Staying at a Hotel with a Baby: 10 Doable Tips
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Whether it’s your first time staying in a hotel with a baby or your twentieth, the thought of it can feel overwhelming.
Between night wakings, bottles, and all the gear babies require, hotels don’t always feel baby-friendly. But with the right prep, it’s absolutely doable and even enjoyable.
These 10 tips will help you feel confident and prepared for your next hotel stay with your baby.
1. Choose a Suite-Style Hotel
If possible, book a suite with a separate living area or bedroom. Extra space makes middle-of-the-night feedings and naps less stressful.
Suites usually come with a microwave and mini fridge—lifesavers for bottles, snacks, and quick meals.
Family-friendly hotel chains to look for:
- Residence Inn (full kitchen + plenty of space)
- Homewood Suites (full kitchen + affordable)
- Embassy Suites (microwave, fridge, and included breakfast)
Mom note: We’ve had the best luck with Residence Inn and Homewood Suites when traveling with babies—the kitchens alone are a sanity saver.
Find family-friendly suites (kitchen + extra space) near your destination.
Check current rates
2. Bring Your Own Pack ’n Play or Travel Crib
Hotel cribs and pack ’n plays aren’t always guaranteed, and sometimes they run out.
Bringing your own ensures you’ll have a safe sleep setup.
If packing one isn’t possible, consider BabyQuip, a baby gear rental service that delivers cribs, strollers, and more right to your hotel.
We’ve rented through BabyQuip numerous times when flying and couldn’t bring a crib—it was clean, safe, and made the whole stay easier.
Pro tip: Can’t bring a crib? Rent one delivered to your hotel. Try BabyQuip
3. Pack Your Own Sheets
Whether you’re using your own crib or renting one, always bring your own sheets.
They’re cleaner, guaranteed to fit, and make the space feel familiar.
Tip: Buy sheets similar to the ones on your baby’s crib at home—this small trick helps them settle faster in a new environment.
4. Use a SlumberPod (Game Changer!)
The SlumberPod is a blackout, breathable privacy tent that fits over a pack ’n play or travel crib to create a dark, cozy sleep space—even if the lights are still on.
Before we bought ours, I was that mom putting the travel crib in the bathroom to get darkness. This fixed it.
Why it is so helpful and great:
- Blocks light for naps and early bedtimes
- Minimizes room distractions (siblings, TV, you moving around)
- Packs small and sets up in a couple of minutes
5. Bring White Noise
Hotels can be noisy—slamming doors, elevators, or people in the hallway. A sound machine helps drown out distractions and mimics your baby’s home sleep environment.
Also, when your little one goes down earlier than everyone else, the sound machine helps block out the extra noise.
My favorite sound machines:
- LectroFan (plugs in + reliable white noise)
- LectroFan Micro2 (compact, Bluetooth speaker + stroller-friendly)
6. Pack Travel-Size Dish Soap
You’ll need to wash bottles, pacifiers, or sippy cups. I always carry dish soap in a leak-proof travel container.
These TSA-approved travel bottles are perfect for dish soap, sanitizer, and lotion.
7. Don’t Forget Bags for Diapers
Hotel trash cans fill quickly. Bring disposable plastic bags (or diaper disposal bags) to contain smells until you can toss them in a larger bin.
They also work great for wet clothes, snack trash, or messes on the go.
8. Make a Baby Packing List
Packing for a baby is a lot of mental load. I start a running list weeks before a trip to make sure nothing gets left behind.
Essentials to include:
- Bottles, formula, or breast pump
- Pack ’n play + sheets
- SlumberPod
- Sound machine
- Diapers, wipes, swim diapers
- Stroller + baby carrier
- Clothes, sleep sack, a few toys
Organizing helpers: packing cubes, zip pouches for bottles/pacifiers, wet bag
I sort baby items with color-coded packing cubes so I can grab bottles and diapers fast in the dark—total sanity saver on hotel nights.
Pro tip: Buy bulky items like diapers or wipes at your destination to save luggage space.
9. Prep Nighttime Essentials Before Bed
Before you go to sleep, set out everything you’ll need for night wakings: diapers, wipes, bottles, pre-measured formula, and a trash bag.
This makes nighttime smoother and keeps lights dim during middle-of-the-night feeds.
10. Stick to Routine… But Stay Flexible
Yes, babies thrive on routine. But travel throws schedules off, and that’s okay.
Our go-to rhythm: morning activity → midday rest back at the hotel → low-key activity in the evening.
On big attraction days, naps happen in the stroller or car with a portable sound machine.
Remember—babies are resilient. You’ll get back on your normal routine once you’re home.
Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Do This
Staying in a hotel with a baby might feel stressful, but with these tips, it’s absolutely doable.
A little prep goes a long way in making your trip smoother and helping everyone get some sleep.
Why you can trust this guide: I’m a Midwest mom of four who’s been traveling with kids for over 11 years. These tips come from real trips with lots of trial, plenty of error, and what actually worked for us.
👉 For more travel advice, check out my posts on Road Trip Essentials with Kids and Tips for Packing with a Family.
May you LOVE your adventure. KW
