When traveling with a small child, parents often make due with sub-optimal accommodations relative to what is typically enjoyed in their homes. One case in point is the inadequate lighting often encountered in hotels and guest rooms that make it difficult for late-night/early-morning child care. What is desired is dim, unobtrusive ambient light. What is often provided are bright bedside lamps and harsh ceiling lights with inconveniently-located switches.
One inconsiderate solution involves turning on the ceiling or lamp lights at 3:27 AM to tend to one’s crying child. Babies and significant others love that. Non-green options include leaving the bathroom lights on overnight with the door slightly ajar. Neither of those options appealed to us.
After a quick trip to Target and $5 from the change jar, our travel kit is now equipped with an LED nightlight. After two states, ten days and a couple dozen late-night admittances to the Owen opera, I wholeheartedly recommend a night light when traveling with small kids. A small flashlight also works but remember where you put it and don’t forget the batteries.
If you have been following my blog, you know TB has a complete repertoire of looks she gives me based on the situation at hand. By the time we reached the top of the escalator she had hit me with disbelief, dismay, anger, sympathy and solace. I just gave her the puppy dog look since I earned them all. She quickly switched into problem solving mode (one of the things I love about her) and about 30 minutes later she had salvaged our trip and finagled better seats on a later flight. I don’t know how she does it but I’m grateful to have her quarterbacking the home team in such situations.