Traveling light can certainly save you some time and effort when you and your family vacation. What do you do when you have small children who require strollers, cribs, carriers, and other furniture? Why not rent what you need? Sure, you can probably borrow some items when staying in a resort, but if you plan on staying in a vacation home, or you are staying with friends and family members, it’s probably preferable to rent.

If you do decide to rent, you’ll want to make sure that you are renting equipment that is safe for your child. You can ask the company for the manufacturer’s information for the product that you plan to rent and check to see if the product has been recalled. Make sure that the company also regularly checks the equipment to see if it has been damaged. You should also inquire about the methods used to clean and sanitize the rentals. Rental companies often have delivery services to areas with high tourism traffic, like Florida, New York, or California. However, if you check around prior to your trip, you’ll find companies that deliver to nearly every state in the country. Delivery charges vary, and some companies actually do not charge for delivery.

Planning for the equipment’s arrival could be tricky. If you are staying in resort that doesn’t have baby equipment, you can certainly ask the front desk if they will accept the furniture for you, so that it will be there when you arrive. You will also need to indicate exactly where cribs should be assembled in the room. The delivery person should assemble the equipment for you. The companies usually disassemble the equipment and come and pick up the items that you ordered, eliminating the concern over returning the items in time. If you wish to extend you trip, you can often contact the renters and ask extend the rental, but you usually have to do this as soon as possible, especially during busy season.

In addition to renting cribs, you can also rent toys for your children. Imagine having a vacation without having to pack a ton of beach toys! Jogging strollers, car seats, high chairs, beach wagons, and play pens are some of the common items available for rental. For summer and spring vacations, you should try to make your appointment a few weeks before your trip, so that you will have the best choices and chances to rent needed items.