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Parenting

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Original poster

Would you leave your baby in a hotel room?

197 replies

Mip · 01/02/2009 18:41

I am meant to be going skiing with my husband and his family at the end of February. We are going to a small (500 or so rooms, one lift, one staircase) hotel where we have been many times. Real family feeling, often same guests, staff etc. This time we will have our 7 month old son with us. Last year my sister in law had her 8 month old son with her and she left him in their room while we all ate in the dining room. She had a baby monitor with her and her and her husband went to check every now and again. So, now it's my turn and I really don't like the idea of leaving him in the room (apart from the fact that he'll probably be totally unsettled and I'll spend the whole of dinner in the room calming him down!). It would take only a couple of minutes to get to his room if he started crying so that's not the problem, I'm just scared that a crazed chambermaid would steal him or that there could be a fire or something. I think most guests do it at the hotel. What do you all think? Is it normal to do this or irresponsible?

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compo · 01/02/2009 18:42

if you've got a baby monitor it will be fine

mrsdisorganised · 01/02/2009 18:42

Absolutely not.

Original poster

Mip · 01/02/2009 18:44

Ok, two very different views! Would have a monitor with me.

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Lovemyshoes · 01/02/2009 18:44

Definately not. I would rather not go anywhere if I had to leave dc unsupervised, with or without a monitor.

Nettee · 01/02/2009 18:44

I have done it - but if you don't feel comfortable doing it then it is not worth it. Is he a good sleeper in the evenings? would you be able to have him asleep in a carry cot in the dining room?

PlumBumMum · 01/02/2009 18:44

I personally wouldn't, if you bring your pram why can't your baby sleep in the pram while you eat?

bigTillyMint · 01/02/2009 18:44

We did that many times when our two were little. They were always fine.

I know how you must feel, though. If you don't feel safe with a baby monitor, could you bring him down in a car seat. Or maybe there's a babysitting service?

StealthPo09IsHere · 01/02/2009 18:45

Can I ask - what will he be doing ehrn you ski?
(Not accusing you, just genuinely curious )
My first response is no but it's difficult - yyou know the hotel, the layout etc. The main thing that would worry me is if there was a fire and I was prevented from going back up to the room

nappyzonehasastroppytoddler · 01/02/2009 18:45

if theres a fire the lift wont work, the firecase could be blocked - the monitor wont carry your baby down the stairs. I always think worse case scenario....

Horton · 01/02/2009 18:45

I would not do it. I'd vote for baby asleep in carrycot or buggy while you eat. I don't think anything dreadful would be likely to happen, just if it was my baby I'd hate to think of him or her waking up and not knowing where they were etc.

Hassled · 01/02/2009 18:45

I wouldn't do it. Logically/rationally, he would be absolutely fine. But I still wouldn't do it.

pavlovthecat · 01/02/2009 18:47

I have done this, and it took forever for DD to settle and I almost missed dinner, and then I expected her to wake all through dinner so was not particularly relaxing. It was a posh hotel and as such did not feel I got the money's worth. I would have, looking back felt more comfortable and relaxed getting a really posh take-away and good bottle of wine and ate in the room with DD asleep with us there.

But, in principle I do not think there is a problem with it, if the hotel is known and has a reputation, and if you check very regularly.

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 01/02/2009 18:47

I personally wouldn't. imo, it's one thing to be downstairs (at home) with the baby monitor on - if they need you, you are seconds away.

to me, it's quite different to be down a few floors or something, so if you hear a worrying noise you have to run across a room, get a lift or sprint up a few flights of stairs, unlock a door...

To me, the difference in time taken to get to the baby increases any risk to a level that, for me, is unacceptable.

But everyone risk assesses differently and I know many people think it is acceptable. Fair enough.

glamourbadger · 01/02/2009 18:47

I've done it with a baby monitor but didn't feel comfortable, had to keep running up to check every 10 mins which did rather spoil my evening. Will the hotel arrange a babysitter? We did this the following evening in the same hotel and had a much more enjoyable evening.

LeninGrad · 01/02/2009 18:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Disenchanted3 · 01/02/2009 18:50

no, never.

Original poster

Mip · 01/02/2009 18:53

Thanks everyone. He is a good sleeper but only when at home with his routine, doesn't work when using his travel cot at someone's house. He would get used to it quite quickly though. Thought about having the pram with us but I think he could end up crying a lot if not tired enough and then I'd be worried about all the other guests (we're also quite a big group so noisy enough as it is!). He's also in the pushchair part of his pram rather than the carrycot (it's a Bugaboo so doesn't fold back in the great bed like way that Urban Jungle/Maclaren type prams do).

Stealth, I'd be in the hotel trying to keep him happy without most of his toys, then I'd take a lift/ trek up (my husband says he'll walk with me but I know he'll want to ski once there) with the baby in a backpack type thing to whatever restaurant we're eating at. Will be nice but really not idea holiday for a baby I think. Don't feel like going anyway as a week before dh's mother is taking the whole family on holiday to an amazing hotel in Oman (beach holiday - much nicer for my son and sunshine for his knackered mother!) to celebrate her 60th. But 'family' does not include me or my son or my sister in law's husband or son :-O. Not sure who I'm more furious at, her or my husband for thinking it's a fab idea!

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Podrick · 01/02/2009 18:56

I would not leave my child alone in a hotel room - it is an unecessary risk imo.

PlumBumMum · 01/02/2009 18:57

So your not actually skiing it dosen't sound much of a holiday for you

McDreamy · 01/02/2009 18:57

No I wouldn't, at my brother's wedding we employed a baby sitter to look after DS while he slept.

Original poster

Mip · 01/02/2009 19:00

Pavlov, that's what I feel. I just know I'll be either with him in his room because he's crying and therefore miss most of dinner (it's a smart hotel) or else be worrying the whole time and going to check every few minutes (while the family sigh at me for over reacting) which will probably wake him up anyway!

Did think of babysitter but I don't want a stranger picking him up if he cries (haven't left him with anyone yet!), though of course I could get up to the room quickly.

Nappyzone, I'm a worst case scenario person too, my current thing is that someone working there will have gone mad from losing her baby (or knows someone who has) so steals my baby! And as I said, and you've all pointed out, the fire thing is a worry too.

To stress the point though, I've been going to the hotel since I was about 6. It's treated like a home from home by most of the guests and the staff are all wonderful. But still...

Thanks everyone for your great views and advice. If I don't go (which is what I want) then I have good support to prove to my dh that I'm not being paranoid.

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welshdeb · 01/02/2009 19:00

I agree with Plum, I don't think I would be comtemplating going if it was me.

QOD · 01/02/2009 19:03

No way, I bet in actual fact it would be about as far away and out of sight as Madeleine was. Because it's inside people think it's safer.
I know y ou would have a monitor but I always think of worse case scenarios.

DeeBlindMice · 01/02/2009 19:03

nope, would not do this.

I'm amazed that there are 7 month old babies who would sleep in a carseat in a busy dining room. DD never would have at that age. And it would matter a lot if she didn't sleep in the evening because she'd be exhausted and either inconsolable or a flaming ball of rage. IME it is a rare baby of that age who is happy keeping to an adult's schedule.

When we go to hotels under similar circumstances, either dh or I stays in the room with her. It's tedious, but there you go.

Original poster

Mip · 01/02/2009 19:04

Plumbummum (best name!), that's what I feel. Will be some lovely moments drinking hot chocolate in the sun but most of the time it will be me worrying about whether ds is too cold, too hot, getting too much sun on his face, getting altitude sickness, getting ill from the tap water ;-). Then it's trekking food and bottles and stuff up with me, and his routine getting messed up etc. The trip is quite a difficult one too - a flight, two train journeys - all with lots of luggage (I can't even travel for a day without getting overweight luggage now!).

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