel with babies already, any tips? We are all in one room together, which worries me a bit. A critical part of our bedtime routine right now is final cuddle, night-night, put him in the crib, and leave room/shut door. He generally does well putting himself to sleep without too much fussing. Suites at the hotel I need to be at are crazy expensive so that isn't an option (work wouldn't pay for the upgrade). I have a vision of me and my mom hanging out in the bathroom waiting for him to go to sleep.... I really hope the hotel is well-insulated/soundproofed for the sake of our neighbors in case he is extra fussy from the new environment. We'll be using the hotel crib, I have my fingers crossed it is a decent one (bringing the pnp is too complicated for a variety of reasons).

Thanks for any advice!

KathrynMD · July 2012

Work on your bedtime routine now and try to make it something that will work on yoru trip.

When we shared hotels rooms w/ DD when she was an infant, we would try to put her far away from our bed and the TV and drape a blanket over the crib slats. Normally, DH left while I put her down and then I would go into the bathroom w/ a book or even just out of her line of vision while she settled herself down - never took more than 15 minutes and then I would text DH when she was alseep and he would come back.

EastCoastBride · July 2012

Recently, DH and I went out and sat in the hall. Exciting times! but more comfortable than the bathroom. We're leaving Friday for a trip where we'll be in a hotel for 6 nights. Ugh. And the downside is DS is no longer in a crib/PNP so we can't hang anything up to block out light, etc.

Five Months to Plan · July 2012

We traveled all last summer when DD was that age. Yep, spent lots of time in a bathroom if we could not get a suite (which was always first choice). After she was asleep we would play on our iPads or read a book. For my DD we were not able to turn in TV if we were all in the same room. We traveled all summer last year, and never had a person complain about DD. I know I was nervous about that too, but it was never a problem. We did though always travel with a couple things: her own travel crib, fisher price sea horse, and classical music she sleeps too. The music always covered the weird hotel sounds she was not used too.

sarahice · July 2012

We did this a few months ago and it worked out really well. The hotel crib was actually a pnp for us, just an FYI. Our room actually had a bit of seperation (glass slider thing above the desk) between the "sleeping area" and the desk area. So I set up the pnp in the desk area and she couldn't see us on the bed. If she fussed I would sit next to her on the desk chair and read my Kindle and she would stop fussing and pass out after 20 minutes. I took her sound machine, etc so it was closer to being at home.

jf198400 · July 2012

Most hotels actually provide a pack n play, not a crib, just fyi. You may want to bring your own sheet just to make it more homey. If the hotel room has a large closet, I would put the pack n play in there. If not, you'll probably have to hang out in the bathroom, or on the balcony if you have one, until LO goes to sleep. Call the hotel to request a mini-fridge if it does not come standard with the room- they are generally willing to accomodate people travelling with babies. You may also want to bring a large blanket to lay on the floor for LO to crawl around/ play on.

butterandeggs · July 2012

Thank you! Good to know about the pnp being more likely than the crib. I'll bring sheets for both just in case. I don't think the connecting rooms are an option on this trip, unfortunately, but I did learn that the room has two bathrooms. If we're lucky, maybe the crib/pnp will fit in one and that will be his room as one of you suggested. And thanks for the reminder to request a fridge!

KathrynMD · July 2012

You can request a handicapped accessible room too - as those normally are larger and have bigger bathrooms and closets.

Iblamethebeer · July 2012

Every time we've stayed in a hotel, we've gotten a pack n play instead of a crib, and it has fit (sometimes snugly) in the bathroom.

Then it's dark and there's a fan, and our kids have always slept soundly.

Margaret Lemon · July 2012

I took my mom/ LO on a business trip in June. It was great.

You already got most of my tips from PPs. I would only add to remind your mom to put out the do not disturb sign during LO nap times. You don't want the maid to wake up baby.

Huahine · August 2012

Are you stuck with a hotel?

I took my LO and mom on a two week work trip this summer. We rented a 2 bedroom apartment through homeaway.com. It worked out really well.

mexicolombiana · August 2012

We've traveled a few times with both girls and stayed in hotels jsut fine. Honestly the toddler is more of a problem going to sleep since she has to co-sleep with us and wants to play all night long. The baby has not been a problem because I just BF her to sleep and slip her into the pack n' play without too much of a problem.

One thing is that sometimes it can get cool at night since hotel rooms have pretty powerful air conditioners and it's hard for us to find a balance in the room so it's not too hot or cold and we make sure to put the baby in a sleep sack so she can stay warm all night.

Otherwise I have also found that making sure we have 2 queen beds in the room so my DH can sleep with the toddler and I can co-sleep with the baby in a nice big bed in case she doesn't sleep well in the pack n play the hotel provides.

Make sure you have extra blankets to put at the bottom of the hotel pack n play to make it cushiony.

03bertie · August 2012

I am going to be in a very similar situation in Chicago for a tradeshow in November. I like all these suggestions here, I appreciate the OP because it got me thinking. My question is, what is your Mom going to do with LO for 5 days? Perhaps since where you are going I will assume it will be warm since its summer, they may be outside some. But, do you have things planned?

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Baby + Hotel: Tips? (XP Feb '12)

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