Crafts & Fun

When my children were babies, the family place we visited every year embodied what to avoid when cottaging with babies: no road, no electricity (therefore no fan or night light), no phone, no hot water, no bathroom, no level land or beach (only a steep rocky descent to a 15-foot depth) and no cupboard doors on the open, baby-height kitchen shelving. Yet my brothers and sister and I all brought our infants there, and survived, and were glad we did.

Catherine Schroh rented a cottage two summers ago when her daughter, Sarah, was eight months old, so she got to be more selective. She used a cottage rental site on the Internet and looked for “sand for her to play in and a shallow entry.” The family had a wonderful time. “We have great pictures of Sarah playing in about one inch of water,” she says. They plan to cottage again this summer with Sarah, now three and her baby sister, Allison (nearly one).

The Schrohs discovered a couple of bonuses at their rental. “The cottage had a washer and dryer, and it was handy to have them,” she says. “We ran out of clothes and ended up doing a couple of loads.” Schroh and her husband were also able to enjoy an occasional movie on the VCR while Sarah obligingly slept.

Janice MacPherson, who rented a cottage on PEI last summer when baby Ian was only three months old, found a couple of other important amenities. “We had two bedrooms, and the extra bedroom was a good place to store all of his stuff. And the cottage had a
bathtub, not just a shower, so it was easy to bathe him.”

Once you’ve found the right place, you need to decide what to bring. Here’s what our experienced cottagers suggested:

Baby life jacket. Tiffany Dombowsky’s cottage is a 45-minute boat ride from the end of the road, she explains, so a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for her baby, Sydney, was essential. Unfortunately, while PFDs for infants 20 pounds (9 kg) and up are widely available, it can be almost impossible to find one in newborn size.

Another water safety tip: Leslie Austin kept a playpen on the dock, pointing out that even if your baby doesn’t play in it much, “It’s essential to have a place where you can put the baby down in case of an emergency, like if you have to help someone in the water.”

Consider another adult! Dombowsky’s suggestion for a happy vacation? Bring along an extra adult or two: “It was never just the three of us; my parents were usually up with us, and extra people are a big help.”

Bug and sun protection. Insect repellent is not recommended for children under two, but mosquito netting, fitted over the crib, playpen, or stroller, will make for more peaceful nights and happier walks. Dombowsky also avoids giving Sydney fruit juice outside, since it attracts bugs and bees. And what about those sunny docks or beaches? In addition to sunscreen (after six months), hats and beach umbrellas can keep your baby in the shade. Austin purchased a special Sunveil cover to use over her playpen on the dock. (Of course, that only works if your baby is actually happy in the playpen.)

Toys. You wouldn’t necessarily think of taking a kiddie pool to a lake, but Austin found a little pool with a no-slip bottom was just the thing for a mobile baby. Other faves: a baby swing, hung from a tree. MacPherson took an activity quilt for her baby, and found it provided a nice “home base” wherever they travelled. Schroh packed Sarah’s small toys, books and CDs, but her favourite toy at the lake was “a beach ball we bought her for about a dollar.”

First aid. The further you are from a store, the more supplies you should bring with you. Start with children’s acetaminophen, antihistamine (for bee stings — but consult with a doctor for the correct dosage), and something to ease bug bites, like witch hazel or calamine lotion. And find out where the nearest emergency room is, just in case you have to deal with middle-of-the-night croup.

What else to bring? “I think you want to bring lots of everything,” advises Dombowsky. “Diapers, food, toys. We brought everything Sydney loves. We want her to love it up there.”

Originally published in Today's Parent, June 2003