I've just realised I have no idea how to book a holiday with a toddler

[Lelophants]

Previously we were very 'go with the flow', enjoying quirky properties in different parts of the country. Let's just say it's more tricky with a baby! Covid doesn't help as we'd want easy cancellation and deep cleaning between visits. We haven't even been away with him yet so not sure what we'd need to think about necessarily.

I've tried to look on air bnb but hard to scour every picture to notice ridiculous stairs, no bath etc. Is there an easy way to find suitable cottages?

We want to avoid places like centerparcs. We just want to find a nice cottage in a real place for a week in the summer with a bath (but safe non roll-top bath), quiet with no other people around. We want to do walks in countryside, near the coast and keep him entertained (he'll be 18 months in summer). Any tips?

Isle of Wight fulfils your criteria - coast and countryside on your doorstep.

I was thinking more in England, either Dorset, Devon or Cornwall. My main thing is how to find the right property?

What sites do you use?

Cottages.com allows you to filter by your needs and they have an option for 'toddler friendly'. It's what we use but there are options out there.

Sorry, you were asking how to find child-friendly properties, not where to go.

cottages

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Just found these websites (not used them myself)

There is also a child-friendly filter option on Air BnB- found a lovely shepherds hut in the New Forest that way. My 5 year old loved it.

I wouldn't book a cottage without looking through all the pictures anyway, it's not a massive chore really.

toad hall cottages do lovely ones and I have used when all my children were small. It's a pain though as even if they say they are child friendly they may not be. I'm thinking of the cottage which mentioned a nursery off the master bedroom ("Great!" we thought) Until we realised when we got there that it also had a glass door directly onto the open plan living room right next to where the TV was and the door was too small to move the cot into th bedroom. Very quiet TV watching that hols.

Baby Friendly boltholes was also quite good i remember

And the family friendly hotel chain is nice if you fancy a hotel type experience instead. Woolley Grange was v nice.

Always camped. Think your over thinking this, Hoseasons or similar often have family friendly ones. It,s alaways a bit of a risk. I mean with baths you wouldn,t leave tot unsupervised anyway so that wouldn,t be my concearn. But stairs can be an issue.

I think you are over concerned about the bath tbh. A fiver spent on a small plastic paddling pool converts a shower into a toddler-friendly ‘bathing solution’.

Why are you worried about roll top baths? We have one and obviously I supervise dd in it, but it's no different to other baths really. Lots of holiday cottages in Foreat of Dean for families, nice walks etc. Devon coast is so nice if you prefer beachy. Perhaps consider a static caravan/chalet or something if you don't want stairs?

What's wrong with a roll top bath?

We used Baby Friendly Boltholes ( if they still exist) but I don’t think you necessarily need a specialist company now Air BnB are so popular. Lots of places will provide cots etc and can advise on accessibility etc.

I am always in pursuit of the perfect cottage and booked quite a few when mine were small.

I always used cottages.com or similar, they have filters for child friendly etc. Or you can check if they provide a cot or high chair (even if you don't want to use these it's a good indicator that babies/toddlers are welcome/catered for)

I would recommend reading right to the end of any description, sometimes something is mentioned like a stream in the garden or other potential hazards.

You can end up going down a rabbit hole trying to find the perfect place with every child friendly aspect, but sometimes that just doesn't exist! Remember it's only for a week, so if something isn't quite right you can probably live with it or improvise if necessary.

@thesparkthatbled

I am always in pursuit of the perfect cottage and booked quite a few when mine were small.

I always used cottages.com or similar, they have filters for child friendly etc. Or you can check if they provide a cot or high chair (even if you don't want to use these it's a good indicator that babies/toddlers are welcome/catered for)

I would recommend reading right to the end of any description, sometimes something is mentioned like a stream in the garden or other potential hazards.

You can end up going down a rabbit hole trying to find the perfect place with every child friendly aspect, but sometimes that just doesn't exist! Remember it's only for a week, so if something isn't quite right you can probably live with it or improvise if necessary.

Thanks that's true I'm probably overthinking it.

@BeakyWinder

I wouldn't book a cottage without looking through all the pictures anyway, it's not a massive chore really.

It does when you have a baby who barely sleeps and you have very limited time to search. Id like the most efficient ways of searching and then can really work out from those last few places.

Thanks to those who provided website names and links.

I've booked many places with a baby then turned toddler. I use filters on Airbnb so I go for 2 rooms, a washing machine, parking available etc using the filters you narrow things down pretty quickly.