Roots & Routines

Let’s be honest, traveling with toddlers is hard. You need to pack double what you used to, especially if you are planning a hotel stay. Between nap schedules, snack demands, and keeping little hands out of trouble, hotel stays can quickly become stressful. The good news: with the right hacks and a little planning, you can make hotel life easier (and even enjoyable!).

Here are my favorite hotel hacks for traveling with toddlers. I will cover what to pack, snacks to bring, and clever tricks that will save your sanity.

What to Pack for a Toddler-Friendly Hotel Stay

Portable blackout curtains or clips – Hotel curtains never fully close. A few blackout curtains, or even binder clips, can keep the room dark for naps and bedtime. You can even bring a little shower curtain and rod to block off a sleeping area for your little one that is separate from the area you are in so you don’t have to go to bed early with them.

Sound machine (or app) – Blocks out hallway noise, thin walls, and elevator dings. We love the Hatch travel sound machine. It clips right on to their bed and is rechargeable. Here is a link to the Hatch Travel if you are interested: https://amzn.to/4r8j7c8

Travel crib or toddler air mattress – Even if the hotel provides a crib, bringing your own ensures comfort and familiarity. I also recommend getting a mattress topper for your portable crib. This makes all the difference in keeping them comfortable. We love the Graco Pack ‘n Play Close2Baby Bassinet Playard it has a bassinet attachment as well as a changing station: https://amzn.to/43v33qK

Foldable step stool – Helps toddlers reach the sink for handwashing and brushing teeth.

Favorite blanket/stuffed animal – A little piece of home goes a long way for comfort.

Outlet covers or painter’s tape – Quick, easy baby-proofing for curious hands. The tape is our favorite hack as it’s very easy and versatile.

Toddler-Friendly Snacks to Pack

Pouches (fruit or veggie blends) – mess-free and toddler-approved. We don’t go anywhere without pouches, our daughter loves them and it’s an easy way to get fruits and veggies into her.

Dry cereal or snack mix – Great for mornings when you don’t want to rush to breakfast. We also love puffs, an easy snack and our daughter can’t get enough of them.

Cut-up fruit/veggies – Keep in small containers in the mini-fridge.

String cheese or yogurt tubes – Quick protein snacks. Our daughter loves yogurt, we buy the big tubs and put them in little containers for her, great for on the go.

Mini peanut butter packs & crackers – A lifesaver when restaurant waits are long.

Mini Muffins/ PB&J – we love the Veggie Made muffins. They come frozen so great for a cooler for travel and are packed with fruits and veggies. Also frozen PB&J sandwiches are great to have around too.

Pro tip: Pack snacks in a small organizer or bento box so your toddler can pick their own “snack station” in the hotel room.

Easy Hacks to Make Hotel Stays with Toddlers Easier

Create a play corner: Bring a few small toys or magnetic tiles and designate one spot in the room for play.

Use the bathroom as a “nap room”: If your toddler is a light sleeper, set up the travel crib in the bathroom (with fan on for white noise). It buys you a little downtime.

Call ahead for a fridge & microwave: Most hotels can provide them if you ask in advance, and it makes meal/snack prep so much easier. Also, most of the time you can find if your room has one at booking.

Turn the TV into toddler entertainment: Bring an HDMI cord and connect your phone or tablet for kid-friendly shows. Some hotels come with Netflix and you can sign into your account to access kids shows. You can also bring a tablet and download kid friendly content onto that for easy entertainment.

Unpack right away: Even a small amount of organization (snacks here, toys there) makes the room feel less chaotic. We set up a diapering area as soon as we get to a place.

Bring Puppy Poop Bags: Those dirty diapers will stink up your hotel room quick. Bring puppy poop bags for dirty diapers before throwing them away in the trash.

Use painter’s tape: It doubles as baby-proofing (cover outlets, tape drawers shut) and toddler entertainment (make roads for toy cars, tic-tac-toe grids, or shapes on the floor).

Hotel stays with toddlers don’t have to be stressful. With a few clever hacks, the right snacks, and some toddler-proofing tricks, you can turn a cramped hotel room into a cozy home-away-from-home. Traveling with little ones is never perfectly smooth, but with the right preparation, it can definitely be memorable (in the best way).