Video Monitor for Child's Room During Trips?

We started travel early on with our daughter, mostly via plane.

I never carried a video or any other type of monitor. I never used a monitor in my home on a regular basis either.

I do agree that the best thing I always took was a night light!

When mine were babies we didn’t have a video monitor, and when we traveled they always slept in the same room.

How old is your daughter? If she is still very young, sure, why not? If it makes you feel better. But if she’s preschool or older you probably don’t need to be checking on her. Just let her sleep. She’ll let you know if she needs you.

N. E.

I've NEVER used a video monitor. I don't know how old your daughter is and why you don't have her in your room with you. If you told us her age and WHO ELSE would be sleeping with her in the room? That would help A LOT. If she's under the age of 10? I don't think she should be ALONE in a hotel room. That's me.

Why not have adjoining rooms and keep the doors open?

If you don't feel comfortable with your daughter sleeping in her own room? Then make sure the room you have is big enough for her too.

I personally think it's crazy to take a video monitor on a vacation with you. If you can't relax and enjoy yourself? What's the point of going on vacation?

Mine are older so we didn't have the video monitor. We had a monitor when they were babies for naps, and stayed with people in large homes, (so used for naps if they were upstairs) but not at night because they either slept with us or just next door. We kept it light. I agree with mamazita - we brought a night light. Ours liked the comfort of that because strange place.

We traveled extensively with our three kids from the time they were infants, both in cars and on planes. I never brought a monitor of any kind because they were either in the room with us or in a room next door, and of course I kept the door slightly ajar so I could hear if they woke up. One small thing to pack that makes a HUGE difference is a night light. Not only for the kids but for you as well, it's nice to have a little light when you wake up in the middle of the night in a strange place. I also had the kids pull their own little rolling suitcases, pretty much from the time they could walk. And they each had a little backpack with small toys and snacks for the plane or car.
Best advice: TRAVEL LIGHT!

never used a video monitor, and ditched the audio baby monitor after they were about 15 months and sleeping consistently thru the night.
never used on on vacation. always had the kids in the same room as us

When my kids were really little (like 4 and under probably) we spent the extra money to get a suite so that we could put kids in one area and us in the other. My kids would not go to sleep while someone else was trying to be awake. It wasn't super easy trying to put two little ones who don't usually share a room to sleep but it was way easier than us trying to share with them. If we didn't get a suite we would try and get a room with a balcony so that we could turn off the lights and my husband and I would sit outside until they were out and then go back in.

Can you provide a little more information:

How old is your daughter?

Will she be the only person sleeping in the room?

It almost sounds as though you're not going to a hotel, but maybe a private home through AirBnB, for example? Or that you're renting a cabin with separate bedrooms? Because travel tips would be quite different depending on whether you're in a family home or at a hotel.

Will your daughter be the only child on this vacation?

Then others might be able to provide helpful insight.

How old is she?

For us, the most important thing was keeping the room dark enough and quiet enough if we were in a hotel with other guests, doors slamming, housekeeping carts, and neighboring TVs. So something for white noise is great unless you think you can depend on the provided clock radio for some static between radio stations (it's fine unless a station kicks in and out!). Clothespins for holding the curtains closed were a lifesaver (still are, for me!). If we rented a cottage, we made sure we had a small fan so there was a breeze in a closed room, and a piece of heavy fabric for hanging over flimsy curtains during naptime. We had a piece of fake leather from the remnant table (no light got through), a few drapery hooks, and the above-noted clothespins.

I'm not sure why you need a video monitor if you'll be in the next room but if it's small and makes you feel better, go ahead. If you have connecting rooms in a hotel, put a hand towel over the top to keep the door from closing on her side (your side has a knob). I agree with the comments below about the sliding doors. Also a doorknob cover to keep her out of the bathroom if she's a toddler, and one for the inside to keep her from pushing the lock if she's in there. If you're renting a cottage or are in an older hotel that may have venetian blinds, take come rubber bands or velcro plant stake strips to coil up the dangling cords.

Small travel games (age appropriate) that were new and unseen before the trip were great for car/plane rides, waiting times at restaurants, and hotel rooms with no amenities. Don't break them out all at once though - ration them!

We didn't start traveling with our son till he was about 4 yrs old but when we did we stayed in a hotel room - so we were all in the same room.
Additional
A night light isn't a bad idea - many hotels have one in the bathroom already but a glow stick might work well too.
In a pinch you can leave the bathroom light on and leave the door barely cracked open.
I'd never leave a kid alone in a hotel room even when napping so a monitor was something we didn't need.
If you have a room with a balcony - make sure the lock bar is locked down so no one can open it without you knowing about it - curious little kids can get into trouble if they can open the balcony door.
Travel light - take just 1 stuffed animal for sleeping with (put in suitcase while you are out during the day) and not so much stuff that it's too hard to keep track of.

i had audio monitors when my boys were babies. but i quit using them- it disturbed MY sleep to be alerted to every murmur and snuffle.

i didn't keep it perfectly dark and quiet for them either. if they were quiet i let 'em be, and if i felt the need to check on them i'd go in and do it.

i guess if it makes you feel better, why not?

but she's not an infant. at 3 she's not likely to suffer SIDS, and at some point she's going to want her mother to quit creeping on her.

i'd actually be less inclined to use a video monitor in a hotel, because how often are you going to be more than a doorway away from her?
khairete
S.