A Guide for Traveling Parents - Hiring a Babysitter at Your Hotel

By Call Emmy Team ยท September 1, 2026

You packed the kids' clothes, snacks, chargers, favorite stuffed animals and approximately 37 things you probably won't use.

You made it to the hotel.

And then you realize something.

You would really, really like to go out to dinner without the kids.

Maybe you're traveling for a wedding and the reception isn't exactly toddler-friendly. Maybe you're attending a conference with an evening event. Maybe you have concert tickets. Or maybe you're on a family vacation and would love three hours to have an actual conversation with your partner over dinner.

But your regular babysitter is hundreds of miles away.

Can you hire a babysitter to come to your hotel?

Yes. Hotel babysitting is an option for traveling families, and it may be easier to arrange than you think.

Here's how it works and what parents should know before booking.

Can a Babysitter Watch My Children at a Hotel?

Quick answer: Yes.

Parents can hire a babysitter to care for their children at a hotel while they attend dinner, a wedding, conference, concert, business event, or other activity.

The babysitter typically comes to your hotel and cares for your children in your room or suite.

One important thing to understand is that a "hotel babysitter" may not actually work for the hotel.

Some hotels provide guests with referrals to local childcare companies or agencies. Parents can also find childcare independently through babysitting platforms, nanny agencies, or professional childcare services.

Regardless of how you find your sitter, you should understand exactly who is providing the childcare and how that person has been screened.

Why Do Parents Hire Babysitters While Traveling?

There are plenty of reasons.

Parents may need childcare for:

And sometimes the need isn't planned at all.

Maybe another caregiver couldn't make the trip. Maybe plans changed after you arrived. Maybe the kids are exhausted and taking them to a three-hour dinner suddenly sounds terrible for everyone involved.

Having access to childcare while traveling gives parents options.

How Do You Find a Safe Hotel Babysitter?

When you're far from home, the biggest question usually isn't whether someone is available.

It's whether you can trust them.

Don't be afraid to ask exactly how a babysitter has been screened.

The word "vetted" can mean very different things depending on the company or platform.

Ask what the screening process actually includes.

Depending on the provider, screening might include identity verification, criminal background searches, county-level criminal searches, sex offender registry searches, references, interviews, skills assessments, and other evaluations.

You should also understand who performs the screening and what happens before a caregiver is allowed to accept bookings.

Call Emmy uses a multi-step screening process before caregivers can provide services through the platform. You can read more about how Call Emmy vets caregivers on our Safety page.

Check Your Hotel's Visitor Policy

Before your babysitter arrives, make a quick call to the front desk.

Hotels have different policies about visitors.

Some elevators require a room key to reach guest floors. Some properties may require visitors to check in. Others may ask hotel guests to meet visitors in the lobby.

Simply ask:

"We have a babysitter coming to our room this evening. Is there anything we need to do for them to access our floor?"

It takes two minutes and can prevent a logistical mess right when you're trying to leave.

Give Yourself Time Before You Leave

If possible, have your babysitter arrive 15 to 30 minutes before you need to go.

Travel can already throw children off their normal routines. They're sleeping somewhere unfamiliar, eating different foods and probably having much busier days than they do at home.

Give your children a chance to meet the sitter while you're still there.

Show the sitter around the room and explain where you've put everything they might need.

For younger children, walking through their normal bedtime routine can be particularly helpful.

Then leave without rushing.

What Should You Tell a Hotel Babysitter?

Remember that a hotel room doesn't contain all the things your sitter could normally find in your house.

Before leaving, make sure your caregiver knows:

Make sure diapers, wipes, pajamas, bottles, medications, snacks, comfort items and anything else your children may need are easy to find.

You should also discuss where the babysitter may take the children.

Can they walk around the hotel?

Can they go to the lobby?

Can they order room service?

Can they leave the room?

Clear expectations make the evening easier for everyone.

What About the Hotel Pool?

Hotel pools deserve special consideration.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends multiple layers of protection around hotel pools and other water hazards and emphasizes close, attentive supervision around water.

Unless swimming is specifically part of your childcare plans and you've discussed it carefully with your caregiver, keeping the kids away from the pool while you're gone is the simplest option.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has additional guidance for parents on keeping children safe in and around hotel rooms.

Decide How You Want the Babysitter to Communicate

Some parents want frequent updates.

Others want one text after bedtime.

And some would really like to eat dinner without checking their phones every seven minutes.

Tell your sitter what you prefer before leaving.

You might say:

"Please text me once he's asleep."

"Send me an update around 8:00."

"Call me if anything comes up."

Setting expectations ahead of time means your caregiver doesn't have to guess how much communication you want.

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Hotel Babysitter?

If you already know you'll need childcare during your trip, booking ahead is smart.

Weekend evenings, holidays, conferences, weddings, concerts, and major events can increase demand for babysitters.

But sometimes you don't realize you need childcare until you're already there.

Maybe your plans changed.

Maybe someone invited you to dinner.

Maybe you've spent nine consecutive hours sightseeing with your children and suddenly an adults-only meal sounds like the greatest vacation activity anyone has ever invented.

Last-minute babysitting may be available depending on the location, timing, and caregiver availability.

So even if you didn't arrange childcare before your trip, it's still worth checking.

Is Hotel Babysitting Only for Date Nights?

Definitely not.

Hotel babysitting can be especially useful for parents traveling for work.

One parent might be attending a conference while the other has a meeting. Both parents might need to attend an evening reception. A conference agenda might include a dinner where bringing children isn't practical.

Weddings create similar situations.

And sometimes parents simply want to do something that isn't appropriate or interesting for their children.

Hiring a babysitter doesn't mean your family vacation suddenly isn't a family vacation.

It means everyone doesn't have to participate in every activity.

A Little Childcare Can Completely Change a Family Trip

Traveling with children can be wonderful.

It can also be a logistical masterpiece.

Meals, naps, unfamiliar beds, transportation, activities and schedules all require planning.

Childcare can give parents something that's often missing from family travel: flexibility.

The kids can eat pizza, put on pajamas, read books and go to bed.

You can go to the wedding reception.

Have dinner.

Attend the conference event.

See the concert.

Celebrate your anniversary.

Or simply spend a few uninterrupted hours together.

And then everyone gets back to the family vacation tomorrow.

Need a Babysitter While You're Traveling?

Call Emmy connects families with vetted caregivers for date nights, travel, events, last-minute needs and everyday childcare.

Whether you're planning ahead or you're already at the hotel wondering if you can possibly find someone for tonight, check to see if a Call Emmy caregiver is available in your area.

Ready for a few hours to yourself? Book a sitter with Call Emmy and enjoy your night.