Las Vegas may not be the first destination you think of when traveling with a 4-month-old, but with the right balance of downtime and a little adventure, it turned out to be a fantastic getaway for us – and actual a really fun trip making our 3rd-born feel like an only child for a weekend!
Between incredible food, poolside relaxation, and even a trip down memory lane for mom and dad, our three-day trip had a little bit of everything.
Day 1: Arrival & Dinner at Zuma
We checked into the Wynn Las Vegas for two nights, a hotel my husband usually stays in for work trip and from the moment we arrived, I knew we’d made the right choice. We stayed at the “sister hotel” Encore before and just like the Encore, the Wynn property is beautiful, elegant, and polished—exactly what you’d expect from a high-end Vegas resort. Prices in the middle of summer are somewhat reasonable, but let’s not fool ourselves: Higher-end and never hotels on the strip are expensive and so is everything at and around the hotel. I am still not over the $11 for a bottle of Fiji water and the fact that a 5-star hotel like the Wynn does not offer at least one complementary water bottle for the room.
Asides from that everything was tip-top. We received a little baby bed and a cute J&J welcome with baby bathing essentials. The views from the room were amazing and the room amenities themselves did not disappoint.
Because our Vegas trip coincided with our wedding anniversary, we had planned to celebrate at SW steakhouse, one of the the hotel’s delicious restaurants. The nice “A reminder about your upcoming reservation” email held a little surprise, though: No small children allowed, including babies. A bit flabbergasted we followed up with the restaurant and they confirmed their strict “no children under 5” policy. Having 3 small children myself (and having sat through a bunch of dinners where I felt sorry for people around us) I totally get the reason for such a policy, it had simply not crossed our mind. So we needed Plan B: The year before we had a wonderful dinner at Zuma in The Cosmopolitan, and luckily they still had availability for dinner that night (and no no-kids policy). And wow—the food was phenomenal. I highly recommend getting the Omakase Menu: From perfectly balanced flavors to beautifully presented dishes, it was easily one of the best meals we’ve ever had. Even with a baby in tow who luckily slept through most of the dinner, it felt like a special “grown-up” night out, and a great way to celebrate our special day.
Day 2: Poolside Bliss at the Wynn
Friday was all about taking it easy. We spent the day at the Wynn’s pool, which was just as stunning as the rest of the property. I wasn’t sure what to expect with kids around, but there were actually quite a lot of families and children there. As a mom of three, it was comforting to see—it made me feel more at ease knowing we weren’t the only ones balancing poolside cocktails with diaper bags and in my mind I already started planning the next trip with the two older sisters in tow.
The poolside service was good, prices high as expected, but the atmosphere was relaxed and gave us some much-needed time to recharge, because we had big plans for the night!
Day 2 Evening: Highlight of the Trip – Backstreet Boys at the Sphere
The real highlight of the trip came that evening: seeing the Backstreet Boys perform at the Sphere. This venue is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced—an immersive, futuristic space that made the show literally feel larger than life. I had heard great things about the venue and seen footage of the concert, but it is impossible to really describe and comprehend the experience without having been there. The Backstreet Boys concert is the only show I have seen there so far and I am sure all artists find great ways to build their stage show specifically for the immersiveness and 360 degree experience in the Sphere, but the Millennium / space theme of this specific show is second to none – SO COOL! So let this be your sign to get tickets and see it for yourself.
A few logistics if you’re planning to go:
- Getting there: The Sphere is walkable from the Strip, though with heels (or in our case, rushing from dinner), a short rideshare might be easier. Our rideshare driver dropped us off at the side entrance, is we avoided the long rideshare lines for drop-off at the designated spaces. If you’re staying at the Wynn like we were, it’s definitely walkable —about a 15-minute walk through the bridge ti the Venetian and then making a right into the events/conference section of the Wynn complex.
- Cell phone reception: One thing to note—there is no cell reception inside the venue. We had left the baby with a sitter, so it was a little nerve-wracking not being able to check in or receive updates during the show. Keep that in mind if you’re making plans or leaving little ones behind.
That said, once the show started, I forgot all about my phone. The Backstreet Boys were incredible—nostalgic, fun, and full of energy. It was a night that brought me right back to my teenage years, and being able to experience it in such a groundbreaking venue made it even more special.
Day 2 Baby Logistics: How and where to find a sitter for a baby
Our initial plan did not include bringing a 4-month old on our trip down memory lane. But as most parents know, sometimes plans have to change and so baby M tagged along. All of our kids have always been good travel buddies, so I was neither worried about the flight nor taking her to dinners or to the pool. Funny enough we got shushed off the gambling floor mutliple times when we stopped there with the stroller: “21 and under not allowed!” – that also counts for the baby that couldn’t even sit upright a t a roulette table, but anyways!
The only logistical challenge we were facing: How to find a trustworthy sitter for the night we were going to see the Backstreet Boys? I initially even considered bringing her, but would not recommend that at all! The venue is pretty steep, it is loud and all the 360degree effects and visuals are completely overwhelming.
Quoting my husband: “Vegas is the last place I would want to leave my baby with a stranger”, we ended up turning to the most trustworthy source we could think of: The hotel concierge. Calling in in advance, I was surprised at how smooth the entire process was. Babysitting services seem to be part of the standard repertoire hotel concierges in Vegas (unlike other cities I have tried that) offer. I informed him about the time we needed to sitter for, booked it throught the concierge and got the confirmation, a profile of the lady who would watch the baby and a quick introductory phone call from her the day before. The service the hotel connected us with is called “Nannies and Grannies” and I would book them again in an instant. You will need to be willing to pay upward to $50/hour, which I assume is simply the “Vegas” rate, but for our our special night and the piece of mind that a trustworthy, vetted sitter is watching my child, I was willing to pay that price.
Day 3: Wrapping Up
Even though we both did not get much sleep (I relived the amazing concert and watched video footage half the night), we got up early to enjoy a last breakfast at one of our favorite breakfast spot: Jardin (also at the Wynn). Cool vibes and amazing food made getting up worth it. After a delicious breakfast, we packed up and said goodbye to the Wynn before heading home. Traveling with a 4-month-old meant this Vegas trip looked very different from the ones I took pre-kids, but honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. We all had so much fun and never felt that bringing baby with us held us back in any way – BUT we are also not in our wild twenties any more where partying is the No. 1 priority.
Final Thoughts
Las Vegas with a baby? Surprisingly doable! Staying at the Wynn gave us comfort and luxury, Zuma offered a culinary treat, the pool provided the downtime we needed, and seeing the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere was an unforgettable highlight. While we traded in casino nights for baby bottles, the trip proved that Vegas can be as family-friendly—or as nostalgic and exciting—as you make it.
Helpful Links:
Nannies and Grannies Babysitting: https://nanny4u.com
Wynn Hotel: https://www.wynnlasvegas.com
For more upcoming events at The Sphere: https://www.thesphere.com
Zuma Restaurant: https://www.zumarestaurant.com