Bring a sheet for the hotel Pack ‘N Play

One way you can help simplify your travels is by taking advantage of hotel portacribs where they are offered. By and large, hotels that offer a “crib” actually provide a basic Pack ‘N Play type of play yard, rather than a crib. And this makes good sense. For guests arriving with infants through toddlers, a Pack ‘N Play is a one-size-fits all option that few babies and toddlers can climb out of.

What I’ve found isn’t one-size-fits all about the hotel Pack ‘N Play is the bedding provided to go with it. Most often, you’ll get an extra hotel bed sheet sized for a queen or sometimes single rollaway bed. Sure, you can wrap the bottom mattress of the Pack ‘N Play like a mummy, and do your best to tuck away stray corners and smooth out the wrinkles, but even then you are often left with a cold, crisp mattress to receive your snoozing baby—as you lean WAY over to place him upon it while trying not to wake him.

I’ve always tucked in a couple of our babies’ blankets from home to help keep things cozy as we travel, with our familiar scent of home. But a smarter move I started making was to start bringing along my own snug-fitting, ultra-cozy crib sheet, laundered with same said familiar scent of home.

I always call ahead to see if the crib offered is a Pack ‘N Play or some other variation so I know if it will work for our child’s age and stage (eg. some minicribs are no match for an 18-month-old—in which case you might want to bring your own travel bed or rent baby gear at your destination). From now on when it’s a Pack ‘N Play, this cozy crib sheet goes in the suitcase.

What I love about this particular Eddie Bauer quilted playpen sheet (which I should mention I bought with my own dime) is that it’s not only soft and cozy, but the quilting also helps muffle the sounds of a rolling baby or tot that can sometimes disturb a sensitive sleeper. Including me when I stay in strange places.