In the wake of two recent infant deaths, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pennsylvania, of approximately 1 million cribs. The danger of these cribs relates to the detachment of the crib’s drop-side, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants. In addition to the recent deaths of a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, there been seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents reported relating to Simplicity cribs. As a measure to reduce crib deaths and injuries in Canada, the Cribs and Cradles Regulations were introduced in 1974. As such, amendments in 2004 included an increased side height from 560mm to 660mm, an elimination of toeholds and a clarification of definitions. As a way to improve crib safety standards, the revised regulations also prohibit the sale and commercial importation of all cribs and cradles which do not meet these regulations. Although, unlike infant car seats, it is currently not illegal to privately purchase foreign cribs for use in Canada, the question is whether the risks involved are worth the financial savings. In addition to meeting the Canadian performance safety standards, purchasing a crib in Canada means that (through the use of warranty cards) consumers can be kept up-to-date in the event of a manufacturing recall. All Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rental cribs have been purchased in Canada and are in compliance with Canadian Safety Standards. Rest assured that Petite Passengers rents only top-of-the-line cribs and baby equipment in the Vancouver area. For further information, do not hestitate to contact at www.petitepassengers.com or 604 780 9914.
Simplicity Crib Recall March 5, 2008
Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rentals and Sweet Pea Organic Baby Food November 30, 2007
Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rentals has partnered with Sweet Pea Organic Baby Food and can now deliver both your baby equipment and your favorite baby food right to your doorstep. Imagine the ease of arriving at your Vancouver hotel or vacation property to find a Bugaboo Stroller, a Peg Perego High Chair and an assortment of Sweet Pea Organic Baby food – all set up and ready to use. All you need to do is heat. Sweet Pea Baby Food is the only Canadian owned organic baby food company and supplies to such markets as Whole Foods and Capers. All of their products are wheat and soy free, and contain no artificial flavors, colours or preservatives. Not to mention, they taste delicious. After a long-haul flight or drive, parents can now relax and rest assured that Petite Passengers has not only delivered and assembled your baby travel equipment, but also taken care of a nutritional dinner for baby. Renting baby travel equipment with us means no more lugging stroller through airports, nor more renting outdated car seats from car rental companies, and no more tears for hungry baby. We can even supply toys and diapers!For further information please visit our website: www.petitepassengers.com or phone (1) 604 780 9914 
Bugaboo Stroller Rentals/hire in Vancouver October 28, 2007
As a parent, you have undoubtedly seen the latest in celebrity-preferred deluxe strollers, The Bugaboo. Considered the “Rolls Royce” of baby transport, the Bugaboo is hard to miss with its array of 45 viabrant colours including hot pink, orange, denim, red and yellow. But setting parents back a cool thousand dollars, is the Bugaboo really worth the hype?
In a word, yes.The award winning 3-in-1 system means that the Bugaboo can be used from birth right up until baby no longer needs a stroller. Many parents use the detachable basinette as both a pram and as an early stage crib. My sister loved the fact that she could stick her arm out from under the bedcovers and rock the basinette when junior stirred, and her husband loved that the pram could be wheeled away when the comforting didn’t work (!).Once baby has reached 6 months, the Bugaboo basinette is clicked off and replaced with the bucket seat. The bucket seat can be used as both a seat and as a fully reclinable bed. As with the basinette, it can face forwards or backwards and comes with a sunshade that can be covered with a blanky for extra quiet nap times.More than just fashionable, the Bugaboo can go anywhere. It turns on a dime, and can be steered with one hand while mastering bumps, curbs, potholes, cracks, brick and cobblestone with complete ease. It also has more accessories that you can poke a stick at, including car seat attachments, transport bags, parasols, cup holders and foot muffs for those super cold days.Its cutting edge Norweigen design takes a little getting used to, as you really do have to read the assembling and disassembling instructions at least once. (My finace and I mistakenly thought we were stroller pros and didn’t need any briefing, only to find ourselves scratching our heads in wonderment whilst in the shopping centre parking lot. A quick s.o.s call to mother confirmed that we had missed one vital piece of information, those little white levers that unravel the whole ensemble).So what are the cons? To be honest, very little. Apart from the price, most parents I have been in touch with are goo-goo over the Bugaboo. A couple did mentioned that the Bugaboo doesn’t exactly fold down to a managable size and takes up a lot of room in the back of the car. Toting a Bugaboo when travelling overseas or on long distance travel can also be painful as the assembling/disassembling can be somewhat tiring.The perfect solution.So your family love the Bugaboo stroller and can’t be without it, but you are planning a trip to Vancouver and aren’t looking forward to lugging it with you. The perfect solution is right here at your doorstep. Petite Passenger’s Baby Equipment Rentals rents/hires Bugaboo Strollers to families visiting Vancouver, Canada. We can deliver a Bubagoo stroller right to your hotel or vacation property and pick it up once you have left.Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rentals also rents out other high-end baby equipment such as car seats, cribs, highchairs, toys and more. (Rest assured that all of our equipment at Petite Passengers is in immaculate condition and sanatised with environmentally friendly products).For a complete list of our excellent baby gear please visit our website at www.petitepassengers.com or phone 604 780 9914.
Simplicity Crib Recall – a warning to parents October 3, 2007
In the wake of two recent infant deaths, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pennsylvania, of approximately 1 million cribs. The danger of these cribs relates to the detachment of the crib’s drop-side, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants. In addition to the recent deaths of a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, there been seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents reported relating to Simplicity cribs. As a measure to reduce deaths and injuries associated with the use of cribs and cradles, the Canadian Cribs and Cradles Regulations were introduced in 1974 . As such, amendments in 2004 include an increased side height from 560mm to 660mm, an elimination of toeholds and a clarification of definitions. As a way to set a standard of crib safety in Canada, the revised Regulations also prohibit the sale and commercial importation of all cribs and cradles which do not meet the Canadian requirements. Although, unlike infant car seats, it is currently not illegal to privately purchase foreign cribs for use in Canada, the question is whether the risks involved are worth the financial savings. In addition to meeting the Canadian performance safety standards, purchasing a crib in Canada means that (through the use of warranty cards) consumers can be kept up-to-date in the event of a manufacturing recall. All Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rental cribs have been purchased in Canada and are in compliance with Canadian Safety Standards. Rest assured that Petite Passengers rents only top-of-the-line cribs and baby equipment in the Vancouver area. For further information, do not hestitate to contact us at www.petitepassengers.com or 604 780 9914.
(Example of our safety-standard-approved and Canadian-purchased cribs)
Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rentals – About Us September 5, 2007
Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rentals is a locally owned and operated business that caters to local, national and international guests in Vancouver, Canada. Born and raised in Australia, owner Paige Lawrence understands the joys and challenges of travelling, having lived in and travelled to many different countries throughout the world. As regular travellers between Melbourne and Vancouver, both Paige, her partner and their family have experienced first-hand the difficulty of travelling with excess luggage and of not being satisfied with the quality of baby equipment supplied by hotels and car rental companies.
Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rentals was created to help ease the burden of travelling by supplying the highest quality cribs, strollers, car seats, high chairs, toys and more to first-time Vancouver guests and also returning visitors. With brand names such as Bugaboo, Graco, Fisher Price, and Britax, Petite Passengers rents out only the highest quality and well maintained baby equipment. Our equipment has been purchased brand new in 2007 and all goods are sanitised with Seventh Generation environmentally friendly products.
Petite Passengers’ Tips on Traveling with Children August 28, 2007
When traveling with kids, it is important not only to plan, but to plan with common sense. Start a travel list well in advance of your trip and add to it over the days or weeks leading up to your departure day. Remember, a trip is supposed to be fun: so be prepared, be creative, and above all, have a sense of humour! A positive and flexible attitude will go a long way. Here are some other tips to help reduce the stress of travelling…
Pre-departure
• Consider renting essential larger items such as stroller, cribs, high chairs and car seats as they only take up valuable space
• When packing your children’s bags, try to stick to the list and not pack unnecessary items. You will more than likely come home with extra items anyway, so try to pack lightly
• Before you head to the airport, why not check-in from home? Most airlines will allow you to select seats and pre-order kid’s meals on line. That way you can simply drop and tag your bags at the airport
• If your airline allows, remember to pre-book the baby basinets in the bulk head-seats (some airlines will only allocate these at the airport on a first come, first served basis)
• For long drives, plan your stops and keep your kids busy – pack favourite security toys, favourite CDs, books and games.
At the airport
• Allow lots of extra time – remember Murphy’s law…
• Ask your partner or a friend to speak to the check-in desk about queue jumping. Most airlines are child-friendly in this regard.
• Always ask if the plane is full – ask if it is possible to hold a spare seat next to you
• Accept any assistance that airline staff offer (helping with children, allow families to be first on the plane and last off)
• Ask for fast track customs and immigration
New Aviation Regulations
The International Civil Aviation Organization has recently increased restrictions on liquid items in hand luggage. Travellers are no longer able to carry more that 100mls of liquids, gels, pastes, lotions or creams. All items under 100mls must be placed in a clear sealable plastic bag and all items must not exceed 1 litre. Many airlines have also reduced the allowed weight of checked luggage, so contact you airline for specifics.
New Aviations Regulations and Babies
• Baby formula is allowed onboard in carry-on luggage, but will be inspected
• Airlines will also allow diaper/nappy rash cream, but only in the appropriate quantities – it may be a good idea to transfer an appropriate amount into a small container (100mls or less)
Infant Specific Tips
• Rather than lug a stroller through the airport, think about carrying your young child in a sling or front pack
• Airline are becoming increasingly stricter about strollers onboard but may still allow small travel strollers – check with your airline for specifics
• On the plane, keep your diaper/nappy change bag close-by so that it is easily accessible. And to keep your neighbours on friendly terms by packing perfumed diaper/nappy plastic bags for dirty diapers/nappies and wet clothing
• Ask flight attendants where the best place to change your baby is – some stalls have larger change areas than others
• Try to feed when taking off and landing so as to avoid ear problems. If the timing doesn’t work, carry a pacifier (or two)
• Pack your regular baby food in a sealed air-tight jar and have the flight attendant heat it up well in advance of when you need it. Remember: there are no microwaves onboard, so attendants will need to heat it the old fashioned way in hot water.
• Pack wet-wipes – they are a God-sent!
Toddlers Specific Tips
• Toddlers like to be mobile, so it’s a good idea to use a child harness or leash at the airport or car rental desk
• Before you leave, consider buying or renting a Gogo Kids Travel Mate – a new product that attaches to most car seats and can be wheeled (baby and all) around the airport.
• Kids love surprises – have your child bring a couple of favourite toys and then surprise them with a wrapped gift or two (a wrapped gift adds to the entertainment and excitement of travelling)
• Fun, easy-to-carry travel gifts include story books, play doh, colouring books, paper and crayons, small cars, dolls, play figurines, sticker books, cards and travel board games.
• Don’t unveil all your tricks at once – have a one toy at a time policy.
• Portable DVD players are a God-sent (bring their favourite DVDs and allow for more-than-usual viewing time)
• Pack a discman/ipod with their favourite songs
• Potty training – If you are flying with a child who is in the process of potty training, it’s a good idea for them to wear diapers for the journey. You should explain that there are often bathroom line-ups and that the captain may turn on the seat-belt sign at a time that your little one needs to go
• Be prepared for ear equalization problems – bring gum or sweets for kids to chew
• Have your child feel that they are contributing by carry their own backpack in the airport and to the car
• For long haul flights, consider sedatives or relaxants – but check with your doctor first. You will definitely want to experiment with quantities prior to the trip as each child can react differently. (A close friend of mine with a 2 year old experimented with quantities before their trip to Bali, and happy with the result, decided to use the relaxant on the plane. She gave her son a little extra than before – just to make sure – which unfortunately had a reverse effect and caused him to become hyperactive. Even worse, she had already taken a relaxant herself and spent the entire journey trying to stay awake in order to chase her child around).
• Seat kicking – number two on the list of top five pet-peeves by travellers. It’s not realistic to expect perfectly well behaved children all the time, but you can ease other passengers’ discomforts by not allowing you kids to kick the back of aeroplane chairs.
Remember: Laugh at your situation, focus on your destination and don’t sweat the small stuff!
Petite Passengers Baby Equipment Rentals
Vancouver, BC
www.petitepassengers.com
