Why rent baby gear?

Renting baby equipment makes sense for many reasons. Here are the most common reasons people call Little Traveller:

- I like the convenience of travelling light knowing that I can rent what I need in Calgary
- My young nieces and nephews/grandchildren are coming for a visit
- I need a car seat for my rental car
- I want to rent a CARES harness to keep my child safe on our next flight
- I need some gear to keep tabs on my errant toddler at the airport or Disneyland
- I’m having a party and I need some extra highchairs
- I need some toys to keep my little one amused at the hotel
- I want my toddler to sleep in a sturdy full-sized crib
- I need some child-friendly equipment to take my kids hiking or camping
- I’ve relocated to Calgary and I need to rent some equipment until my container arrives
- I’d really like to try out a piece of expensive equipment before I buy one

All our equipment is new, clean and CSA approved. We monitor for safety recalls and safety inspect every item between uses. For a complete listing of our gear, visit www.littletraveller.ca/equipment

Triple Airmiles rewards miles

We're always searching for ways to improve our level of service. If you have a BMO Mosaik mastercard and you need to rent some baby equipment in Calgary or purchase a CARES harness then you're in luck! Little Traveller now offers triple airmiles rewards to all Mosaik cardholders. To check out the latest triple airmiles partners in Calgary, click here.

The BabyBjorn travel crib light

I had several requests for this from Calgary mums so I've added it to my inventory. And when I got it and tried it out I was suitably impressed. I'd read the rave reviews (see www.amazon.com) but this is truly a luxury travel crib. Pricey, yes, but worth it. It is the perfect crib to take with you on trips. It can be set up in record time with a flick of the wrist, weighs only 5kgs/11lb, and comes in a smart carrying case. Check out the manufacturer's website for a demo of its ease of use. It's ideal for mums who are pregnant and don't want to lift a pack-n-play or for grandparents with bad backs... The crib can be used for newborns and up to the age of three.



It is rented with two organic cotton and bamboo fitted sheets for $12 day / $70 per week. Visit the Little Traveller website for more info on our products and services.

A few of my favourite things...

Is there a book or CD in your collection that you wouldn't leave home without?
Here are my favourite ways to entertain the under 5s when travelling. They've all stood the test of time and then some.

1. Best kids music CD: Sharon, Lois & Bram Sing A to Z
Even grown ups love this CD. There's a clever mix of musical styles and a such a range of music that I promise you won't tire of hearing it. The vocals and musical arrangements on the 34 tracks are top notch.

2. Best audio book: Little Beaver and the Echo
A lovely story about making new friends. The CD has additional songs and activities. Great for a road trip when you need a break from Sharon, Lois and Bram.

3. Best book for long airplane journeys (for ages 3+): Puzzle Castle by Usborne Books
This great picture puzzle book keeps little minds entertained for longer than you'd think possible. All the Usborne puzzle books are great -- we bought the big bind-up edition and it's been a huge success in our house. Our 4 year old has "read" them over and over.

If you have some firm family favourites, let me know by adding a comment to this posting. I'll post a list of the top 10.

Disney special from clickthemouse.ca

I've blogged about clickthemouse.ca before because I love their expertise and great service. They have a new offer that's sure to help combat those winter blues. Until March 29, when you purchase a 4-night Walt Disney Travel Company "Magic Your Way" package you get an additional 3 nights for free. Details of the offer (with sample pricing) and the applicable dates can be found here.

Happy Valentines!

I love this photo. It conveys all that is sweet and innocent and fun about being a kid on Valentine's Day. My daughter got some Valentines in the mail yesterday which pleased her no end. She LOVES getting mail so I'm going to sign her up for Happy Mail for Kids which ships out a fun-filled, colourful package each month. Here's a tip next time you travel: buy a stash of extra postcards and address them to your little ones. Write a little note about the picture on the card that will remind her of your holiday and put them in the mail towards the end of your trip. She'll love getting the mail when you get home and remembering the happy times. Happy Family Day long weekend everyone!

Family Day events in Calgary

Family Day is fast approaching. If you are looking for some fun activities to do as a family, check out the list of special events on the Family Fun Calgary website. They also have a month-by-month listing of events in the city.
My favourite page, one that I have bookmarked for those "what shall we do today?" moments, is the Cheapies and Freebies. These value events and activities won't cost you a cent. For example, check out the Home Depot workshops for kids aged 6 to 12 or Friday night stargazing at the Science Centre.

CARES news

I have some great news about CARES to share with you. British Airways just approved (end of January) the use of the CARES airplane seatbelt on its flights. I travelled to England with them at Christmas and was disappointed, no make that disgusted, that they didn't allow it yet. But now they do. Hurray! Most of the European airlines now recognize CARES as a permitted and important safety device and the people at Kids Fly Safe (the company that developed the CARES system) are working to expand the list of international airlines that permit the device. They keep an updated list of airlines on their FAQs page. But if you have any questions about using the harness, or want to rent one or buy one, drop me a line at Little Traveller.

Skills to live by

Would you know what to do if your 8-month old baby started choking?
Until the weekend, I probably would have mumbled a vague "urmmm, not really" sort of a reply. But now I know. And I know what to do if my 1 year old chokes, too (it's different) And how to tie a sling effectively or bandage a burn or check the ABCs (airway, breathing and circulation) or, heaven forbid, administer CPR. I've done certification courses in First Aid before but it was a few years ago and I was getting decidedly rusty. A half-day course tailored to infants was just what I needed to refresh the basics. And because it was a small class, we got to ask as many questions as we needed to. I've made a pledge to take a refresher course every year.