I have no experience of Novotel outside of France. However, this year I've done a few stays as ALL Gold at a couple of Novotels and a Mecure in France - all of these stays were with 2 adults and 2 children (aged under 10).

We did three separate stays at the same Mercure and always got the room booked. One stay was for the most expensive room category where they only have a couple of rooms and I think we were given the one with the better view. Another stay was at the cheapest room category and we got the street view (with mountain just behind so not a bad view at all, just not on the better side).

There was one stay at a Novotel where I booked the standard room and we got a standard room.

And finally two stays at another Novotel where a standard room was booked (and IIRC that was all that was offered when booking) and both times we were upgraded to an executive room (no suites here), even though they also a superior room room category between the standard and executive. There was nothing too exciting about the executive room compared to the booked room on our first stay other than the addition bathrobes, slippers, a Nespresso machine and free soft drinks in the in-room fridge - room decor was the same, but we appreciated the gesture from the hotel. When we returned four months later the executive room we were given was a refurbished room with much more exciting decor than what the standard room shows on the website.

If you are travelling with an infant and would value a suite set-up for your trip I would recommend booking the room you want without relying on an upgrade.