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 Many families with children prefer to stay in vacation homes instead of hotels due to the extra space and value that vacation rentals provide.
The key to targeting families with small children is providing the amenities that they are looking for, as well as, a clean environment with no breakables.
The first thing to do would be to remove any knick-knacks that could be easily (or even not so easily) broken by a curious toddler. Parents don't want to have to constantly worry about their kids breaking valuables in your second home when on vacation. Be sure to update your listing photos after making any changes to your second home's appearance.
Amenities that families with small children are looking for:
• A Portacrib
• A high chair
• Sand toys if you're in a beach locale
• Children's videos
• Plastic plates and cutlery designed for little hands and mouths
• Plastic “sippy” cups. Bonus: Fewer spills.
• A PlayStation or Nintendo gaming system (kids are very adept these days)
• A supply of plug covers
There are several items that might entice parents with small children to stay at your property, but probably aren't a good idea to include for liability reasons. These items are often recalled and unless you want to check the recall sites before each new renter, I'd instruct your renters to bring their own:
• Strollers
• Car seats
• Baby gates
 Once you've outfitted your property with the proper amenities, update your ad to reflect your property's new marketability. On your HomeAway ad, be sure to click the check box “Suitable for children” in the amenities table.
It's also a good idea to let your photos reflect your property's suitability for small children. Including a photo of a smiling tot enjoying your vacation home is sure to get your message across.
Since cleanliness is a huge factor for the parents of crawling tots when selecting a vacation rental home, be sure to emphasize your “impeccable” clean surfaces (ceramic tile floors, etc.) if you have them.
Families with small children make up a huge number of vacation rental travelers and with a few easy additions to your property (whether it be a cabin, condo, cottage, or yurt), you could add a great deal to your bottom line.
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