Guests with babies and newborns in your holiday home: what they need and how to prepare

Guests with babies under one year old are a segment that almost no one works with well. Most owners think that just a crib and a high chair are enough. But a family with a newborn has very different needs from a family with 3 or 5-year-olds. And if you meet those needs well, you become their favorite refuge. I tell you what they really ask for, what it costs to prepare, and why this niche pays without complaints.

Why parents of babies are an interesting niche

A family with a 2, 6, or 10-month-old baby travels differently. They don't wake up early to go to the beach at 9. They don't dine out at 10 PM. They don't move much. They spend many hours in the accommodation.

This means two things:

• They value highly that the apartment is well equipped (more hours inside = more details matter).
• They are willing to pay more for comfort and to avoid traveling with half an arsenal.

And most importantly: when they find a place that works for them, they repeat. And they recommend it to the WhatsApp group of the park. Free marketing.

Do not confuse "families with children" with "families with babies". They are different profiles, with different needs and different complaint capacities. The first-time parent tired and sleepy is the most demanding guest you will have.

What parents of babies are really looking for

Beyond the usual crib. This is what makes the difference:

Real safety, not decorative

A family with a baby starting to crawl or walk scans the house in the first 10 minutes looking for dangers. Outlets at their height, glass table corners, stairs without barriers, balconies with gaps, furniture that falls if grabbed.

If they detect 3 or 4 dangers, they leave with a bad feeling for the entire stay. And they mention it in the review.

What to include:

• Outlet protectors (€10 for a pack).
• Corner protectors on low tables (€5).
• Safety gate for stairs if your apartment has them (€30-50).
• Cabinet locks with cleaning products (€15).

Total investment: less than €100. Much less than a bad review.

Specific baby equipment

This is where most owners fall short. A crib alone is not enough.

Equipment	Approximate Cost	Why it matters
Travel cot with decent mattress	€80-150	Cheap Ikea cribs are uncomfortable, babies don't sleep
High chair	€40-80	Essential from 6 months
Baby bathtub	€15-25	Washing a baby in a shower tray is impossible
Changing pad	€20-40	Or a mat on top of a dresser
Baby bouncer or lounger	€30-60	To leave the baby while cooking
Baby monitor (optional)	€40-80	Differentiates, few owners include it
Bottle warmer	€20-30	Highly appreciated
Bottle sterilizer	€30-50	Or a large pot, but sterilizer adds value

Total investment if fully equipped: €300-500. You recover this in 4-5 bookings from families paying €20-30 more per night for having all this.

Kitchen ready for preparing bottles and purees

Parents of babies use the kitchen much more than a normal tourist.

What must be included:

• Microwave (to warm bottles and purees quickly).
• Hand blender or food processor (to make purees).
• Small pot (to sterilize or cook small quantities).
• Child-specific dishes: plastic plates, small cutlery, spill-proof cups.
• Jug with filtered water or access to bottled water.

Accessible washing machine and drying rack

Babies stain clothes all day. If your apartment doesn't have a washing machine, you're out of the market for families with babies. Point.

And a washing machine that takes 3 hours in normal cycle is not suitable. Provide a short guide explaining the quick cycle.

What to include in the bathroom

The bathroom is where life gets most complicated with a baby.

• Baby bathtub (already mentioned).
• Small specific towels, preferably with a hood.
• Non-slip mat in the shower or bathtub.
• A small potty if space allows (for slightly older children, but costs €10).
• Neutral soap for babies as a welcome gift (€3).

The bedroom: where the baby sleeps matters

This is a detail most overlook. Where do you place the crib?

If your apartment has only one bedroom and you put the crib in the living room, parents can't watch TV or dine without waking the baby. Bad.

Ideal:

• If you have a large main bedroom, the crib fits next to the parents' bed (which is how most sleep).
• If you have two bedrooms, better to place the crib in the main one (small babies sleep with parents).
• If you have a spacious living room, a quiet corner with little light also works.

Indicate in the listing where the crib can be placed. It's information they look for.

Darkness and silence

Babies need darkness to nap during the day. If your blinds or curtains don't block out light, parents will suffer.

If you have good blinds and curtains that truly darken the room, highlight this. If not, invest €50-100 in blackout curtains. You'll notice the difference.

What to include in the welcome manual

A specific section for families with babies in your welcome manual makes a big difference.

Include:

• Nearest 24-hour pharmacy.
• Pediatrician or nearest emergency pediatric services.
• Supermarket with baby products (milk, diapers, jars).
• Nearby playgrounds suitable for babies.
• Family-friendly cafes or restaurants.
• If there's a pool, hours and depth.

How to communicate this in the listing

If you have all this and don't mention it, it’s useless. Parents filter by "baby-friendly" or look for words like "crib", "high chair", "baby bathtub" in the description.

What to do:

• Add all baby amenities in the corresponding Airbnb/Booking fields.
• Dedicate a paragraph in the description to families with babies. List everything you have.
• Take a specific photo of the baby corner: assembled crib, high chair, bathtub, bouncer.
• Mention if it's adapted for crawling babies (protectors, barriers).

How much more you can charge

Depends on the market, but generally:

• A well-equipped apartment for babies can charge between €15 and €30 more per night compared to one with just a crib.
• Reduces cancellations (parents who find your apartment won't look elsewhere).
• Increases long stays (families visiting grandparents or staying 7-14 days).
• Improves review ratio (satisfied parents write long, detailed reviews).

Common mistakes that kill the reservation

• Old, rusty travel cot or with a sagging mattress.
• High chair without belts or with food residues.
• Saying "accepts babies" but having nothing specific.
• Slippery floors without rugs.
• Low glass furniture (glass coffee tables are the number one enemy).
• Not having a microwave.
• Out-of-reach outlets without protection.

Maintenance of baby equipment

Be very careful with this. Baby equipment wears out quickly and must be checked after each booking.

• Crib: check for loose screws, broken slats, stained mattress.
• High chair: deep cleaning after each use, check belts.
• Bathtub: disinfect thoroughly, check non-slip surface.
• Bouncer: check straps and cushion.

If you notice something deteriorated, replace it. A baby using defective equipment is a serious problem.

How Autoregistro fits in

Families with babies travel with at least 3 people: two adults and the baby. And although the baby is not a "traveler" in the tourist sense, the adults must be registered in SES Hospedajes like any other booking. If you also have minor guests at any time, there are specific rules to follow.

Autoregistro is the easiest way to do this: guests fill out a form from their mobile before arrival, the data automatically goes to SES Hospedajes, and you don't have to scan IDs or manually input data. Costs €1 per month per property. Less than a coffee. And it saves you the hassle just when exhausted first-time parents arrive and don't want to fill out papers at your door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I charge extra for having a baby?

I don't recommend it. Charge a slightly higher general rate and present your apartment as "baby-friendly at no extra cost". It's much more attractive than a surcharge.

What travel cot should I buy?

Avoid those under €50, as they tend to have very hard mattresses. Brands like Chicco, Hauck, or Babybjörn have options between €80 and €150 that last for years. Always buy a washable mattress cover separately.

Should I include a baby monitor?

Yes, it's a highly appreciated differentiator and few include it. A basic model without a camera costs €40-60. If you include one with a camera, clearly state at the end of each stay that it is deactivated and explain how it works.

What if I don't want to invest in all this?

At least include a decent crib, high chair, baby bathtub, and outlet protectors. With €200, you position yourself better than 80% of the apartments in your area. You can expand with the extra income you generate.

Should I leave diapers or baby products as amenities?

No diapers (sizes vary). But you can leave neutral soap, wipes, a sample of diaper cream. These are inexpensive details that generate a lot of gratitude and long reviews.