Guests with kids under 2 years of age

[Maria1703]

So I just learned that kids under 2 years of age are not charged, which in a way I find fair. On the other hand, I once hosted a family of two with one infant and the mother got to use so many of our white towels to wash her kid's **bleep** with, that in the end it was not so fair for me.

I was told by AirBnb help that in the end it is up to me whether I want to charge for infants or not, but in all honesty I don't know. I don't think my guests will want to be charged. Could I get your opinion on it? 

thank you,

Maria

[Marzena4]

If I were to host infants, @Maria1703, of course I wouldn't charge for a nonexisting crib. But I would for the running water and any other resources that would be used, including towels, tissues etc. This said by a mother of grownups.

[Sarah977]

A not-yet-walking infant can't do much damage apart from the parents not cleaning up baby puke, leaving poopy diapers around, or letting the baby be on the bed or the furniture without a diaper on.  But a two year old can make a lot more mess way more quickly than an adult. Can damage a lot more as well. This of course depends on the way the parents deal with them- some parents are very responsible, others just let the kids go wild.

I'd charge, say, half price for young children. If you find the guest has left the place in great shape, you could always offer to refund this as a goodwill gesture (But I wouldn't mention ahead of time that you might do this- let it be an unexpected surprise and cause for a great review).  Time and experience will tell you whether it is worth your while to host young children without charge.

Also am a mother of grown-ups.

[Sarah977]

Also you might go buy a bunch of inexpensive, soft washcloths to hand to parents of young kids, asking them to please use those for cleaning up the babies during diaper changes, or for spit-ups, rather than your good guest towels. And have a box of baby wipes as well- just put a note on the box saying to dispose of them in the waste basket, not the toilet. Parents should really provide these things themselves, but if they don't, or run out, they are likely to grab whatever is handy (your good white towels).

Big sponges, like the kind you would use to wash a car, are also great for cleaning up spills on the floor, rather than poeple using your kitchen or bathroom towels.