Newborn Baby Rentals Make Family Travel Easier

Meeting Your Newborn Baby's Needs When Traveling...

As pointed out in our last post, entitled, "What are the Needs of a New Born Baby or Infant Traveler?", your newborn baby doesn't really need much of anything during those first couple of months of his or her life, other than your love and attention... and of course the obvious baby supplies.

Sure there are baby products on the market that make a parent's life easier, an endless supply of them, and they all cost money and take up space.

While it may be tempting to buy every gadget on the shelf, remember, your newborn, up to a couple months of age, will be just as happy with the basic items that he or she really needs.

If however you are the type of parent that wants nothing but the very best for your baby, Fun and More Rentals can help you in ways you may not have even imagined.

What follows is a list of baby products that go beyond the absolute essentials for your newborn and young baby child.

The following baby rental items can help make caring for, and traveling with baby, much easier for you parents out there.

These baby product rentals are all available from Fun and More Rentals.

Newborn Baby Gear

Baby Bath

Rub-a-dub-dub — am I ready for the tub?

Your newborn baby needs to have only sponge baths at first. Give your baby a sponge bath until her umbilical cord or his circumcision, if any, is healed. From that point on it should be rub-a-dub-dub, in my very own tub!

Of course, a baby bath is not an essential and there are other options. If you don't have space for a baby tub, or you just don't want to use one, you could simply use a small sink for bath time. Purchase a mesh bath sling to let baby recline in the sink, or you can use a foam bath tub insert in a regular bath tub.

The most popular choice is to enjoy getting into the regular bath tub with your baby. Bathing with baby is both relaxing and loving... and its very practical when traveling.

If you do choose to provide a baby bath for your newborn or young baby child, you don't need to bring one with you or purchase one while on vacation. Fun and More Rentals can rent you a baby bath to meet the needs of your newborn or young baby.

Rear Facing Car Seat

Newborns and young infants can only be use rear-facing car seats. They are small and portable, and fit newborns the best. Rear-facing car seats are used for babies up to one year of age (depending on model of car seat).

We recommend you contact Fun and More Baby Rentals ahead of time to ensure you have an appropriate car seat waiting for you when you arrive at your vacation destination location. 

Find out if a car seat has been recalled.

Below are two sources for you to check if a car seat has been recalled.  Along with checking the sources below you should also check with the manufacturer if you are considering using or buying a used car seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Lists of recalled car seats.

Consumer Reports - Lists of recalled car seats.

Stroller

Which baby stroller is right for me?

A stroller is a necessity when it comes to having a baby. It may not be essential for the newborn, but as baby gets older the proper stroller can make parents daily activities with a baby or small child much easier and less tiring.  There are many types of strollers you can choose from. Different baby strollers have different applications and come in many sizes, styles and designs.

There are lightweight baby strollers, heavy baby strollers, some strollers are pretty basic while other come with all sorts of features. There are jogging and all terrain baby strollers for the active parent, and the good old-fashioned carriage type stroller. 

As the many different stroller designs suggest, the stroller that is right for you will depend entirely on your chosen lifestyle as a parent.  If your intention is to be taking your baby or young child on long outings you will want a stroller that is sturdy yet easy to maneuver.  On the other hand, if you will only be taking short trips, then a lightweight umbrella type stroller is probably all you need. If you're a very active parent that would like to go jogging or take long walks with your baby, then a rugged jogging stroller is a must. 

Either way, its unlikely you'll be bringing your baby's stroller along on a vacation, and once again, that is where Fun and More baby supply rentals comes in. They have several different stroller designs to meet your baby's needs.

Think about your daily activities while on vacation, and you will be able to decide which type of stroller is best for you.

Find out if a baby stroller has been recalled.

Consumer Reports - You can search for recalls on strollers and other products.

Consumer Product Safety Commission - You can search for recalls on strollers and other products.

Newborn Baby Furniture

Bassinet and Newborn Playpen

A crib is optional during those first few months of your newborns life, especially when traveling. A bassinet on the other hand is an excellent choice.

Once again Fun and More Rentals offers an affordable, easy to use and safe bassinette as an alternative sleeping arrangement for your newborn baby. You will love the versatility and convenience.

No need to increase your travel expenses by paying the surcharge to bring your bassinet from home, Fun and More baby rentals is more than happy to supply you with one, and any other baby equipment, furniture or supplies you may need during your stay on Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key or Siesta Key.

Crib and Crib Mattress

If you do decide to purchase a crib for your newborn, the crib you choose will be one of the more important baby furniture purchases you will have to make.  With your baby sleeping in a crib until it’s time to move on to a full sized bed around the age of 2 or 3, you should take plenty of time in choosing the right crib for your baby. 

Above all, be sure that you are satisfied with the safety features, style, finish and quality.

Features to look for when buying a crib mattress.

• A foam crib mattress should be very dense to provide the best support for your baby.

• An innerspring crib mattress should have a high coil count. The higher the coil count, the more firm the mattress.

• Unless your doctor advises you differently, a firm crib mattress is best.

• Be sure the mattress is fire-retardant.  All major crib manufacturers today make crib mattresses fire-retardant. Older, secondhand mattresses may not be.  This is a good reason to always purchase (or rent) a new mattress and not buy one used or secondhand.

• The more vents on the side of a crib the mattress the better the mattress will breathe and the fresher smelling it will stay.  

Visit Fun and More Rentals to view the different types of cribs available for rent.

Check the following sources to look for crib recalls.

Consumer Reports - http://www.consumerreports.org/main/home.jsp

Consumer Product Safety Commission - http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

Baby Security

Baby Monitors

Although it is common to keep your newborn in your room and with you at all times, if your baby is sleeping in a separate room a baby monitor will add a sense of security and peace of mind.