Hotel booking with new baby

[alovelycuppatea]

Hello...due dd in early august and planning a long weekend away with dh and new dd in late sept....am a bit confused if I should be booking family rooms or if I can just book a room for two adults and just bring travel cot with us? Are hotels likely to get upset if we don't tell them in advance? We don't need a crib or anything...will bring all our own stuff. Booking online...any views?

Depends on how posh the hotel is. Some won't have much floor space for a travel cot!

What is the weekend away for? going away with a potentially 6 week or so first child could be pretty stressful!

I would imagine for insurance purposes they will need to know how many people are in the room. If you book online there is normally an option for 'under 2's' or similar. If over the phone, just say, 2 adults and a baby. Travel cots are often free in hotels in my experience as well.

Oh and agree with pp, a weekend away with a tiny baby might be hard work! Do you need to book this far in advance? I'd wait until baby is here and then go somewhere last minute if you still want to. You couldn't have paid me to go away for the weekend six weeks in, I was still in pain and had a baby glued to my boob for most of the day.

Oh yes, I agree you probably need to tell them. I was answering on whether you needed a family room.

We went to a nice hotel for 2 nights when our baby was 8 weeks old. We booked a double room and requested a travel cot, we didn't use the travel cot, she slept in her pram. It was a great deal of work and being 1st time parents we brought everything but the kitchen sink , I was also still recovering but it was well worth, we had a lovely relaxed few days with our new baby.

We'll be away for a weekend at a hotel next month when my littlun is 6 weeks old for a wedding. The hotel recommended one of the larger rooms as the floor space in a standard double wasn't that great. Also for fire and safety reasons they will need to know that there will be three of you.

I took dc1 away at 6 weeks (work conference) I just booked a double and requested a travel cot (think they charged £20). It was fine my niece stayed with me and had him during the day. I sterilized with Milton and used the kettle in the room for bottles. I took him to dinner and drinks in the pram and If he woke early I took him out for a few hours and early breakfast while my niece got some sleep.

Thanks all...I'm wondering now if I should wait and see how we get on when dd arrives! It's non essential trip....thought it might be nice but now wondering if we might be better at home for a bit longer! Thanks

We took DS away when he was 7 weeks, to go to his cousin's christening. Then we went to Center Parcs. As he was an August baby we hadn't had a summer holiday. I was BF o to be honest it made no difference where we were.

In fact DS had silent reflux and was really hard work wherever we were and we used to eat in shifts. In Center Parcs, the waitress delivered our main course and took the baby off for a wander. It was a lovely gesture and I really appreciated it.

We went away when our first was 6 weeks, went away again at 10 and 16 weeks so it couldn't have been that difficult. Agree with pp, it doesn't really matter where you are with a newborn. It's lovely chance for your DH to bond as there are no distractions. Book it, you are unlikely to do it with subsequent children.

Maybe just wait and see when she gets here? You can still go, just don't book now just in case.

Whenever you book I'd second the suggestion of booking one (or more) up from the standard double to get a bit more space in the room for travel cot and all the other stuff. Might also give you a few more seating options for feeding, and potentially a bigger bed which can be handy for morning snuggles (or if you end up cosleeping).

If the hotel offers flexible rates, book on one of those, so you can cancel quite close to the day. About a week before decide if you still want the booking and just call the Hotel and see what theyd advise. Lots will have travel cots and will supply free, or will advise you to bring your own.

Many hotels will allow you to cancel without penalty (with varying time-restrictions e.g. up till 7 days before, 48hrs before or 2pm on day of arrival) so make the booking and decide as late as you can - the first few weeks will be hugely overwhelming but you might feel ready by late September. Agree with pp you need to tell the hotel but they may not charge you extra if you are bringing your own travel cot.

Agree that you are unlikely to do this with your second child, but I personally would have hated being away from home at the peak of colic! I have heard a tale of a dad trekking round hotel grounds with a screaming baby in the early hours so as to avoid waking other guests.
I would certainly recommend going out with your baby and DH for some nice meals when the baby is small and portable.
Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I organised a weekend away for my husband's birthday when our first baby was just about a month old. I booked a regular double room but put a note on the booking to say that this would be our first trip away with our newborn baby. The hotel were very welcoming and accommodating when we arrived.

We didn't need a travel cot as we were bringing baby's pram but the hotel would've provided this if we asked.

If you are unsure it might be worth calling and checking directly with the hotel on their policy.