Travel with a baby can feel overwhelming when you start to compile that mental note of all the baby travel essentials you have and use. You see the question asked in mom groups on Facebook all the time – “What was the #1 thing you used all the time with your baby” and inevitably the comments are flooded with answers that are all different.
We use a lot of stuff with our babies at home, because why not? Why not make our life easier and baby’s more enjoyable with baby swings, high chairs and play mats when we are at home. When it comes to travel though, you really can get by without most of that stuff.
And I’ll go one step further to say that you can travel to your destination with little more than a baby carrier(wethinkbabywearingattheairportisamust!).
How you ask? One simple answer – rent your baby gear! Baby gear rental companies make it so easy for traveling families. They are quality providers of baby equipment and can often arrange delivery to the airport or your hotel.
We have successfully traveled several times with only a baby carrier (plus theall our airplane travel toys and snacks, of course). In fact, our first trip toBarcelona with a baby was with only our luggage, a Baby K’Tanand anErgo Baby carrier. When we traveled to Sedona with a toddler and baby, we again brought only those two carriers mentioned above.
5 Reasons Why We Rent Baby Gear
Sure, it’s a personal preference for us to travel with as little baby equipment as possible. This family travel packing strategy may not be for everyone, but let us try to convince you with the reasons why we like to rent baby gear for our trips:
1. Packing Lightly
You know that amazing feeling when you drop off your luggage at the check-in counter at the airport? There’s something very freeing about dropping your luggage off, which many new parents miss out on when they keep their stroller and other baby gear with them.
Planning to rent your baby items at your destination allows you to continue enjoying the benefits of packing lightly.
2. No Stress About Lost or Damaged Baby Gear
All new parents know how expensive baby gear is, especially the stuff we like to bring while traveling, like car seats and strollers. One of the major reasons why we choose to rent baby gear while traveling is we are afraid the careless baggage handlers will break our expensive baby equipment.
Renting baby gear at your destination frees you from the expense and stress of dealing with damaged car seats, or waiting at the carousel for your travel cot which doesn’t look like it made it off the plane.
Gate checking expensive baby equipment is one way to help protect your gear, but then you have to lug it all through the airport (see #1 above).
3. Convenient Delivery
Most baby equipment rental companies will arrange delivery of your baby gear right to the airport, rental carcounter or even to your hotel, depending on your needs. Some may even deliver your baby gear to the location of your choice before you arrive!
4. Clean, High Quality Equipment
A reputable baby gear rental company will provide you with clean, sanitized baby equipment from top quality brands.
5. Less Stuff to Forget
This is related to our love of packing lightly, but this reason is mostly due to a parent’s frazzled state of mind. There is a lot to think about and remember when you travel with a baby, especially if it’s your first trip with a baby.
Inevitably you will leave something behind. It happens. The one time we decided to fly with our own pack n’ play (because we had a short, direct flight and a car rental) we ended up leaving it on the baggage carousel! Once we got to our hotel, we had to return to the airport to get it…
Which Baby Gear Items Should You Rent Instead of Pack
Rent a Stroller?
Many parents prefer to have their stroller at the airport. Sure, bringing your stroller is convenient for carrying all your stuff and maybe your baby will sleep in it, but it’s also possible (and more enjoyable) to get through the airport without it.
We have four reasons why we like to rent a stroller on family vacations:
One reason we prefer to rent a stroller on family vacations is because our stroller at home is a large jogging stroller. Maybe you’d feel differently with one of these lightweight travel strollers, which can fit in the overhead storage compartment on an airplane.
We also prefer to simply use our baby carrier in the airport as both of our kids were more likely to nap in a baby carrier.
No matter what type of stroller you have, leaving it at home and renting a stroller instead allows you to travel much more lightly.
We didn’t want to risk having the airline damage such an expensive piece of baby gear. If you do decide to fly with your stroller, be sure to protect it with a travel stroller bag.
Rent Car Seats?
Car seats are another piece of baby equipment we traditionally prefer to rent vs. bringing our own. As with our preference to rent a stroller, we are worried about having our expensive car seats damaged during the flight.
Another reason why it’s nice to rent car seats is how big and awkward they are to carry around the airport. Car seat travel bags help, but we still prefer to leave ours at home.
If possible, we prefer to rent a car seat from a baby equipment rental company instead of the car rental company. Firstly, car rental agencies will rarely guarantee the availability of a car seat rental (what will you do if they are out of them??).
Secondly, you never know the quality of car seat rentals from the car rental shop. For example, on our most recent trip to Mexico, the rental car company misunderstood that we were waiting for car seats to be delivered and brought us out a couple of theirs. We were shocked at the poor quality and were so glad we had arranged ours through Riviera Maya Baby Gear for Rent.
To be fair, we did rent car seats from a rental car company once in Norway when we had no other options. Thankfully, we were quite pleased with that experience. But, our Mexico experience shows you never know what you will get with car seats from your car rental company.
Related: 5 Things to Think About Before Traveling with Car Seats on an Airplane
Rent a Crib or Travel Cot?
Before you decide to fly with your pack n’ play, we would first recommend checking with your hotel or vacation home rental to see if they can provide a crib, pack n’ play or travel cot for your baby to sleep in.
If you aren’t able to get a suitable crib provided and you will be travelling frequently, you might want to invest in avery lightweight travel bed or aKidCo PeaPod toddler travel bed(for older babies and toddlers).
If your hotel doesn’t provide a suitable crib for your baby, then renting a crib one is a great option.
If you have more than one destination, then it may become easier to bring your own portable baby bed for travel or one of these toddler travel beds.
Rent a High Chair?
If you are staying in a self-catered apartment and are traveling with a baby eating solids, you might want to consider renting a high chair. We also had good success with a portable travel highchair which packs down very small.
Other Items to Rent when Traveling with a Baby
Depending on where you are going and how long you are traveling, other baby gear items you can rent are safety gates, baby portable bathtub, swing, bouncy seat, toys, even some of your baby beach essentials like sand toys… the list goes on!
6 Tips for Renting Baby Equipment
1. Compare the Cost of Renting vs. Replacing
Depending on how long your family trip is, the cost of renting baby gear can add up. Always compare the cost of renting your baby gear vs. the cost of replacing it if you break our own gear on your trip. One way to reduce the cost of renting baby gear is to see if the company offers discounts for renting multiple products or for long term rentals.
2. Review Online Images & Get Digital Installation Instructions
It’s worthwhile taking a look and confirming which brands of baby gear the company has available to make sure you are comfortable with them. If you plan to rent car seats, request a digital version of the installation instructions to make sure you know what you are doing before you have to install them.
3. Request Testimonials
If you have any hesitations, you can ask the baby equipment rental company for some testimonials. They will often have testimonials their website, but they should be more than willing to put you in contact with some customers as well.
4. Don’t be Disappointed with the Quality
Make sure they make mention of cleaning and sanitizing the baby equipment. Also, just confirm that you will be given equipment that is the same as the pictures on the website (i.e. brands and style).
5. Confirm When and Where
Make sure you confirm exactly where and when you will have the equipment delivered/picked up and if there are any extra delivery fees. If you are having your baby equipment delivered before you arrive, make sure you inform the hotel or car rental agency.
6. Provide Your Flight Information
If you are meeting the baby equipment rental company at the airport or rental car counter, provide them with your flight information so they can check for any delays.
To make it easier to find baby equipment rentals, weare working on aworldwidedirectory of baby equipment rental companies.If you have used a baby equipment rental company, please share your experience with us!
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This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer
info@babycantravel.com
Celine is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's been helping new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.
On average, Quality Providers are earning over $1000 a month. Some Quality Providers are making $10,000 or more a month. You will keep 78% of your rental and delivery fees and 100% of your tips from each reservation. BabyQuip keeps the other 22%.
The best times, most agree, are between three and nine months, when kids aren't yet mobile, and any time after age two or three. The idea here is to bypass the toddler phase, and, more importantly, to avoid flying with young infants.
If your pack 'n play is compact, light, and portable, you can fly with a pack 'n play and even bring it on board and stow it in the overhead compartment if it meets the carry-on requirements. What is this? You always have the option of checking a pack 'n play at the ticket counter with your luggage.
BabyQuip's total funding now stands at $8.5 million, according to a news release. BabyQuip has more than 1,000 users and is led by co-founder and CEO Fran Maier, who co-founded Match.com in the 1990s before founding privacy management firm TRUSTe (now called TRUSTArc).
BabyQuip is the #1 baby equipment rental service and marketplace offering thousands of baby gear items in over 1200+ cities across the US, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Australia & New Zealand. We are improving the way families travel! Rent baby equipment on your next family vacation.
Experienced traveling families already know this, but in most cases the hardest time to travel with a child is from when they become squirmy and mobile by about 9 months old until they hit the age of reason bargaining/cartooning/snacking at about 18 months.
It is important for you and your baby to get out of the car every few hours and take a stretch to avoid restlessness. Try to take a break every 2 to 3 hours for a day trip and every 4 to 6 hours at night to change diapers or soiled clothes, or to feed your baby.
Parents know what's best for their children – so there is no specific age to grow out of the 2-hour car seat rule. Once your baby gains better control of their neck/head and can safely sit upright without support, you can relax the rule a bit – but stay alert as long as they are in a rear-facing car seat.
Strollers, car seats, child carriers/backpacks, and booster seats can all be checked for free at the gate or ticket counter. There is no limit to the number of “assistive devices” a customer may transport within reason.
These high-sided, enclosed play areas are popular because parents can put their baby in one knowing that their little one can't wander off. But playpens are no substitute for adult supervision — never leave a child unattended in a playpen.
Wagons, cribs and pack 'n plays count as regular baggage and must not exceed the carry-on weight requirements. If they do, they will have to be checked and incur regular fees.
As the leading baby equipment rental brand, BabyQuip serves families in hundreds of cities across the US, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand. Our Independent Quality Providers deliver and set up clean, safe and insured baby equipment to private residences, vacation rentals, hotels and even airports.
Fran Maier, CEO & Founder of BabyQuip, is a serial entrepreneur, including experience as Co-Founder & GM of Match.com and Founder & CEO of TRUSTe (now TrustArc) privacy solutions.
In Season 11 Episode 14 the mother and son team, Joe and Fran Maier, appeared on Shark Tank seeking $500,000 for 5% of their baby equipment rental service, BabyQuip.
That said, many experts still adhere to the recommendation of 18 to 24 months. According to Kecia Gaither, MD, double board certified OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine and director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, it's best to space pregnancies 18 to 24 months apart.
Infants or children under 2 years of age can travel on the lap of an adult for free (within the United States) or at a reduced fare (for international travel).
Remember, traveling can be tiring! You'll need to be flexible when it comes to how your plans fit into your baby's nap schedule. If your baby is under 5 months, sleepy cues are important to keep your baby from becoming overtired.
You'll instill a love of travel and learning in your child. Even if your baby won't remember the adventures you took when they were little, they'll know that exploring the world is important to you and that can shape their own interest in new experiences.
Don't feed baby while the car is moving. Bottles become projectiles in the event of a crash. Motion sickness is something to consider as well as choking hazards while a vehicle is in motion. Don't feed babies solid items of food that could be choking hazards, like grapes, in the car.
Where will my baby sleep on a plane? On long-haul flights, you can request a bassinet/sky cot for your baby to sleep in. You'll need to book a bulkhead seat (a row with no other seats in front) to get those though.
Choose a time to fly with your baby that will have the most success for getting your baby to sleep on the airplane. If your baby doesn't nap well on-the-go, try for an overnight flight. If your baby refuses to sleep anywhere but her crib, fly during the day. Babies like the comfort of routine.
Night flights are generally a good bet as baby can sleep and is less likely to get restless and want to play, although this does depend on the length of the flight.
SO WHAT IS THE 2 HOUR RULE? Many car seat manufacturers recommend that a baby should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours, within a 24 hour time period.
Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing.
Lots of parents want to know "how long can babies stay in car seats?" The general advice is that your baby should sit/sleep in their car seat for no more than two hours at a time.
The best thing to do is schedule your drive around the time that your child would normally sleep. If it's a long journey, allow plenty of time for breaks so they can stretch their legs and get a break from the car seat.
You don't need to bring the base while traveling with an infant seat unless you want the “click” option to not wake the baby. Without the base, just loop the airplane or car seatbelt thru the standard belt path, buckle, and tighten. Don't overthink it on the plane. US seats aren't legally allowed there.
Without a doubt, the safest place for a baby to sit on an airplane is in their own seat in an FAA-approved car seat. However, bassinets are an excellent option for parents traveling with their young child who is under 2 years old and doesn't have their own seat. That is, if they still fit in the bassinet.
Here are a few ways to help prevent discomfort that's caused by popping ears during take-off and landing. The most common methods, especially when landing, involve encouraging your baby to drink or eat, or to suck a dummy.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) makes it pretty clear that they don't advocate flying with a baby on your lap. The safest place on an aircraft for all passengers, including babies, is in their own seat (usually using a car seat or government-approved restraint system).
Generally, most airlines allow you to bring a stroller AND a car seat (to be placed in the aircraft hold, with the rest of your luggage) free of charge in addition to your normal baggage allowance, when flying with a baby under two.
If you're traveling with a child of any age, you can bring the following on your flight for free in addition to your carry-on and personal items: Diaper bag. Breast pump, milk or formula. FAA-approved car seat.
Diaper bags, soft-sided cooler bags with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices don't count toward your personal item or carry-on.
Some experts feel that playpens can restrict children, and in the past they have been overused. However, the design of your house, or your circ*mstances at home, may mean you occasionally need somewhere safe to place your baby for a short period of time. In these situations, a playpen can be really useful.
You can use a pack n play as a bed or a playpen. Cribs on the other had are more expensive but they are the right long term solution for a nursery or baby room. Pack n plays are perfect as a temporary baby bed and for portability.
More specifically, babies can sleep in most pack and plays and cot-style portable baby beds until they reach 30 pounds or approximately 35 inches tall, or they begin trying to climb out of the pack and play (whichever comes first). Toddlers typically reach these milestones when they're between two and three years old.
If you're traveling by plane, some (but not all) airlines allow you to check portable cribs for free (along with strollers and car seats). But if you're not checking baggage, make sure it's small enough to pass as a carry-on. Some small travel cribs can be folded up super compactly and even tucked inside a suitcase.
Good news! Most are allowed in carry-on or checked bags depending on the type of product and if they are battery operated. Battery operated toys that use traditional non-rechargeable batteries (AA, AAA, etc.)can go in checked or carry-on bags.
Entrepreneurial. Notably, BabyQuip operates more like a franchise than a side hustle opportunity. The owner/operator of a BabyQuip location sets their own prices and determines the equipment they have to rent.
BabyQuip is one of the highest side gig income opportunities—second only to Airbnb hosts! On average, Quality Providers are earning over $600 a month. Some Quality Providers are making $5,000 or more a month! You keep 80% of your rental and delivery fees and 100% of your tips from each reservation.
A common percentage for many industries is a 5-8% royalty on the total gross sales. In some cases, a franchisor may have a minimum fixed amount that has to be met monthly. This business model can be best for both parties because it is based on sales.
What Is the Most Successful Product on "Shark Tank"? With more than $225 million in lifetime sales, Bombas has generated the highest sales on "Shark Tank". The company, which sells comfort socks and T-shirts, donates one item per item sold to help the homeless.
Perhaps the most well-known Shark Tank product, the Scrub Daddy is a reusable sponge that is firm in cold water and soft in hot water. Aaron Krause invented it in 2012, and in October appeared on the show.
Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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