Travelling with babies and toddlers often feels like navigating a minefield of logistical challenges. From ensuring your little one’s comfort to juggling the transport of essential but bulky gear, even a short getaway can quickly become overwhelming. Tiny Explorers aims to take the stress out of travelling with children by offering a convenient solution: a wide range of high-quality baby and toddler travel accessories available for hire across the UK.
Whether you’re looking for pushchairs, travel cots, highchairs, or specialist travel aids, Tiny Explorers allows families to limit the cost of travel without compromising their child’s safety and comfort. For a recent trip, we decided to try their service, hiring an AmSafe harness and two Flyaway Kids Beds to make flying long haul to the Caribbean island of Nevis a little more manageable.
Here’s how the experience went and why Tiny Explorers is a game-changer for travelling families.
Ease of Use and Website Experience
I found the Tiny Explorers website whilst searching Facebook Marketplace for second hand Flyaway Kids Beds. At £128 each, plus shipping from the USA, the cost to buy new was out of my budget. Tiny Explorers had a listing on Facebook with a link to their website for a one week rental at £35 which was much more achievable.
Navigating their website I also discovered the AmSafe harness, a restraint system which turns a traditional airline seat belt into a five point harness akin to a baby car seat. Our youngest has just turned two and would be travelling in her own seat for the first time. The harness seemed like a great option to keep her safe in turbulent conditions, and also keep her safely in her seat during take off and landing.
Adding the items to my cart I reserved them for our dates of travel, gave my delivery address and paid the rental fee. Simple. Th
Delivery and Returns
The items we rented, an AmSafe harness and two Flyaway Kids Beds, arrived right on schedule two days before we were due to fly. They were packaged securely, and the items were scrupulously clean.
Returning the items after our trip was just as straightforward. For bulky items, such as the Flyaway Kids Beds, Tiny Explorers arranges a collection with DPD, though this requires being available for a collection window between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Alternatively, for added flexibility, you can drop off items at any local DPD shop on the last day of hire by booking your return via their online returns portal.
The process was seamless and stress-free and I’ll be recommending Tiny Explorers to all our friends who have young children.
Flyaway Kids Bed Review
The Flyaway Kids Bed is an innovative solution that transforms an airplane seat into a soft, flat bed, helping little ones get the rest they need during a journey.
The design is clever yet straightforward. The inflatable mattress fills the seat and legroom space, creating a flat surface for your child to lie down. Setup is quick and easy, taking just 90 seconds with the included pump. The pump itself is compact, making it easy to store in hand luggage, and it’s surprisingly quiet, which means you can inflate the bed discreetly without drawing attention.
One of the standout features is the support stand, which holds the mattress securely in place. Despite its size when unpacked, the bed folds down neatly into a compact bag, making it convenient to store under the seat in front of your child. When setting it up, it’s best to inflate the mattress in the seat space rather than in the aisle for ease and efficiency.
WHAT WE LOVED
Comfort: The flat, air-filled design offers superior comfort compared to thinner alternatives.
Ease of Use: Quick inflation with a small, quiet pump makes setup a breeze.
Compact Storage: The included bag is a perfect size for hand luggage.
Safety: The emergency valve provides an added layer of reassurance.
Using the Flyaway Kids Bed
While setting up the bed, you’ll need to briefly move your child out of the seat, but this isn’t a major issue since the entire process only takes a couple of minutes. Once in place, the bed is wonderfully practical, however it can only be used in certain seats onboard airlines that have approved it for use. BA has approved the Flyaway Kids Bed and we opted to book seats in the middle row where it can be used in the middle two seats of the row.
The Flyaway Kids Bed is not just practical but also exceptionally comfortable. Unlike other travel beds that can feel thin, this product offers a thicker, air-filled surface that eliminates the bumps and ridges of the airplane seat. Our children were able to lie completely flat, and with the addition of an airline pillow and their own sleepsuits, they managed to sleep for 5.5 hours on the 7.5 hours overnight flight back from Antigua.
A noteworthy safety feature is the emergency valve, which allows you to instantly deflate the bed if needed.
AmSafe (CARES) Harness Review
The AmSafe CARES Safety Harness is a game-changer for families flying with small children. This British Airways approved Child Aviation Restraint System is specifically designed for kids sitting in their own airplane seats who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds and are 40 inches tall or shorter. It’s also approved by the FAA which means that it’s accepted by all U.S. airlines for use during flights, setting it apart from car seats, which are not always approved or usable for take-off and landing.
The CARES Safety Harness is straightforward to install and use. It attaches directly to the airplane seatbelt, providing an additional layer of restraint across your child’s chest. This setup not only keeps your child securely fastened during the flight but also prevents them from slipping out of the standard lap belt.
WHAT WE LOVED
Peace of mind: The fact that our youngest was secure in her seat during take off and landing.
Comfort: The harness is made from a soft material and the buckle was sturdy. Our little one looked comfortable and didn’t complain.
Lightweight: Comes in a small drawstring bag it is super packable.
Easy to install: Simple to fit in minutes and discreet when in place.
Since the harness is designed to fit children in their own seats, it’s important to ensure your child meets the weight and height requirements for proper use. In our experience, the fit for our two year old was snug and secure, and the harness worked exactly as promised.
Renting Baby/Child Travel Accessories
For anyone on a budget renting travel accessories for young children is a no-brainer because they out-grow things quickly and their needs change from one year to the next. Whether you’re travelling overseas, staycationing with friends, or even just visiting family, renting items which make your life a little easier when away from home is a cost effective and sustainable alternative to buying new.
Our experience with baby equipment rental service Tiny Explorers puts me in a great position to be able to highly recommend their service.
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