A lent home with children: preparing for the holiday
A welcoming home is not necessarily suitable for every age. Questions to help prepare beds, equipment and the children’s arrival.
What this article covers
- Describe your stay before confirming dates
- Check the beds, not just their number
- Identify areas that need particular care
Before travelling with children to a lent home, check the beds, access to stairs and water, and the equipment actually available. Tell your host the children’s ages and what you need for planning. Photos and a precise conversation help prepare the stay; they do not replace checking the home on arrival or supervising children.
Describe your stay before confirming dates
A home that suits two adults may not suit a family with a baby and a toddler. State the number of guests, ages, dates and proposed arrival times. Ask where everyone can sleep and which areas will be accessible.
You might send a simple message: “We would be coming with two children aged 2 and 7. Are the bedrooms on the same floor? Do stairs lead directly into the living areas? What equipment should we bring?” Share only the information needed, without publicly disclosing personal details about the children.
Check the beds, not just their number
Ask which bed is intended for each child: its type, dimensions and condition. “Baby bed available” does not tell you exactly what will be provided. Ask for the model and its instructions; do not improvise with added accessories if equipment is incomplete or damaged.
For an infant, France’s Assurance Maladie recommends sleeping on their back in their own bed, with a suitable firm mattress. A sofa or adult bed is not a substitute. In a travel cot, keep the original mattress and do not add another. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and bring your usual equipment if what is offered is unsuitable.
Identify areas that need particular care
Walk through the home with your host or use detailed explanations. For a young child, stairs, windows, balconies and reachable objects deserve particular attention. Recommendations from Santé publique France include appropriate stair gates, furniture kept away from windows and dangerous products stored out of reach.
| Area | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Stairs and upper floors | Which access points can be protected with suitable equipment? |
| Windows and balcony | How do the openings work and what furniture is nearby? |
| Kitchen and storage | Where can medicines, cleaning products and small objects be kept out of reach? |
| Garden and outdoors | Is there access to a road, pond, water feature or pool? |
Do not install a makeshift device to compensate for a hazard. If an important issue cannot be made safe or supervised properly, discuss a different arrangement with your host, or another home. Trust between friends and family also makes it possible to say that a place is unsuitable for this stay.
Pools and other water: plan genuine supervision
Ask whether there is a pool or another water feature, even if you do not intend to swim. Have access and protective equipment explained. France’s DGCCRF notes that requirements vary with the type of pool and that the private in-ground pools concerned must have a standard-compliant safety device.
An alarm, barrier or cover never replaces an adult’s attentive, continuous supervision. When swimming, explicitly agree which adult is watching and who takes over if they need to leave. Do not give that responsibility to another child. Also check that access is closed after use.
Bring what you need without overloading the luggage
A shared list is enough to divide up what is available and what you bring: a suitable chair, linen, tableware, washing supplies and games. Check the condition, instructions and recommended age for borrowed equipment. Ask the host before moving furniture or attaching an accessory.
Find nearby shops and plan the first evening’s meal. If arrival will be late, prepare what you need to put the children to bed without having to rearrange all the bedrooms.
On arrival, walk through the home again together
Take a few minutes to check what was agreed, read the instructions and save an available contact. Note the exact address so you can give it if needed. Another family’s routines may differ from yours: explain to the children which rooms are accessible and the rules appropriate to their age.
With KazaKlub, you can arrange a stay within a trusted circle, with the host’s explicit agreement. This agreement is not a safety certification for the home. Also check the insurance that applies to lending before travelling.
Once you have clarified these needs, the home preparation checklist helps the host organise your welcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is having a cot enough?
No. Check its condition, accessories, instructions and suitability for the child. Arrange another solution if those points cannot be confirmed.
Can supervision be relaxed around a pool with an alarm?
No. Safety devices complement precautions; adult supervision remains essential near water.
Can we add more guests with children at the last minute?
Ask the host first. The capacity, beds and arrangements must remain suitable for everyone present.
Sources and checks
Advice checked on 23 October 2026, using French public-health and consumer-safety references: Assurance Maladie on infant sleep (in French); Santé publique France on preventing accidents at home (in French); DGCCRF on pool safety in France (in French).
Your next stay starts with your circle.
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