Guides
Everything we know about LBI with a small child
Written by people who are inside Long Beach Island rental houses every week of the season. Specific, local, and free of the padding that usually surrounds this stuff.
Crib rental on Long Beach Island: everything you actually need to know
Everything I'd tell a friend before her first LBI week with a baby: what it costs, when to book, and the two things families get caught out by every summer.
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Pack 'n play or rent a real crib? An honest comparison
Sometimes the pack 'n play really is the right answer, and I'll tell you when. But if you're here a full week with a toddler, I'd rent the crib.
How far ahead should you book a crib for LBI?
It's not the season that fills up, it's the Saturday. Here's how the island's changeover day decides what's still available when you call.
What to pack for LBI with a baby, and what to leave behind
I'm in LBI rental houses all summer, so I know what's in them and what never is. Here's what to bring, and what you can leave home.
LBI with a baby: beaches, naps, rainy days and bedtime
Where the water is calm enough for a toddler, how to shape a day around a nap, and what to do on the one gray afternoon you'll get.
Newton vs. foam: which crib mattress to rent
Both are good mattresses, honestly. Here's when the Newton is worth it and when I'd tell you to save your money.
When renting a crib for months beats buying one
Buying means guessing how long you'll need it. Sometimes that's easy. Here's how to tell when it isn't.
How to set up a safe crib in a rental house
Your own house got safe one small fix at a time. A rental house has had none of them. This takes five minutes and then you can stop thinking about it.
Visiting LBI in the off-season with a baby
Half the price, none of the traffic, and a beach your toddler has to themselves. Here's what's actually open, and what to expect in return.
Why we rent the Dream On Me Quinn crib
We rent one crib and nothing else. Here's what it does well, what it doesn't, and why sticking to one model is better for you than a catalog.
How we clean a crib between two families
Nobody enjoys reading about laundry, but you should know exactly what happens to a crib before it comes to your family. So here it is.
Getting a crib fast for a foster placement
The call comes at four and the child arrives at seven. Here's what to do first, and what a licensing inspection actually asks about a crib.
Ready when you are
The reading is optional. The crib is not.