Making your holiday home child-friendly
Families with young children are a big market in the holiday home world so advertising your property as suitable for under-5s is worth thinking about. However, decking out your home so that it's ideal family territory also takes some thought!
To "child-proof" your home there's plenty that can be done. Children are inquisitive, not to mention energetic when a bit older, so make sure you've got the whole house covered when you're thinking of protecting your guests. If you have fragile items, then make sure they're above child height, saving your tears as well as those of the children!
They may be smaller in size, but packing for children can often be more time-consuming and tricky than preparing Mum and Dad's suitcase. So why not lighten their load a little? Little things like bibs, bottles and sterilisers, even a spare stroller/pram, can make the world of difference. Don't just stop at larger items like cots and highchairs, but go that extra step and show that you've really thought how to make the parents' life easier. If you have children, think what you need(ed) to cart around with you and use that as a starting point!
An inventory is a good way of keeping an eye on the smaller items, if you're worried about them going missing.
If you're stuck for ideas on how to make your house the perfect family holiday home, then read on...
Child-proof safety plugs - Having some child-proof safety plugs will mean that younger guests can't stick their fingers into plug sockets and endanger themselves, giving parents that extra peace of
mind.
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Folding baby bath - Washing a baby in a sink isn't an ideal solution and using the bath can be dangerous, so it's a good idea to have a baby bath to hand.
- A tub with an inflatable bottom makes the experience a lot comfier for baby and because it folds away it can easily be stored when it's not needed.
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Bibs - They may be little, but even the most efficient packer can forget something as simple as bibs!
- Bibs soon get messy, so having more than one for young guests is a good idea and will mean less washing for parents. Waterproof ones are even better, as they can just be wiped clean.
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Baby monitor - Even when their child is safely tucked up in bed, it's still important for parents to monitor them.
- A portable receiver means that parents can move about downstairs and "take" their child with them so they won't miss a sound.
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Folding highchair - Eating with your family should be fun, but if you're trying to balance a child on your knee and feed them at the same time, it could prove somewhat less pleasurable
- Having a highchair for guests' use will make mealtimes a lot easier.
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Pushchair - When all the luggage is packed in the car, there might not be room for your guests to stow their pushchair too.
- Having just a simple pushchair waiting for them at their holiday home will make travelling a lot easier, especially if they're coming by plane or train.
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Child's safety gate - Installing a safety gate at the bottom and top of the stairs or into the kitchen will help to make your holiday home more child-friendly, especially for a curious toddler in unusual surroundings.
- An extendable gate means that it will be easy to fit, no matter how wide or narrow the gap.
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Universal insect net - A universal insect net can be clipped onto cots, pushchairs and prams, shielding young visitors from bites and buzzes both at home and out in the open.
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Door slam stoppers - Little fingers and slamming doors aren't a good combination and will inevitably lead to tears.
- Investing in some door slam stoppers, which fit onto most doors, is a cheap and sensible preventative measure and will stop fingers getting trapped and will also mean fewer noisy slamming doors!
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