I get so many questions about traveling with a child, specifically the logistics of sharing a room. There's no magic answer; we bunk up and have spent plenty of time tiptoeing around a sleeping baby, but after 2 years and countless trips, we've learned how to do it right.
Obviously renting an Airbnb and having separate rooms makes it easier, but that isn't always an option (or a preference depending on where we're traveling). So when we have to share, here's how we make it work.
SOUND ON
My biggest piece of advice is white noise. We use this sound machine and it's LOUD. It helps drown out noise from other hotel guests, provides barrier for my husband and I when we need to move around the room, and it gives me peace of mind that we aren't disturbing anyone else in the hotel. Plus, it's been one of Charley's biggest sleep cues since he was a newborn.
TRAVEL CRIBS
Usually we ask for a hotel crib, but for road trips (or European travel where the cost of renting a hotel crib was astronomical), we bring our own. This one is really great for traveling, has a plush foam mattress and weighs about 10lbs all in. Plus, you can pack around it with diapers and bedding.
We have used this pack n play when visiting friends and family. They're inexpensive and well made, plus they work well for infants and toddlers. This one is a little bit more expensive, but super comfy and well designed. Keep in mind, air travel with either of these would be a challenge. You can certainly pay to have it checked*, but they're big and bulky and may get damaged in transit.
*Always check your airlines policy before traveling. Some are pretty flexible about free checked items for kids, others have stricter rules about what can and cannot be checked.
When your baby is old enough for bedding, I find that bringing along a favorite blanket or pillow helps make a new space feel like home. We love this brand for cozy toddler pillows and baby blankets. And of course, we can't leave home without these. Whatever your kiddos favorite stuffed animal is, bringing them along makes everything feel cozier.
OK, WHERE DO I PUT THIS THING?
Truth be told, Charley usually sleeps in the bathroom. If we have a big enough, walk-in shower, that's often the best place (dark, quiet, private). We've had walk-in closets that also do the trick, but 9 times out of 10, he's sleeping in the bathroom. It's not glamorous, but he gets a great night of sleep and my husband and I aren't worried about waking him.
So that’s it. Baby in the bathroom. The end!