Baby-Friendly Hotel Room Setup Tips

Hotel rooms are not designed with babies in mind. Sharp corners, heavy curtains that don't fully block light, unfamiliar smells, and a cot that may or may not arrive when requested. Here's how to take control and set up a safe, comfortable space for your baby in any hotel room.

Before You Arrive

• Call ahead — request a cot/crib in advance and confirm it will be in the room on arrival. Don't assume.
• Ask about the room layout — request a room where the cot can be placed away from the window and air conditioning unit.
• Book a room with a separate sleeping area if possible — even a suite with a divider helps baby sleep without being disturbed by your TV or lights.

When You Arrive

Step 1: Assess the Cot

Hotel cots vary wildly in quality. Check that the mattress is firm, the slats are intact, and there's no loose bedding inside. If it doesn't meet your standards, use your own portable baby space instead.

Step 2: Set Up Your Portable Baby Space

This is where the Avera Baby Space becomes invaluable. It's baby's familiar sleep surface — same smell, same feel, same gentle incline. Place it on the floor (always the safest surface) away from the air conditioning and direct sunlight. Baby settles faster in a familiar space, even in an unfamiliar room.

Step 3: Black Out the Room

Hotel curtains rarely block enough light. Pack a portable blackout blind (they attach with suction cups) or use gaffer tape and a spare sheet over the curtain rail. Sounds extreme. Works brilliantly.

Step 4: White Noise

Hotels are noisy — corridors, lifts, other guests. A white noise machine or app masks the unpredictable sounds that startle babies awake. Run it at a consistent volume throughout the night.

Step 5: Baby-Proof the Basics

• Move any fragile items off low surfaces
• Check for loose cables or cords
• Keep the bathroom door closed
• Put the hotel kettle and toiletries out of reach

Feeding in a Hotel Room

• Request a mini fridge if you're storing expressed milk
• Ask for a kettle and bottled water for formula preparation
• Use the bathroom sink for bottle washing if no kitchen is available

The One Item That Makes Hotel Stays Easier

Experienced travelling parents consistently say the same thing: bringing baby's own sleep space is the single biggest factor in how well everyone sleeps away from home. The Avera Baby Space — foldable, washable, breathable — is that item. It weighs 2.1 kg and folds to 57 × 54 × 5.5 cm. It fits in your luggage and transforms any hotel room into a familiar space for your baby.

👉 Never worry about hotel cots again — travel with the Avera Baby Space.