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So, if you landed on this post, you are either looking for a baby friendly Airbnb or want to learn how to make YOUR vacation rental baby friendly. And while this post is written for other Airbnb hosts, it may be helpful to travelers as well. That first family vacation with a baby can feel a little daunting, but if you stay with an Airbnb superhost who has made their space baby friendly, it will feel like home. So, those of you traveling will want to look for these things in an Airbnb rental before booking your stay.

Why Trust Us?

There are over 4 million Airbnb hosts with over 5.6 million Airbnb listings worldwide and a lot of opinions out there, but we believe that we have found a formula that works. Not only are we travelers ourselves, but we are head over heels in love with the area we host in. We are knowledgeable and provide a concierge-style service for all of our Airbnb rental guests. This includes custom recommendations and tips, accommodating special requests whenever possible, providing a clean and safe space to call home, and truly connecting with each and every guest.

Because we love what we do, we have been able to provide a 5-star experience. And are very proud to say that at the time I am updating this post in August 2023, we have a 4.98 rating with over 500 reviews!

How to Create Baby Friendly Airbnb

Today, I want to share some tips on making your Airbnb somewhere that is appealing for guests to stay with their little ones. Guests have a LOT of Airbnb rentals to choose from when booking a vacation, and this is a great opportunity for you to stand out. I will be sharing must-have products as well as important things to consider when hosting young families.

I think that making an Airbnb baby-friendly, when appropriate, will give you a much better chance of getting booked in the off-season and shoulder seasons when younger families can travel outside of school calendars. In my one-bedroom condo near Rosemary Beach, Florida, over 50% of my off-season guests book my unit primarily because I offer a variety of baby items to make a weekend getaway with a baby a little bit easier.

But before we get into that, it is critical to ask yourself whether your vacation rental SHOULD be baby-friendly.

And I do want to say that there is a big difference between kid friendly and baby friendly vacation rentals and a whole different set of guest needs. Trust me. Those bunk beds in one of our condos, while they do make for a fun Airbnb for kids eight and ten-year-old, are useless to parents of a toddler. So, in this case, when I say baby friendly, I am referring to guests traveling with a child under the age of two.

Should your Airbnb even be baby friendly?

The beautiful thing about Airbnb is that not all spaces are equal. There truly is something for everyone, and while you can provide the perfect place for ANYONE, you can’t necessarily provide the perfect place for EVERYONE. And that is ok!

It’s so important to focus on your strengths both as a host and as a space and understand both your guests’ needs and also what you can (and can’t) provide. Think about who your vacation rental is suitable for!

Do couples with babies travel to your destination?

You can make your condo as baby friendly as you want, but if you are located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, there is a pretty high likelihood that a young family visiting in February won’t have a 5-star experience. In that case, ask yourself if you see travelers with a baby even choosing to stay with you. You may be better served catering to couples. I will say, however, that it is fairly easy to travel anywhere with little ones these days, and family travel is a major part of our lives, so I highly encourage it. But that doesn’t always mean that you will be the best place for them to stay.

So, before you buy a bunch of gear, take a minute to ask yourself, am I gaining anything by making my vacation rental baby friendly? Yes, I am looking at YOU with the cute beach shack located on an out-island of the Bahamas, only accessible by boat. A bunch of baby gear probably isn’t your best investment.

Is the space and location of your Airbnb family friendly?

Are you hosting guests in a treehouse in North Georgia? Regardless of how hard you try, I don’t personally think becoming baby friendly is in your best interest. The same goes for condos with no elevator. Guests will struggle to carry a stroller up two flights of stairs each and every time, so leave the owners on the first floor with the opportunity to provide baby friendly accommodations while you market to young couples. Some of the units in our condominium complex are 280 sq feet; even rolling a stroller into them will make it seem incredibly tight.

Is your destination within walking distance of shops and restaurants, which is always a plus when traveling with an infant? Or will guests have to plan to be in and out of the car often? There is so much to consider!

In many of these cases, marketing as baby friendly can backfire on you if your space just isn’t ideal for little ones.

Things to consider before buying baby items for your Airbnb

Before you just run out and grab a pack and play and a huge tub of sand toys, you have to think through some things.  The most important factor, especially when hosting in smaller studios or 1-2 bedroom condos, is storage space.  I personally do not think you should have the baby items sitting around visible to all guests, and you can only offer what you have room to store.  The other important consideration is how easy it is to operate and clean the items that you provide.

Where can you store the baby items?

I wanted to make our newest vacation rental in Seacrest Beach, Florida baby friendly, but at the same time didn’t want it to detract young couples from booking. I didn’t want Mom and Dad to take their first vacation away from the baby, only to be surrounded by baby gear.

And I kept envisioning a newly married couple coming back to the condo after a wine-heavy dinner and a fight breaking out when one of them sees that cute crib and toddler books because one of them decides they should have a baby by now. Maybe that is silly, but I like to envision every scenario!

So, you want to have a place for everything. For example, I have a kitchen cabinet dedicated to baby dishware where we also store a booster seat. Over in the living room area, we have all of the baby books and puzzles on the right side of the cabinet. Last week, my two-year-old nephew visited this condo for the 2nd time since last September, and he ran straight for that cabinet door, knowing what he would find! It made me so happy!

We have a narrow cabinet under the TV in the bedroom that holds a sound machine, blackout shades, extra sheets, crib mattress pads, a first aid kit, etc. The puddle jumper and beach toys are in the closet. And we have the mini crib tucked away in our utility closet and ask our cleaners to set it up prior to guest arrival as needed.

While I would love to offer a playpen, beach tent, and changing table, there is not a place suitable, so we opted not to include those.

How easy are the baby items to clean?

I am always shocked by how many hosts have fabric-covered pack -n-plays in their condos.  Baby gear can get messy!  I only provide items that can be thoroughly wiped down and cleaned.   If a guest uses a pack-and-play and then puts it away messy, it provides an opportunity to really disappoint the next guest.   If you decide to provide items that have fabric, you will need to personally make you clean them often, and sometimes, when managing from afar, this is difficult.   For this reason, I recommend buying easy to clean baby gear.

And who is responsible for cleaning the baby gear?

Cleaning a vacation rental is a big job!  The cleaning team is typically responsible for floors, surfaces, windows, and bathrooms, changing your Airbnb bedding (and hauling off dirty linens to be laundered). Still, typically they don’t pull each and every item from the closet and cabinets to make sure they are clean.  I make it very clear in my house manual and departure checklist that guests need to clean and put away any extras used, such as the baby gear and the small appliances.

Safely operating baby gear and liability

Please make sure that you are providing instructions for guests and frequently make sure that your baby items are in working order. If it is even the slightest bit dangerous, do not provide it. Think about items that can pinch fingers, have a bunch of moving parts, could be recalled, etc. Think through items like safety gates and baby swings.

In some cases, you may find that it may be better all-around to have your guests rent their own baby gear. As always, consult your attorney and/or insurance carrier when deciding on whether or not to provide baby gear in your vacation rental.

Renting baby gear through Baby Quip instead

I often recommend Baby Quip to my guests. This company has made travel with kids so much easier. At Baby Quip, you can rent anything from a full-size crib to a Bogg bag, cart seats to wagons, and literally everything in between — even beach toys! Cindy is the Baby Quip lady that my sister often uses when visiting the 30A beaches, and her staff is great!

Click here to learn more about BabyQuip!

10 must-haves for creating a baby friendly Airbnb

If you do want to make one of your Airbnb listings baby friendly, here are ten items that I think you should provide! These are inexpensive ways to bring your listing to the next level, and most are small and easy to store and clean. I personally have all but one in my one-bedroom condo on 30A.

I always suggest including photos of the items in your Airbnb listings and also including detailed information on where items are stored, how to use them, and guest expectations for cleaning and putting away items in your Airbnb house manual.

Mini Crib

We provide a mini crib in both of our one-bedroom condos on 30A. It is small enough to fit in our utility closet, and the mattress folds inside. We ask our cleaners to pull it out and set it up when a guest requests it in advance. It has great reviews.

The mattress that came with it was on the thinner side, so I recommend buying a 3″ mini crib mattress for it. This wooded mini crib is easy to wipe clean and fits nicely in a couple of different places within our condo, allowing parents to decide if they want the baby in the bedroom or out in the hall/living room.

We also have several mini crib mattress pads and a bunch of mini crib sheets available in a cabinet. The mini crib uses pack-n-play size mattress pads and sheets.

Should you put a mini crib, full-size crib, or pack and play in your baby friendly Airbnb?

As I mentioned above, I think that a crib is a much better choice than a pack-n-play when it comes to keeping it looking clean and fresh. It still provides a place for the baby to sleep and for parents to set their little one down while staying clean and avoiding soiled and smelly fabrics.

If you have the space, offering a full-size crib is always an added benefit. If you own a large vacation rental home that caters to guests with children, it will be easier to store one than if you own a townhouse or condo investment property. We simply would not have a place to store a crib in our 30A condos.

Remember, your guests can ALWAYS bring their own pack-n-play or rent one from Baby Quip. The same goes for a full-size crib.

Sound Machine

A sound machine will be an added benefit for all travelers! We actually have the sound machine shown below in all three of our condos. You will find that some guests prefer a baby-specific sound machine such as the Hatch, and in that case, it will be easy for them to pack and continue to use with their smartphone. You may recognize this from my list of 7 Airbnb must haves!

Black Out Shades For Travel

Black Out shades are always a great idea for vacation rentals. However, we love the light and like to keep our places light and airy.  We love waking up with a little bit of sunlight when in a tropical place — like the beach.  So, we provide guests with a travel black-out shade that easily suctions the window.  If you travel often with kids, you may even want to pick one of these up for your own use.  They are portable and come in so handy!

These are especially necessary for a baby-friendly vacation rental since the baby obviously sleeps during the day at naptime and oftentimes, in mid-summer, may need to go down for the night while the sun is still out.

Baby First Aid Kit

You should always have a first aid kit in your vacation rental, and we make sure there is a regular one in each of our vacation rentals. Still, when hosting families with infants, it is also very helpful to have a baby first aid kit available.  Look for a complete one with baby nail clippers because that is probably the most needed baby product that parents find themselves looking for while traveling with a baby.

Easy to Clean Baby Seat

A place for a baby to eat is crucial when traveling with kids around the age of 1. Look for a convertible high chair-style booster seat that can act as both a place to dine and a place to sit. And the same advice that I gave on the pack-n-play exists here. DO NOT buy one with a bunch of fabric. Make sure that it is easy to clean.

Books & Puzzles

Board books and small toys are always great to have on hand. Again, easy to wipe clean is key here. We provide an adorable set of Baby Lit books for our guests as well as a small pack of puzzles that my 3-year-old nephew absolutely loved playing with on his last visit.

Beach or Outdoor Toys

Consider your location and provide some extras. If you are hosting in a beach destination, sand toys are always helpful. Make sure they are easy to carry and easy to store. We absolutely love this little backpack set from Hape Toys. The mesh bag helps allow a lot of the sand to fall off before you even get back to the condo.

Baby Dishwear / Platewear

Make sure that your kitchen has some baby or toddler friendly plate ware, drinkware, and silverware. Small plastic or silicone sets are great. We bought ours at Homegoods, but you can pick up a set like this one at Amazon.

We also make sure to provide a bottle brush in the kitchen cabinet with the baby items. Drying racks are always helpful too!

Life Jackets or Puddle Jumpers

If your vacation rental has a pool, it’s nice to provide life jackets or puddle jumpers. There have been times when I was down at our condos myself and overheard a frustrated family who forgot one. When I offered to let them borrow ours, they were delighted!

Bath Seat or Baby Bath Tub

So, this is the one item that we don’t include simply because I don’t have anywhere to store it. But if you can, a baby bath seat is a really nice item to include in your vacation rental as they are burdensome to travel with but often a necessity.

Additional ways to make your Airbnb baby friendly

I hope you found those ten items helpful and consider using them in your baby-friendly vacation rental. There are a number of other things that you can do to make your space even more enjoyable for a family with a baby. Most of these are free and easy accommodations to make that will set you apart from other Airbnb hosts. It’s the superhost touch!

Put Corner Guards Up

If you have coffee tables or end tables with sharp corners, cover them with transparent stick-on corner guards. We use these, and they are great!

Remove Knick Knacks

Limit the number of decorations in your vacation rental. Opt for items that are out of reach for little hands. These items often gather dust anyway! Also, make sure that you have suitable areas for the crib and mini crib. This means a wall or space where electronics and decor are out of reach. You want to make sure you do not have large wall art hanging on the wall where guests will likely place the crib.

Protect Outlets

Outlet protectors are an easy way to baby proof your vacation rental!

Consider a King Size Bed for Your Vacation Rental

Because we knew we wanted a baby/toddler friendly space for guests in our newest 30A condo, we opted to replace the queen bed with a king bed. We realize that oftentimes toddlers will end up in bed with their parents while traveling, and that extra space goes a long way.

Provide Baby-Friendly Airbnb Recommendations

One of the secrets to being an amazing Airbnb host is knowing the area well. Owning in an area that you love and frequently visit makes a world of difference when it comes to providing curated recommendations to your guests.

I never give two guests the same set of recommendations. I take into consideration the length of stay, ages of guests, day of the week, and interests. For example, a popular restaurant in Rosemary Beach (Pescado 30A) is ages 18+. However, children are allowed during lunch Wednesday -Saturday and for Sunday brunch. So, if my guests are staying Monday through Friday, I always suggest they keep a visit to Pescado in mind for lunch on Wednesday or Thursday.

I always recommend my favorite coffee shop and ideas on where to stroll once you pick up a nice warm cup. It’s little touches like this that really make a difference!

Strong Internet Connection

Of course, a strong internet connection is important in a vacation rental as many people work from home, but it’s also important for families. Obviously, with older kids, offering a Roku TV and access to streaming services is an added bonus, but these days baby monitors, owlets, and other devices rely on internet connections. My sister’s Nanit monitors allow her to join us downstairs (just below the balcony) at the pool during nap time.

Lots of Hooks

I am the queen of hooks. We have at least a dozen of these hooks in all of our condos and get so many great comments on them. They help keep things out of the reach of little ones and help the space feel as organized as possible.

Provide Extra Trash Bags and Paper Products

We provide guests with a starter set of toiletries, paper towels, toilet paper, detergent, etc., but I always like to have a big roll of scented trash bags in our condos. Think about it. When guests travel with babies, they travel with diapers! I also make sure to have paper plates in the cabinet as well.

Make Room For The Stroller

You’ll want to rethink that cute little entry table. Make sure that guests can easily get their stroller into your space and also have a semi-open area to store it in. This is why we made our one-bedroom condo baby friendly but specifically don’t market our studio condo as baby friendly.

Full-Size Refrigerator and Freezer

If your space only has a small kitchenette, like our Seacrest Beach condo with bunk beds, then it probably isn’t going to be an ideal candidate for a baby friendly accommodation. Having ample refrigerator and freezer space is key; we even make sure to have several ice packs in the freezer for parents on the go.

On-Site Laundry

Either have laundry facilities available within your vacation rental or include clear instructions on where the nearest one is. If you have kids, you know.

Be Honest and Up Front With Your Airbnb Guests

Making expectations is very important when hosting people at your vacation rental. This is an opportunity to shine as an Airbnb superhost!

If you see a booking come through with an infant and your space is not suitable for young children, say something. Guests have 48 hours after booking to cancel a reservation on Airbnb with no penalty, and I have told several guests that I didn’t think we were a good fit for them. I often include recommendations on a different area or a unit that better fits their needs.

Sometimes, it’s as simple as a friendly message saying that you wanted to just quickly verify that they are aware that the space is 325 sq feet and that it will be tight with two babies. For some, that is ok! And having that conversation right away is valuable. I have my listings set up where guests leave a little message when they book. I can quickly determine if we are on the same page, if they really read the details of my listing, and so forth.

I personally would rather lose a booking than host a guest that I know won’t be happy in my space.

On the other hand, if you have great amenities for couples traveling with a baby — toot your own horn!

I hope that you found this article helpful and can use my tips to make your Airbnb baby friendly – or not if you so choose! And I plan to write another article shortly on how to create a fun Airbnb for kids!

Rent our Seacrest Beach Airbnb Vacation Rentals

We love being Airbnb superhosts and work so hard to provide a five-star experience for our Airbnb guests. You can click here to view all 3 of our Seacrest Beach vacation rentals! We would love the opportunity to host you down on 30A! And if you have a baby — you know we have you covered! We love the 30A area so much and really love all things Florida in general. Because we truly know the area and spend a lot of time there ourselves, we have so many great recommendations to help you make the most out of your visit — whether you have a little one with you or not!

Become an Airbnb Superhost

If you are considering investing in a short-term vacation rental property and becoming an Airbnb host, you have come to the right place! In fact, I have an entire section here on my blog about our journey so far, with tips on everything from financing condos to choosing the best bedding for your Airbnb. I always love to chat about my experience and am always happy to share my experiences with you. Do feel free to leave me a comment here on this blog post, or you can leave me a comment or message on either of our Instagram account below.

Thinking about becoming an Airbnb host? Click here to find out what you can earn!

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