Staying in a hotel with kids? It’s not always relaxing. Between early wakeups, snack emergencies, and zero storage space, it can feel more chaotic than cozy. But with a few smart hacks (and some serious parent ingenuity), your hotel stay can be way smoother.
These 30+ hotel hacks that I personally use (or have used before) on our trips. From blackout curtain clips to babyproofing with painter’s tape, here’s everything I’ve learned to make hotel life easier, tidier, and safer with little kids.
Table of Contents
Game-Changing Travel Toys to Grab Before Your Trip
Sleep & Bedtime Hacks for Hotel Stays with Kids
Make beds safer for little sleepers
1. Use pillows under the fitted sheet as DIY bumpers.
Hotel beds are often way too high for toddlers, and the last thing you want is a little one rolling off in the night. I tuck hotel pillows under the fitted sheet along the edges to create soft bumpers. It takes two seconds and gives you peace of mind. Rolled-up towels work just as well if you’re short on pillows.
2. Ask for extra pillows at check-in.
Extra pillows can serve a ton of purposes: use them as bed bumpers (as per tip above), dividers between kids sharing a bed, or even to wedge in the gap between the bed and nightstand to prevent little ones from falling into “the crack.”
Block light and noise for better sleep
3. Clip curtains shut using binder clips or pants hangers.
Hotel curtains never seem to meet in the middle, which means sunlight beams in at sunrise. Bring a couple of clips or just use the pants hanger to pinch them shut and keep the room dark for longer stretches of sleep — especially important for nap time or jet-lagged toddlers.
4. Pack a white noise machine or use a white noise app.
Between hallway conversations, elevator dings, and street noise, hotels can be loud. A white noise machine helps mask all that sound so kids can fall (and stay) asleep more easily. We love this one because it's so tiny and convenient for travel - we actually have one for each kid!
Create separate sleep zones
5. Bring a SlumberPod to create the ultimate sleep environment
The SlumberPod is the most genius travel product for babies! It creates a dark, private sleeping area for your baby or toddler. It's especially helpful in shared rooms where siblings are staying up later or you want to keep the lights on.
6. Use the closet or bathroom as a baby sleep space.
Sounds weird, but if the closet is large enough, placing the crib inside can create a quieter, darker space for your baby. You’ll still be able to hear them, but it separates their sleep zone from yours — especially helpful if you're all sharing one room. We’ve also done the same thing with the bathroom! A bit more awkward when you need to go pee, but you could also use the hotel lobby’s restrooms if needed.
7. Pack a toddler-sized inflatable mattress.
If your kids don’t share beds well (or there just isn’t enough space), a lightweight toddler air mattress is a simple way to add a sleeping spot. This one is the best!
8. Tuck a towel under the hotel door.
This helps block both noise and light coming in from the hallway — something that can wake even the heaviest little sleeper.
Easy Hotel Room Organization Hacks for Families
Set up your space like a mini home
9. Bring multiple types of hooks for better organization.
There is never enough hanging space in hotel rooms! I love to pack magnetic hooks to use on metallic surfaces, S-hooks on bathroom bars, and suction hooks for mirrors or windows. Use them to hanging toiletry bags, backpacks, purses, hats, wet swimsuits and towels. It keeps everything accessible and off the ground!
10. Assign one drawer for toys.
Instead of letting toys take over the entire room, give your toddler one bottom drawer to store their toys and books. It gives them independence (they know where their stuff is) and helps keep the clutter contained. Or use one of my activity bags to keep everything organized and off the ground.
11. Use hanging toiletry organizers for kids’ clothes.
Each kid gets one with 4 pockets: sock/underwear, tops, bottoms, and pajamas + mini bedtime books. And then we have a third bag with all of our travel toys. It makes things so much easier to keep organized — especially when everything is hung up at eye level instead of crammed into drawers or packing cubes.
We use my Mini Jetsetter travel activity bags for this, and honestly, they’re the best. They're lightweight, wipeable, and designed to hang easily in any hotel or Airbnb bathroom or closet. So much easier than digging through a suitcase or trying to live out of cubes!
Keep laundry and clutter under control
12. Bring a pop-up laundry hamper.
A pop-up foldable laundry hamper folds down super small, flat and takes up zero space in your suitcase, but keeping dirty clothes separate from clean ones is a small thing that makes a big difference. You’ll thank yourself for having somewhere to toss dirty laundry. It keeps things tidy and makes repacking at the end of the trip way easier. Also useful for roadtrips when you can just fill it with stuff and throw in your car.
13. Actually unpack — don’t live out of your suitcase.
I know it sounds extra, but putting things away in drawers and organizing everyone’s things (even just loosely) makes the room feel less chaotic and your brain less fried. I also recommend taking 5-10 minutes everyday to reset the room and keep things tidy and organized— it’s my sanity saver.
Babyproofing & Hotel Room Safety Hacks
Quick, easy ways to make any hotel room safer
14. Use rubber bands or hair ties to secure drawers.
Loop them around drawer knobs to keep curious little hands from slamming fingers or exploring dangerous items. No baby locks needed!
15. Rearrange furniture to suit your family.
Don’t be afraid to move furniture to create a play space, block access to cords, or set up a changing station. I’ve pushed coffee tables against the wall and turned chairs into a nursing zone — hotel staff truly don’t mind if you reset the space to make it more kid-friendly.
16. Set up a changing station.
When my kids were little, we often used the desk as a diaper changing station and set up a mini “baby station” with a diapers, wipes and other essentials. It keeps everything off the floor and in one spot.
17. Bring nightlights.
Even if your kids don’t use one at home, it’s helpful to use a small portable night light in unfamiliar spaces. We like to put one in the bathroom and one in the main sleeping area.
18. Ask your hotel what baby gear they provide.
Many hotels offer cribs, high chairs, diaper pails, and even bottle warmers — you just have to ask. If not, services like BabyQuip can deliver everything you need directly to your hotel room so you’re not schlepping a carload or suitcase full of gear.
19. Painter’s tape is the ultimate travel MVP.
Painter’s tape is one of the most versatile things you can pack. Use it to cover outlets, secure cords, or tape towels or blankets to the window to block out early morning light. It’s safe for hotel walls and peels off cleanly.
Food & Snack Hotel Hacks for Travelling Families
Make food work, even with limited hotel appliances
20. Request a fridge, microwave, and kettle — even if your room doesn’t include them.
Most hotels have a few extra appliances available upon request, even if they’re not automatically included in your room. Call ahead or add a note to your reservation asking for a mini fridge, kettle, and microwave. These three items make a huge difference when you’re traveling with kids — especially for warming up milk or baby food, prepping simple meals like oatmeal, or keeping snacks fresh.
21. Always plan for early mornings.
One of the most frustrating moments on a family trip? When your toddler wakes up at 6am, but hotel breakfast doesn’t start until 7:30. We’ve learned to always keep a banana, yogurt, or bagels in the room so we can hold everyone over without meltdowns.
22. Pack instant oatmeal, noodles, or toddler-friendly meals.
With a kettle and a collapsible bowl, you can whip up breakfast or dinner in minutes.
Store and serve food like a travel pro
23. Bring a bento box and ziplock bags.
Bento boxes keep snacks separated and neat, and ziplocks are great for stashing leftovers or fruit from the hotel buffet.
24. Use grocery delivery.
Instead of cramming your suitcase with snacks, diapers, and wipes, use Amazon, Instacart, or a local grocery delivery service. Most hotels will accept deliveries and even bring them to your room. It saves suitcase space and lets you have everything you need, without the grocery run.
Entertainment & Play Ideas for Hotel Rooms
25. Repurpose hotel plastic cups.
Those free little plastic cups you get in hotel bathrooms? Keep them! Kids love using them to pour and scoop at the pool, and they’re also great for handing out dry snacks without the mess.
26. Turn the ironing board into a toddler table.
Lower it to the shortest height and set it up near a window or corner with coloring books, puzzles, or magnetic toys. It’s the perfect kid-sized table and way better than using the floor.
27. Painter’s tape doubles as a travel toy.
So good I have to put painter's tape or coloured masking tape on this list twice. Make car tracks, hopscotch paths, or shapes on the floor ... it's literally the most open-ended toy that ALL ages seem to love. It also peels up clean and doesn't leave any residue or damage.
28. Bring glow sticks and balloons.
Glow sticks and balloons make such great toys. Use them for impromptu dance parties or games. Plus, they’re compact!
29. Stream your kids’ favorite shows.
Most hotel TVs now have HDMI ports. Bring a Fire Stick, Roku or other streaming device, hook it up to the WiFi, and let your kids chill with something familiar while you get everyone ready.
30. Use the Do Not Disturb sign during naps.
Put it out during nap time or anytime your kids are winding down. The last thing you want is someone knocking just as your baby drifts off.
31. Keep a mental list of what your kids always lose.
Before checkout, make sure you do full sweep and keep track of the usual suspects (sippy cups, stuffy, favourite socks) under beds, behind curtains, drawers and in between the sheets. It’ll save you from calling the front desk at 10pm asking if they’ve seen your child's Yoto player (true story).
