Hotel - sleeping arrangements with baby

Some hotels will provide a baby cot for free or an extra charge. So, I don't think you'll have any problems there.

We took our 8 month old to Bali a few years back and used the Graco travel crib. It's really handy for having a safe and consistent place to put a toddler down.

David Robert Hogg,
Publisher of My Little Nomads

When our son was about 9 months we went to melbourne, and as he slept really well we'd often put him to sleep in his pram at night and then go out to a nearby restaurant, as I'd know he wouldn't stir for at least an hour. Then we'd go back to the hotel and transfer him to the travel cot. This of course would only work if you plan on taking a stroller of some sort with you.

Another option is to see if any of the hotels have a semi suite arrangement - so one bedroom with a small living room area that is slightly separate - it means you can at least sit and talk, read, watch TV etc with the lights on and not worry about sitting like a mushroom in the dark while your daughter sleeps. We did this in Hong Kong when our son was 13 months, again it worked really well. And once again, we took him out to dinner asleep in the pram, after feeding him at hotel first, and so got to try some great restaurants.

My son and I are in Bali right now, and a lot of social life does happen outside. So I would be very surprised if a midrange hotel in Bali did not have a verandah, and you'll probably want to sit outside in the evenings rather than be indoors.

I would confirm that you have outside space and change your bookings if you don't, as you'll feel very cramped confined to a room with a sleeping baby: I'd also check whether they provide cribs. When we travelled together when he was a baby, my son would come out for dinner with us, which worked well. If you're uncomfortable with that, midrange hotels should be able to arrange a sitter for you.

Theodora
http://www.travelswithanineyearold.com

Some parents get creative with flat sheets, duck tape and large pins when it comes to creating a space for the baby to sleep. A double closet or corner can work.

I would recommend getting your baby used to sleeping with some noise and light around. Many first-time parents put theirs' down to sleep in quiet, totally dark rooms. Works great at home but less so on the road!

Using the balcony is a trick recommended often for those on cruises but no reason why you can't do the same in a hotel.

I would bring a baby monitor but don't leave the baby locked in the room. I would read in the hallway until they fell asleep with the door jammed open and I was within sight.

I might be going out on a limb here but I recommend booking the hotel that works for you and then working out a solution once you get there. I would not make it a deal-breaker unless you find a hotel that fits the bill that is arranged like a suite with a separate room for the baby. Good luck finding it but don't stress too much with this.

Be aware that your baby might get very mobile in the next couple of months so keep this in mind as well.

We've taken our boys travelling since they were a few weeks old and stayed in a variety of types of accommodation. We have always preferred to co-sleep with them and many people do this when travelling as it can give you more flexibility. Some babies (and adults) don't like it, but it is a good option to consider. A hotel should be able to provide a cot, but the very few times we asked for one they weren't that great (and our baby would never sleep in it anyway).

Babies differ alot in how they like to go to sleep and what they are like when they are grumpy, so it hard to give specific recommendations. My first would fall asleep when he was tired (and never when he wasn't - like in a car!) wherever he was, so this made going out for dinner with him relatively easy (we live in India and there is always a cushioned bench seat to put him on to sleep). A stroller would also work. But, he was a light sleeper, so once he was asleep we had to eat quickly before he woke up and got grumpy. My second would keep himself awake, but was rarely grumpy, so we could usually manage a meal out with him as well - just keeping it short so he wasn't too late to bed.

So, you really need to find what routine works for you. One thing I do tend to look for now is a place where we can get some basic food in the room (even some guesthouses do this), in case the kids have all fallen asleep, or I just don't want to deal with young kids at a table!

I've travelled with my kids since they were 2 months old (now 1.5 & 4.5). Admittedly we've never backpacked with them so it's been safer options but I've become seasoned travelling with them.

We've always just booked a cot either when booking the hotel (or emailing after) and never had a problem. I sometimes pack a sheet just in case though. I always use travel sleeping bags and of an evening we've tended to feed the kids early, got them ready for bed and then taken out in sleeping bags in pushchair where they fall asleep so we can enjoy a meal and transfer them into cot later. Means we can make an eve of it.

Now our son is older we'll do it differently in that we all eat together earlier and then go back to room putting kids to bed. We either stay in room reading etc, go onto balcony or sometimes we use hotel restaurant/bar using our own monitor (remember adapter) or their telephone listening service (many offer babysitting if given 24hrs notice but we've personally never tried this) but as your little one is much younger I'd go for our first option so you can enjoy your eve out.

Definitely try to get balcony/terrace and if poss go for a bigger room/suite with lounge area - just gives you more space. Otherwise I know of friends who put the cot in the bathroom so they didn't have to creep around so much in their room.

Also don't forget mozzie spray or cream that's suitable for little ones - Boots or Neal's Yard etc or the prince lionheart buzzer things. We have a mozzie net too for the buggy and cot which is handy esp if you're on the balcony or out at night

Enjoy!

We had exceptionally good luck using this product:
http://www.zimbio.com/Goodies<i>for+Mom+and+Baby/articles/gyL80eDYRVB/Samsonite+pop+up+bubble+travel</i>cot

We've used it in across 3 kids in Ireland, Sweden, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Honduras and Jamaica ....

it gives you a small, very packable bed no matter your hotel choice, and you can cover it with a dark shirt or whatever if it is still bright outside. We would usually sit nearby or use a monitor, and stay pretty close by.

Depending on your location, I might be able to convince my wife to let it go - our youngest is 15 months now, and a bit mobile for this one. PM me if your interested. I'm in Calgary, Canada

We have travelled often with our kids, now aged 6 and 2. We love places that have an outdoor patio, so we can sit outside with a beer once the kids fall asleep. During their baby period, we let them stay up a bit later at night and have a longer nap during the day (typically in a stroller/bike trailer). Last year in Japan, we had a typical routine of: after being out for most of the day, we would grab some food (grocery store or restaurant) for the kids and bring it back to our hotel. We would feed the kids dinner at the hotel while they rested/played. It gave them a bit of downtime. Then once they had their dinner and rested a bit, we would go out to a restaurant for our dinner. The kids were happier having already eaten so it was less stressful on our meal. We find every trip and location different, so you will quickly figure out what works best to keep you all happy. Have a great time. Bali is lovely.