Second Home First

Second Home First

[EXPERT] The Kid-Friendly Details Every Vacation Home Needs

May 26, 2026 · 28 min · 8 segments

For a lot of people (myself included), the “dream” isn’t just owning a vacation home that pays for itself—it’s owning a place that your family genuinely loves to visit. But that creates an interesting…

For a lot of people (myself included), the “dream” isn’t just owning a vacation home that pays for itself—it’s owning a place that your family genuinely loves to visit. But that creates an interesting challenge: how do you furnish and design a home in a way that works beautifully for you and your family while also appealing to other traveling families as guests? That’s exactly what we’re, ahem, unpacking today. This Week’s Expert Guest: Sarah Huff is a baby gear & family travel expert, host of the Tiny Travelers podcast, and the Senior Manager of Customer and Community at BabyQuip. *Check out BabyQuip: https://www.babyquip.com?a=e1afd34 and get $20 off using code SUITESUCCESS20 Tune in to learn: –Why designing around the rhythms of a child’s day can completely transform the guest experience –What creates the most stress for families while traveling and how thoughtful hosts can eliminate friction before guests even arrive –The biggest mistakes hosts make when trying to cater to kids –How to create spaces that feel functional for families without feeling cluttered or chaotic –Why family-friendly design can lead to better reviews, repeat bookings, and more memorable stays Key links: –Second Home First Academy: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy *Use code PODCAST for 40% off –Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe –Visit the website: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com –Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst –Find us on Substack: https://www.SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com –Say Hi! Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors: Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y Click the link and enter code HOME20 for an additional 20% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans. Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit. Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean. Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

For a lot of people (myself included), the “dream” isn’t just owning a vacation home that pays for itself—it’s owning a place that your family genuinely loves to visit. But that creates an interesting…

Setting the Stage: Family-Friendly Vacation Rentals0:00 – 2:21

Katie KleinHost

0:00

If you've ever stayed in a vacation rental with kids, then you know the smallest details can make the biggest difference.

Katie KleinHost

0:06

On today's episode, we're talking with a baby gear and family travel expert about the details that make a vacation home feel thoughtful, functional, and more memorable for families, especially your own.

Katie KleinHost

0:18

[upbeat music] What if your 401[k] came with a fire pit and a lake view? That's the question that inspired it all.

Katie KleinHost

0:28

I'm Katie Klein, and living in New York City meant buying a home felt impossible.

Katie KleinHost

0:34

So I decided to flip the script and buy my second home first.

Katie KleinHost

0:38

When I'm not there, it doubles as a short-term rental, covering its costs, building equity, and even turning a profit.

Katie KleinHost

0:46

And best of all, it gives me a place to vacation for free.

Katie KleinHost

0:50

What 401[k] can do that? Every week, join me as we hear from real people who have done the same and experts who can help you do it, too.

Katie KleinHost

0:59

If you thought owning any home, let alone a second one, was out of reach, this is the show for you.

Katie KleinHost

1:06

This is Second Home First.

Katie KleinHost

1:10

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Second Home First.

Katie KleinHost

1:13

I'm your host, Katie Klein, and today we have an exciting expert episode for you all.

Katie KleinHost

1:18

I'm chatting with Sarah Huff, a baby gear and family travel expert, host of the Tiny Travelers podcast, and Senior Manager of Customer and Community at BabyQuip.

Katie KleinHost

1:29

For a lot of people, myself included, the dream isn't just owning a vacation home that pays for itself, it's owning a place that your family genuinely loves to visit.

Katie KleinHost

1:39

But that creates an interesting challenge.

Katie KleinHost

1:41

How do you furnish and design a home in a way that works beautifully for you and your family while also appealing to other traveling families as guests? That's exactly what we're, ahem, unpacking today.

Katie KleinHost

1:54

Sarah shares the highest impact items hosts should consider providing for families, the little details that instantly make parents feel at ease, and why thinking about the rhythms of a child's day can completely transform the guest experience.

Katie KleinHost

2:09

We also talk about what creates stress for families while traveling, the biggest mistakes hosts make when trying to cater to kids, and how to design spaces that feel functional without feeling cluttered.

Read the full transcript.

Create an account to read the whole episode, search across every transcript, and follow the shows you care about.

Sign up Already have an account? Log in