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Safe and happy holidays

Holidaying with little children can be a load of fun or a total nightmare. Make sure your accommodation is child-safe with this checklist.

Checklist for rented cottages
When you contact an estate agent about renting a holiday house, tell her that the place must be suitable for children. Here are some specifics to check out:

Are there stairs? Do they have banisters? Can you fit a baby gate onto them?

Decks and balconies are very dangerous. Find out whether there are balconies and, if so, which rooms they lead off.

If you can't live without a microwave to sterilise bottles, or a washer and drier, make sure that the cottage you are considering has what you need.

Is there a sheltered, safe place for kids to play? You can't be on the beach all day, so it's great if you can put a blanket in a patch of shade. Ask about fencing and gates, too.

Unless your kids are very neater and clean, you will have a much more relaxing holiday if the house is easy to clean, and the furniture is durable.

If your children sleep in a separate room, make sure that you will be near enough to hear them.

Most of the same concerns should be raised (diplomatically, of course!) if you are staying with family and friends. Remember, your child's safety is paramount. And your own peace of mind is important too – you simply won't be able to relax for a minute if the house has an unfenced pool or a dangerous balcony.

Checklist for hotels
Some of the higher end hotels won't let you bring children under 12, but there are plenty of others that accept children but aren't really child friendly. When you book, make it clear that you are bringing children. Don't forget to check out these details, too:

Some hotels let children under a certain age stay free if they share their parents' room. If you want your children in a separate room, ask about family suites or inter-leading rooms. Are cots available?

If you want to enjoy some romantic grown-up meals with your spouse, you'll need a reliable babysitter in the evenings. Ask if there is someone who does regular babysitting at the hotel

Family-friendly hotels sometimes have videos, games and activities for children. There may also be a kids' pool, jungle gym or other facilities

Is there a children's dining room, or are children welcome in the main dining room? What time does the dining room open? It's useful if there's a casual snack-bar where you can get inexpensive meals throughout the day. Some hotels are very accommodating and will give you freshly cooked vegetables and food from the buffet, so your kids don't live on a diet of toasted sandwiches. A fridge or mini-bar in the room is great, as you can keep a stash of yoghurts, juice and snacks

Many hotels have unfenced swimming pools, and they may have other potentially dangerous areas or facilities. You'll have to make a call on how safe a hotel is for your family, and to do so, you need to know all the risk factors upfront.

Previously published in Your Baby magazine, Subscribe now and save