Here Are Our Best Tips For Sharing A Hotel Room With A Toddler (2023)

FAQs

How do you share a hotel room with a toddler and a baby? ›

If your child sleeps in his own bed at home, he needs to be in his own bed in the hotel. Don't try to bed share...it won't go well for any of you! Many hotels have the option of renting a rollaway crib, or you can bring a bassinet (for smaller babies) or pack'n'play for your child to sleep in while you travel.

After six months, there's no problem with your baby and your toddler sharing a room, provided that they both sleep well. In fact, being together at night-time may enhance your children's relationship and even increase their sense of comfort and security while they're both young.

Monitor or no monitor, resist the temptation, even if your hotel room is within sight. Children are unpredictable, electronic devices are not 100% reliable, or something could happen that makes it hard for you to get back to your room quickly…it's not worth the risk.

Tape any loose electric and phone cords to the floor and wall. Tape over the bathroom door lock so kids can't lock themselves in. Use tape and a washcloth to cover any sharp furniture or wall corners. Remove plastic bags from trash cans and put the cans out of a child's reach.

Room-sharing basics

Ideally, children who share a room should be as close in age as possible. A 3-year-old and a 6-year-old are more likely to have compatible schedules than a teenager and a baby. (Gender is a factor for many families, although this is not related to sleep.)

Can my 2-year-old sleep in a travel cot? Certain travel cots are appropriate for 2-year-olds, but young 2-year-olds who haven't yet transitioned to a toddler bed may be more comfortable and safer in more crib-like pack-and-plays or travel beds with safety rails.

Yes, it is necessary to mention a child when booking a hotel online. This is because hotels often have different policies and rates for children, so they need to know how many people are in the party and their ages in order to provide an accurate quote.

Hotel staff do care if three people are staying in a room booked for two people. Depending on the hotel, they may charge an additional fee or require that you book another room to accommodate the third person.

Do hotels charge extra for 2 people? ›

Hotel room rates are based on double occupancy. You usually don't have to pay extra for kids in the room. But hotels often charge $20 to $50 per additional adult per night, Banas says. To avoid this fee, you need to be aware of it before you book so that you can search for another hotel that doesn't charge it.

As kids grow up they might want more privacy and need their own space, especially if they're sharing a bedroom with a brother or sister. While it's not illegal for them to share, it's recommended that children over the age of 10 should have their own bedrooms – even if they're siblings or step-siblings.

The simple answer: any age, but I recommend waiting until the youngest is at LEAST 2.5 years old (sleep regressions before then happen almost every 6 months, yikes!). If you decide to move your children into the same room, read the below and follow the steps, and manage your own expectations.

Few kids actually like to share, but it's an important skill that they need to learn. And room-sharing is a great place to start. child and family therapist and parenting expert Joanna Seidel says, “Kids who share a room will learn how to respect each other and develop patience and understanding.

Staggering bedtimes is the key to getting two kids to sleep peacefully in the same room. Generally, putting one child to bed at 7:00 p.m. and the other at 8:00 p.m. is a fairly solid set up. This gives the first child enough time to be fully asleep when the other child gets in bed.

Beginning at the age of 1, co-sleeping is generally considered safe. In fact, the older a child gets, the less risky it becomes, as they are more readily able to move, roll over, and free themselves from restraint. Co-sleeping with an infant under 12 months of age, on the other hand, is potentially dangerous.

If children are of the same sex, sharing a room as long as both children are comfortable doing so is just fine. If your children are close and feel comfortable sharing their space and possessions, sharing a room can build a bond that will last a lifetime, so a children's bunk bed may be the perfect option.

If you are travelling with your kid who still wet their bed, it can add to the stress. Your child may get embarrassed about the situation. It may also be embarrassing for the parents who have to call hotel services to change the sheets and clean up. Some hotels may even charge extra fees for bedwetting incidents.

Do kids count as hotel guests? Policy varies by chain, but typically kids under 18 stay free in the parents room. Check policy with the hotel when making your reservation. While the kids may be free, if you require a crib or roll-a-way, there may be an additional charge.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding screens for children younger than 18 to 24 months, except when video chatting with family. The AAP also recommends limiting screen use for preschool children, ages 2 to 5, to just one hour a day of high-quality programming (think Sesame Street or PBS).

How do I stop my toddler from opening the door in the hotel? ›

Childproof door handles are a good place to start. You'll want something that can be installed quickly and easily, as well as be removed without any damage or unsightly marks left behind. Once in place, it can not only keep everyone safe and inside, but they can keep you from accidentally getting locked out, as well.

In a standard hotel room usually an Electric kettle is provided which can be used to prepare Homemade cerelac, oatmeal, sooji porridge. You can use ready to eat packaged purees by Happibo / Heinz / Gerber / Happytot in case of unavailability of hot water / kettle. These do not require refrigeration.

Make the sleep environment as familiar as possible for your child. This includes bringing familiar smelling sheets for the pack'n'play or crib for babies or blow up mattress travel for toddlers (here is what we use and love), having their lovey (12 months and older!), and the same sleep sack or blanket.

It helps them form a bond.

One of the most obvious benefits of having kids share a room is that it naturally brings them closer together. “Children will definitely form a good bond,” Clare Ford, a parenting coach, tells Romper.

McArdle makes it very clear that the child should sleep in the same room as the parent — NOT the same bed. “In the same room as the parent decreases the risk of SIDS,” or sudden infant death syndrome, she says.

There are no state or federal laws against most opposite gender siblings sharing a room in their own home, but some institutions do regulate how spaces are shared.

If you are staying in a hotel, most major hotel chains will provide a crib to you at no extra cost when you travel with a baby or a toddler. This solution is great for certain types of travel when you can trust that the hotel will have something safe, comfortable, and clean for your child.

Although some parents see benefits to co-sleeping with their child, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend it. It's much safer for your infant or toddler to sleep alone in their own bed.

Small children can get irritable in the evening, especially if they've been cooped up in a car, train, or plane for several hours. Flying or driving in the evening can have advantages, too. If your journey coincides with bedtime or starts shortly after a feeding, your child may sleep through the trip.

Do hotels know if you bring a guest? ›

If you're staying at a motel, no one's checking on the number of guests or visitors. Even at high end hotels, unless you're being loud or disturbing other guests, no one's going to come knocking on your door to pay up for mis-stating the occupancy of the room.

You might be asking yourself, “do hotels provide cribs?” The answer is: yes. Most hotels will rent you a crib to use in your room at a small fee or even for free. However, we always recommend packing your own sleeper if possible!

It depends on the hotel. Larger hotels usually don't even try to control it, since it would require too much additional effort. Smaller hotels might allow visitors but require that they sign in and show identification. There may be restrictions on the hours for visiting, on the use of facilities, etc.

Because you split your fare with your travel partner, you get considerably more value for your money than if you were to stay in a luxury room alone or enjoy absolute opulence for the same price you could a three-star hotel.

No, hotels typically don't mind if 5 people stay in a 2 person room. However, it is important to check with the hotel beforehand as some may have restrictions on how many people can occupy a single room.

In the US, it's quite common that hotels allow up to 4 people in a room, though some may limit it to two adults. On the other hand, some hotels (though somewhat rare) charge an additional fee beyond even the first person. In the Middle East and Europe, it's not uncommon to be charged beyond the third occupant.

The easiest way to avoid these surprise fees is to book with a travel agent or directly through the hotel's website. By booking through a travel agent, you can avoid the fees altogether. If you book through the hotel's website, the best way to avoid the fees is to call and ask about them upfront.

If advance room type selection is available for your hotel, you'll see the option to make your choice (1 bed or 2 beds) by tapping “Room type” before booking. And rest assured: every room, no matter the type, will fit at least two adults (some hotels may charge an additional fee for more than two people).

Normally two guests can be accommodated in one room comfortably and another one guest can stay as an extra person upon booking.

At what age is it okay for siblings to share a room? I generally don't recommend that babies share a room with a sibling until a MINIMUM of 6 months of age, but preferably until they are at least one.

When should siblings start sharing a room? ›

Q: What does the AAP say about sibling room sharing? A: The AAP recommends that infants should room share with their parents but on a separate sleep surface ideally for at least the first 6 months of life. We recommend holding off on room sharing until your younger child is at least 1 year of age.

But back to your main question, when booking your hotel reservation, you will need to include your infant in your Guest count. When you start searching for your hotel room, you will be required to put the number of children that will be staying in the room, along with their age.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the best place for a baby to sleep is in his parents' bedroom. He should sleep in his own crib or bassinet (or in a co-sleeper safely attached to the bed), but shouldn't be in his own room until he is at least 6 months, better 12 months.

If you are staying in a hotel, most major hotel chains will provide a crib to you at no extra cost when you travel with a baby or a toddler. This solution is great for certain types of travel when you can trust that the hotel will have something safe, comfortable, and clean for your child.

Generally, the baby doesn't "count" until they need a bed of their own.

Never leave a child alone in your hotel room. You wouldn't leave your baby home alone to grab a bite to eat. Don't let the vacation cause you to lose your common sense. Monitor or no monitor, resist the temptation, even if your hotel room is within sight.

The normal hotel policy is not to charge for children if they are under twelve years of age. Some hotels will limit occupancy of a room to two adults and one child. Only a few hotels will have existing bedding for additional children, so an extra bed is usually required.

Children are sometimes a little more flexible. Generally, if it is an infant or small child will not be included in the guest count if they will be sitting in a parents lap. However, if the child will sit and eat on his or her own, they will be counted.

The simple answer: any age, but I recommend waiting until the youngest is at LEAST 2.5 years old (sleep regressions before then happen almost every 6 months, yikes!). If you decide to move your children into the same room, read the below and follow the steps, and manage your own expectations.

What age is SIDS a risk? ›

The peak incidence of SIDS occurs between 1 – 4 months of age; 90% of cases occur before 6 months of age. Babies continue to be at risk for SIDS up to 12 months.

As we said, the AAP recommends room-sharing for at least six months. But that's not a hard and fast rule, and some families move their little one to the nursery before they reach the half-year mark.

Toddlers (2-3 years of age)