Staying away from home?

Make your hotel room, vacation or guest bedroom more child-friendly… so you can relax a bit more and your child can safely explore.

Plus, giving your child autonomy in new surroundings can help ease the transition.

Rented Home

The first thing I do when entering a new environment is remove anything within reach that’s breakable. (You might want to take photos first, so you know where to return everything.) Decorative vases, anything glass, plants for little hands to pull—everything goes away. 

Hotel Room

• Avoid power struggles: hide the remote or minibar snacks, or pull the TV plug.
• Tape something familiar (like a school craft or favorite character) to your door so toddlers can find your room easily. (I’ve used a family photo when we stayed in a hotel that was fully rented out.)
• Keep quick foods, like bananas or yogurt squeezy or bars, for early morning breakfast

In General:

Make a “yes” space (so you don’t have to say “No!”):                       

• Remove anything breakable.                        
• Get down on your hands and knees and look out for sharp-edged furniture, dangling lamp cords or shade pulls, or choking hazards within reach of a crawling baby.        

Make it child-accessible. Consider:                       

• What does my child need to do?    
• What does that require?                       
• How can I enable that?                       

For example…

In order to…

Dress himself -> he needs clothing → set out daily outfits within reach

Play independently upon waking up -> needs toys and books → set up a play corner

Wash his hands in hotel room → needs access to sink → place chair in the bathroom

With a little bit of planning, you can create a comfortable, child-friendly space wherever you stay. By setting up a “yes” environment and making essentials accessible, you’ll reduce stress, encourage independence, and make the transition smoother for everyone. The more your child feels at home, the more you can relax and enjoy your stay!