Traveling Light: Baby Rental Equipment Companies

It’s easy to spot moms at an airport – a few shoulder bags, strollers and kids in tow. I am not being sarcastic. Having been in this situation, I know it’s not at all amusing and very tiring. Thankfully, there are ways to make your carry-alongs lighter by getting things when you get to your destination. Renting through local listings such as Craig’s List is certainly an option, but you don’t get the confidence in product’s cleanliness and safety and you may have to drive to pick up your items. If you are staying at a hotel, simple things like a crib or a bouncer may be an option but you have to check with the property in advance. In this article we’ll cover baby equipment rental from companies that specialize in this.

Why Rent?

The obvious answer is that you won’t have to lug everything with you while traveling, says Laura Dennis, Chicago location’s operator of Baby’s Away. “Every parent knows how difficult it can be to travel with small children” she says, “and hopefully our service takes some of the heavy-lifting out of the process.”. The operators focus on large equipment, so parents are better off bringing blankets and sheets with them. Plus, your tot may want his own blankie anyway.  Annabelle Abba Brownell, owner of Santa Barbara Baby Company  confirms that baby equipment is not tailored to the challenges of travel and often becomes cumbersome and bulky luggage. She adds that airlines require you to pay surcharges for extra luggage, particularly on international flights, and don’t forget the longer check-in and wait for the luggage. Even if you rent a giant minivan, there is simply not enough room for cribs and luggage. “We get many calls from sleepless parents who didn’t make advanced reservations and lose a night of precious vacation time because their child could not sleep in anything less than a crib.”, says Annabelle. So the simple answer to why rent is – peace of mind and a vacation you can actually enjoy.

Another important reason is that baby equipment rental companies comply with the cleanliness and sanitation standards you expect as a mom. Laura Dennis of Baby’s Away is a mom of two kids under 4, so she understands the importance of cleanliness in her business. Majority of rental equipment operators are moms. In fact, this is an interesting entrepreneurial opportunity to explore if your town gets a lot of tourists but lacks a baby rental equipment company. Annabelle Brownell keeps her company in line with the industry standards: all equipment is cleaned after every use with non-toxic cleaning supplies, equipment is approved by the JPMA. Santa Barbara Baby is also registered with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and is notified immediately of any recalls for children’s products. She says parents often think rental equipment is much cleaner than the customers own equipment at home.

Baby Equipment Rental Companies

You can certainly perform a simple Google search for baby rental equipment but we’ll save you the trouble. There are two types of baby rental sites. Some are directories that focus purely on listing results by location.The largest directory for baby rental equipment in the US is rent-baby-equipment.com. While baby-equipment-rental.com is a giant worldwide directory, which is helpful for international travel too.

Then there are companies that focus on the service itself. Baby’s Away is not a directory but rather a rental-focused company with over 70 locations throughout the US.  Babies Travel Lite is another provider of rental equipment but on a smaller scale – small necessities, such as diaper bundles, baby monitors, cleaning supplies, baby food, etc. Plus, there are many stand-alone local entrepreneurs, such as Santa Barbara Baby. As you can see, the options are plentiful.

What to rent and when

There is definitely a fine line between bringing more than you need (and spending hours on travel details) and not having enough (relying on resolving it at your destination). Of course, clothes and small favorite basic toys are a great idea. Diapers for the trip (plus an extra few in case of delays) are important, but the rest can be purchased at your destination, assuming it’s within reach of a store. According to both Dennis and Brownell, the most popular rental items are full size cribs, car seats and high chairs. It makes sense to rent the most necessary items – for sleep, travel and food. If you don’t plan any meals where you are staying, just focus on the crib. Cribs are typically assembled by the operators when they are brought in. Remember that despite the popular items, these companies have a wide array of baby products – you may also want a bouncer or a bed rail, so check out their sites before you decide.

As to the timing, planning with kids can be tough – you want to do things very early in advance but you are always prepared for last minute changes. Dennis says that some families rent months ahead of time, others call a day of two before their trip, but they usually ask for at least a week’s notice to ensure item and delivery availability. Since reservations are based on availability, reserve when you are ready and you can always cancel with sufficient warning (24 hours is typically the cancellation policy, but read your fine print). If you are going to a popular vacation spot, inventory may be an issue, so reserving up to months in advance will give you the peace of mind.

Rental costs

While rates will vary by location, expect to pay about $80 a week for a crib, $30 a week for a highchair, $40 a week for a carseat and $35 for single and $50 for double stroller. You will get a discount by renting for a longer period of time vs. daily rates. Check with your rental company for exact pricing and consider the delivery options as well.