How to Protect Baby Sleep While Traveling

Hotel Stays With a Baby:

How to Support Sleep Away From Home

If you’re traveling with a baby and feeling a little stressed about how sleep will go in a hotel, I wrote this to offer reassurance — with practical steps that support baby sleep in real life, not for perfection.

Sleep is possible while you travel, too.

Below is one aspect of sleep support that can help babies, big kids, and adults alike. 

(If your baby is around 10 weeks old, they often travel more easily than you expect. So take them and go. Do what you can to help them sleep or resettle without worrying about “creating bad habits.)

The Baby Step

Setting the room up for sleep can be surprisingly supportive for your whole family.

When I work with tired moms online, my approach is neuroscience-informed. From both lived experience and years of supporting families, I’ve seen how what I call a soothing sleep space can make a real difference — not only for falling asleep, but for staying asleep too.

(And honestly, who doesn’t appreciate an easy, low-effort sleep win?)

How to Set This Up

Upon booking your room, request that a crib be set up before you arrive. A reminder call before check-in helps.

Set up the sleep space as soon as you get into the room, so you don't feel rushed right before bedtime.

Or better yet — delegate this task to your partner (if applicable), especially while you’re feeding, playing, soothing your baby, or remembering to hydrate yourself.

If your room has a large closet, nook, or walk-in shower that fits a crib, place it there. The farther the crib is from light and noise, the better.

Managing Light

Head to the curtains and, with the lights off, check whether daylight or exterior light is coming in around the edges or above the panels.

• Use hotel hangers with clips to fasten the curtains together in the middle.

• Place a floor lamp, desk, or chair against the outer edges of the curtains to keep them tighter to the wall.

• If light comes in from the bottom of the curtains, prop extra pillows along the base.

• Placing the bath mat along the bottom of the entrance door can reduce hallway light and noise.

  
  

Check for small digital lights that might shine into your or your eyes — often found on TVs, phones, microwaves, or thermostats.

• A face cloth or notepad from the room works well to cover them.

• Unplugging the landline can help too.

Sound + Temperature

A bathroom fan, fan app, or white/brown/pink noise can help buffer hallway sounds, barking dogs, or traffic noise.

Check the thermostat and aim for around 19°C.

Schedule

As much as feels reasonable, keep bedtime close to what you do at home and follow your usual routine — familiarity helps signal to your baby that sleep is coming.

Workarounds for Possible Snags

What if the room doesn’t cool down before bedtime?

It’s okay. Dress your baby lighter than usual — a short-sleeve onesie, diaper, or light sleep sack can help. And don’t forget to adjust for yourself, too.

What if my baby doesn’t fall asleep at their usual time?

No need to panic. New environments can take getting used to.

If your baby generally sleeps well at home, setting the space up thoughtfully often helps night sleep stay intact — even if bedtime is a bit later than usual.

What if we have a rough night?

If possible, try for a 20-minute nap the next day for yourself, and consider an earlier bedtime that night to help your child catch up.

A Gentle Reminder

Sleep doesn’t have to fall apart just because you travelled somewhere new.

This isn’t about getting everything “right.” It’s about trusting yourself — and your baby — in new situations. None of this needs to be perfect.

Your stay is temporary — this setup is enough. Let yourself relax.

If you’d like to SEE a hotel sleep setup in action, check out our Travel Tips series on my Instagram account and follow along if that feels supportive.

Wishing you warm travels — (even if your vacation is in Canada.)

Heather

Sleep and Beyond Consulting

Helping families with connection, confidence and sleep  

Heather Erickson is a Certified Sleep Consultant and founder of Sleep and Beyond Consulting. With nearly a decade of experience supporting babies and families, she helps parents build solid, sustainable sleep using personalized, neuroscience-informed strategies that work for real life.