When Amie Brenner and husband, Kevin, decided to go to Hawaii last year, their biggest fear was how they would manage all the luggage through the airport – along with their three little ones.
So they found a national baby equipment rental chain and rented several items: a crib, highchair and car seat for 1-year-old Adelyn, and toys for Colby, 6 and Reichen, 4.
“I couldn’t believe how much it lightened our load for our traveling experience,” recalled Brenner, who has since opened her own baby equipment rental company, Tiny Tots Travel, which serves the Eastside. “Once we got to Hawaii after traveling all day and knowing we could lay our daughter down in a full-size crib when we got to the house was very refreshing.”
Brenner wanted to offer the Eastside the same type of service, only better. She said she had been disappointed in the quality of items she had rented from the chain company.
Tiny Tots Travel offers travelers destined to the Eastside and greater Seattle area a selection of high-quality baby equipment that they can rent for one day to several months. Products include infant car seats and back boosters, strollers, high chairs, play pens, full-size cribs, toddler beds and so forth. In addition, the company is the only one in the area to offer gogo Kidz Travelmate, a safety attachment for a variety of convertible car seats, Brenner noted.
Tiny Tots Travel also offers delivery from its Bellevue warehouse where all the products are stored and pick up for a $25 delivery charge.
Items that have been the most popular include full-size cribs, which rent for $12.50 per day or $60 per week; highchairs for $9 daily and $38 weekly; and car seats that start at $10 daily and $41 weekly for a Graco Snugride seat with base. Safety gates also are in demand, at $4 daily and $18 weekly.
Toys for older children include a large box of age appropriate toys for $7 daily; an Xbox with two games and controllers included, $6.50 daily and a trike with parent handle pole and helmet, $7 daily.
Brenner emphasized that all her products are initially bought brand new and then sanitized and safety checked prior to each rental, following all Washington Department of Health regulations.
For people traveling to the area, it makes a world of difference to bring one less item, Brenner said. Her service also comforts travelers.
The thought of living without their daughter’s Excersaucer was unthinkable when the family went on their trip, Brenner said.
“It’s nice knowing you can have the equipment your child uses every day and loves.”
Tiny Tots also has been useful to people who live in the area and are having overnight visitors with young children, as well as grandparents.
“Grandparents really like our company because usually they don’t have baby equipment or have a hard time keeping up with up-to-date products,” Brenner said. “They love to call us up, tell us what they need and know it will be there for them.”
It has been rewarding to know that she is making parents’ lives easier and travel with kids fun, she said.
“That’s the biggest thing. I think people are more likely to travel if they know all the comforts of home will be at the destination for their kids.”
Carrie Wood can be reached at cwood@reporternewspapers.com or 425-453-4290.
