Children and Hotel Room Safety

Parents often worry about whether or not the items their children touch are clean and take precautions against germs and viruses that can be spread through contact. When traveling with children and staying in a hotel room, parents need to be extra cautious. Not only should parents baby proof their room and keep items that could harm an infant or toddler out of reach, they need to make sure the room is is sanitary as well.

According to the AAA Travel Companion in regards to the cleanliness of hotel rooms, "There are no specific cleanliness standards issued by most counties or cities, though many states do have health requirements". In other words hotel rooms do not necessarily have to be germ proof and really clean. For parents, this can be alarming. There are steps that parents can take when staying in a hotel room to protect themselves and their family.

Remove Bedspreads

While most hotels will wash the sheets on the beds after each guest checks out, most only wash the bedspreads occasionally. Bedspreads thus may harbor a variety of germs and substances most adults would not want to have come into contact with their own skin, much less that of a child. Parents should immediately remove the bedspreads and place them out of reach of children.

Disinfect Any Items You Will Be Touching

There are a variety of disinfecting wipes on the market and these are must have when staying in a hotel room with children. According to an article by the Associated Press on MSNBC in 2006, researchers have found viruses on door handles, TV remotes, telephones, refrigerator handles, light switches, coffee makers, pens, faucets and various other items hotel guests use when staying in the room. Parents should wipe down all of these items before their children enter the room in order to sanitize them and to prevent their children becoming ill.

Take a Shower Instead of a Bath

While most hotels do wash the shower stalls and bathtubs after each occupant checks out of a hotel room, it is best to be cautious when bathing. Showering limits the contact with the tub to the feet and even this contact can be avoided with flip flops or water shoes. Filling a potentially germy tub with water and emersing a child in this water may not be safe.

Use Disposable Cups, Not Plastic or Glass

Some hotel rooms provide pre-wrapped paper or styrofoam cups for guest to use and these are safe as they are meant for one time use and can be thrown away. Parents should avoid using or letting their children use plastic or glass cups that previous guests might have used. Hotel staff might think a glass looks clean and decide not to wash it even though it was used by a previous guest.

When all is said and done, if parents follow the above advice and tips, as well as their own instincts, they will be able to create a safe and healthy environment for themselves and their children when staying in a hotel. It will require a little bit of work and effort but will be well worth it in the end.

Hotel Room Safety

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds