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Before my husband and I had children, we were extremely light packers. We traveled so frequently that we could both throw a carry-on suitcase together in record time and always have everything we needed. I once did a four-week trip that took me from Toronto to Los Angeles to Hawaii to Australia and back to Los Angeles for a wedding (I had to pack a fancy dress and high heels!) all in a carry-on bag. That was probably my first real packing test and it was the start of my carry-on only days.
Fast forward to today and now we travel with two little ones in tow. Those carry-on only days are long gone and now, we’re like every other family, juggling kids and strollers and car seats and luggage, tote bags and backpacks filled with diapers and bottles, books and toys … it’s a bit of a circus.
Thank goodness for Babyquip! When I discovered this incredible service, everything changed. It’s a rental service for baby gear and … it’s brilliant. Instead of carting all of the aforementioned stuff with you on your travels, you can simply rent it and have everything waiting for you at your destination. It’s a game-changer for families and is an incredible way to travel.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1:
Enter your destination city or zip code to search for a provider in that area.
Step 2:
Select a Quality Provider. This is the person who will deliver gear to your location.
Step 3:
Choose the baby gear you would like to rent. Pick individual items or complete packages.
Step 4:
Confirm your dates & location and pay online. A provider will contact you to arrange delivery.
You can rent all kinds of baby gear and the prices are very reasonable. Here’s a peek at their product rental categories:
The first time we used Babyquip, I was able to travel with a new baby and just a carry-on suitcase! When we arrived at our hotel in Seattle, everything we had ordered was waiting for us at the front desk. Not just the rental items (stroller, high chair, books and toys) but also baby food, which our Babyquip provider had bought and added to our order. Last month, when we traveled for the first time as a family of four, we had a last-minute thought that we should have gotten a Doona for our trip (Doona is the incredible stroller that converts into a car seat, making it a must-have for traveling with kids). We had one with our son Jack but gave it away after he outgrew it, not expecting to ever need it again. It was much too late to order one for our daughter (we were flying the next day), but we remembered Babyquip and sure enough, we were able to rent one from a local provider who dropped off a practically brand new one with all of its accessories at our front door the very next morning. It was a lifesaver!
Whether you forgot something before you travel like we did or whether you want to have everything you need waiting for you at your destination, Babyquip is the answer. Traveling with little kids can be so stressful but when you can travel lighter, it’s just so much easier. It’s also great for grandparents who need a few things when their grandkids come to visit and don’t want to outright purchase things they only need temporarily. I even plan to rent things when we take daytrips with the kids. For instance, there’s a great wagon I’ve got my eye on, for when we take the kids to the zoo or on other daylong excursions. But instead of spending hundreds of dollars on it, I can rent one for $10 a day. Seems like a no-brainer to me!
So, if you’re traveling with kids, if you just need to rent something for the day, or if you’ve got kids coming to visit, check out Babyquip to rent only what you need, only when you need it.
KEEP READING: Travel Tip: Why You Should Always Pack An Extra Bag
Back in the early 1950s, after I was born and my parents had baby equipment in 4 places – our house, each grandparents house, and the store where my mom worked. I might be in any of those places and baby equipment was big and bulky back then.
After I grew out of the baby things, my parents created a part-time business with the things – Baby Equipment Rentals in New Orleans.
Orders came in by phone, my mom took them and my dad would deliver a bed or a playpen or stroller to people’s houses when their grandchildren would come to town for a visit.
The business lasted until my younger brother was born and the baby stuff got distributed to four places again.
Interesting to read about a contemporary take of the business.