You never know what you’re gonna get when you reserve a crib at a hotel or Airbnb. We’ve had cribs and playards that were either too small or too soft and unsafe (so much so that we left early!). My advice for what it’s worth: make sure you have a back-up plan or bring your own. And read my baby and toddler sleep options in a hotel room, so you DON’T have to cut your vacation short!
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Safety Disclaimer: I am not making any sleep recommendations. I suggest parents to research and follow safe sleeping tips for babies and toddlers and the updated sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics to make sure you are fully informed and your child is safe. Remember that babies must sleep on a flat, firm, level surface, no matter where in the world you are!
Sleeping rules change once they become toddlers (defined as ages 1-3). The safest option would be a real toddler bed with a toddler rail, which may be an unrealistic expectation when traveling. Although some kinder hotels in Austria are great about this!
Here is my plain Jane, old fashioned, “use what you have” strategy for toddlers and kids who are old enough to be out of a crib, without buying any cool products from Amazon (scroll down if you want those!).
If you book a room that doesn’t have enough beds (ahem, or you don’t want to pay the 40 bucks for a roll away when your kid is safer and just as comfortable on the floor), there are other options:
I think the safest is on the floor, (depending on their age and where you are staying, yikes!) Throw a comforter or blanket to the floor, add a pillow if your toddler or child uses one, and voila!
Actually, don’t forget to involve your child in making the “bed” on the floor, placing pillows (or inflatable bumpers) around the border, maybe a tiny toy, and a night light. It needs to feel like their little safe, cozy sleeping spot.
If your child is more sensitive to the floor, you can book a room with a pull-out couch. If it’s a regular couch, use that as a bed and enclose it or make it safer with other soft furniture/pillows.
It’s that easy. Until they fall off or don’t like it. So here are more tips if you can’t or choose not to do the floor…
Ways to make a couch/bed safer:
1 – Shove the open side against a wall or pull a large chair, padded coffee table, or footrest up against it
2 – Roll up bath towels or place dense pillows around the edge of the bed as a boundary / reminder to signal to them that it’s the edge.
3 – If you want something more sturdy and non-slip, use toddler bumpers (inflatable or foam) like these:
4 – If you can’t shove the bed or couch up against a wall or create bumpers, then throw couch cushions, giant comforters and/or pillows on the floor next to the bed just in case.
If you think my ideas are crazy and want something more concrete, here are the top travel cribs and beds from Amazon:
Baby and Toddler Sleep Options with Travel Cribs and Playards
We bailed out early from our first trip with our then 4-month old specifically because the crib was sketchy. The mattress just wasn’t firm enough for my liking. I watched him with one eye open all night and we left the next day.
When traveling with a baby that young, definitely bring a crib that you know you can trust. Maybe even practice with it some nights before your trip to make sure little one feels comfortable when it comes to the real deal.
The Guava Lotus Travel Crib is firm and it can be carried as a backpack so it’s more convenient to travel with. According to my travel groups, this is one of the most highly rated by travel moms like yourself.
Pamo babe makes a cheaper version that has a carry bag. It’s an Amazon best seller and a quarter of the Guava price.
Don’t forget to get a sheet for your travel crib. Wash the sheet in your familiar detergent (or rub your deodorant or smell all over it so baby sleeps better!)
Toddler Sleep Options with Travel Mattresses
You can bring an inflatable mattress if your child is old enough. They usually come with a pump, like this highly rated one from Hiccapop on Amazon. I love the Hiccapop brand.
Toddler Sleep Options with Bed Rails
Instead of my “rolled up towel” or swim noodle method, you can bring inflatable bedrails for a bed in the room. They are quick and easy to use, non-slip, light and portable.
If you need a guard rail for home (or going on a road trip and have room in the car, you can always pack this one to install on the bed. This is what some kinder hotels have in Europe, Austria specifically.
Where to Put It?
I slept the best when we put a baby monitor above our little one to keep a close eye on him or her in unfamiliar travel environments. Put the crib or bed somewhere far enough where they won’t hear you awake at night, but close enough for supervision, unless you have the travel monitor handy.
Sometimes the entry way of a hotel room or near a second bathroom can help. Otherwise, the corner of a room with a blanket hanging from the side so they aren’t easily woken up by lights or screens. (Only hang the blanket with stroller clips if little one can’t reach it or is old enough to sleep with a blanket. I know… I have to say it).
Check out my list of baby and family travel gear to make sure you’re prepared for your next adventure. And if not… you’ll survive! It gets easier as you learn what works best for YOU and your baby (or babies)!
Hopefully my list of baby and toddler sleep options in a hotel room will keep your little ones’ off the floor and sleeping soundly, so they’re ready for the next day’s adventures!
