Packing for a family trip can feel like orchestrating a 37-ring circus. Your children apparently need the entire contents of your household, and then some. Things get even more complicated when you’re flying or going somewhere with unique activities like the mountains or beach.
Babyquip aims to alleviate that pressure by renting all kinds of child and family-oriented items to travelers visiting both US and international destinations.
Why should I rent?
From a purely numbers perspective, Babyquip may not be cheaper than playing Tetris with trunk storage or wrangling free or paid checked luggage on an airplane. You are paying for convenience, which can be an equally powerful force. You only have so many arms to keep track of kids, let alone the suitcases, strollers, car seats and travel cribs that will make your stay go smoother. Maybe you’re flying to a family member who doesn’t have a crib. Maybe you don’t want to risk cramming your expensive baby monitor into an overstuffed suitcase. Maybe you couldn’t fit your beach umbrella in your carry-on (kidding, kidding).
What can I rent?
Almost anything! Your options will vary depending on the providers in your destination, but items can include everyday necessities like a pack and play, infant bath seat and stroller, activity accessories like hiking carriers and snow or beach gear, all the way up to luxury goods like Slumberpods, BabyBjörn bouncers and SNOO bassinets. Some providers also offer grocery delivery, Amazon package delivery, or diaper and wipe bundles. Items are organized into categories, including but not limited to:
- Cribs & Sleep
- Strollers & Wagons
- High Chairs & Feeding
- Diapering & Bathing
- Bouncers & Swings
- Toys, Books & Games
- Car Seats*
- Health & Safety: Monitors, humidifiers, sound machines, etc.
- Beach & Outdoor: Hiking backpack carriers, children’s snow gear, beach chairs and umbrellas, stroller fans, rolling coolers, swim toys, etc.
- Party
- Holiday & Seasonal
Who am I renting from?
Babyquip is a platform for local residents to rent items they personally own. Providers are vetted through background checks, covered by the company’s liability insurance, and held to a high standard for cleaning and sanitizing their gear. Since they are local to your destination, some providers list in their bio that they are happy to make recommendations about area attractions or restaurants.
How do I see what’s available?
After you put in your destination and rental dates, Babyquip will display available providers, automatically filtering out anyone who can’t meet your selected drop-off or pickup time. Some providers may have more than 100 items to choose from. Provider profiles display how many items they offer, how many rentals they have completed, and reviews about their service specifically.
How much does it cost?
Items are not universally priced across the platform. One provider may rent a Hatch sound machine for $3/day, another may do $4/day, so it’s best to browse a few to see who offers the maximum value for your desired items. Some items may have a minimum day requirement; this will be clearly listed as you search. If you’re on a long trip, some providers offer monthly pricing. Delivery fees are based on distance and will vary between providers nearer or closer to your destination. Delivery is charged per provider, so it’s best to find one person who offers everything you need. Be prepared for taxes, fees, and the option to tip once you start the checkout process.
How are items delivered?
When you begin your search, you select a two-hour window for delivery and pickup. You will coordinate with your selected provider whether delivery will be a direct handoff, or a delivery to a hotel front desk or similar setup. Some providers may offer airport delivery, or even free pickup and drop-off if you come to their location rather than have them bring it to you.
Are discounts available?
Babyquip frequently offers discounts for a certain dollar amount off a minimum rental price. Some deals may have a lower minimum price than others, so consider signing up for their emails if you’ll be traveling soon to keep an eye out for a deal that’s right for your needs. Remember that the minimum required price only applies to the cost of item rentals, not delivery costs, taxes or fees. So if the deal is $20 off $100, you must rent $100 worth of items to qualify, not $80 of items with a $20 delivery fee.
My personal experience
I rented a hiking carrier for my 4-year-old on a trip to Wyoming. We decided to rent instead of borrowing a friend’s carrier to save the hassle of paying to check it for our flights, knowing we’d already be wrangling three backpacks, two suitcases, a car seat and the aforementioned preschooler. It was delivered to our hotel front desk the day before our first hike, so we didn’t have to worry about being present to receive it and had time to adjust it to our child. Our provider texted me the day before our rental ended to confirm our pickup time and ask if we would be handing it off in person or leaving it with the front desk staff. We chose to leave it at the desk to maximize our flexibility. All told, it wasn’t cheaper than paying to check a borrowed carrier, but it was absolutely worth it for the convenience and not having to worry about an expensive borrowed item getting banged up in the cargo hold.
*Renting car seats
The only way to fully trust a car seat has been handled correctly, has all its parts, will be appropriate for your child’s age and size, and hasn’t been in an accident is to travel with your own car seat. Traveling with a car seat could be a whole other blog post, but there are a lot of resources out there about lightweight seats that are ideal for planes or rental cars. As you research, look for information from registered Child Passenger Safety Technicians (Safe in the Seat is a favorite of mine). I really appreciate that Babyquip has this article that outlines the inherent riskiness of renting such a safety-critical item as a car seat, and how they attempt to mitigate this risk. If you absolutely must rent a seat, I personally think Babyquip would be a better option than going through a car rental company.
