Nantucket With a Baby: Why Renting Gear Made Our Trip Easier

Nantucket with a baby sounded manageable because we were taking the car ferry, but packing everything still added up quickly.

When we planned our first Nantucket trip with our infant, I thought we had it figured out.

We were taking the car ferry, which meant we had our car. And having the car meant storage. No overhead bins. No luggage limits. No trying to carry a stroller, diaper bag, bottles, and a baby through a ferry terminal.

We could just pack everything.

Then we started thinking about what “everything” meant.

A safe sleep space. Stroller. Diapers. Wipes. Bottles. Cooler bag. Clothes. Sound machine. Bath stuff. Feeding supplies. Baby carrier. Blankets. Burp cloths. Pacifiers. Toys. Backup outfits. And then all of our own stuff.

That is when renting baby gear started to make more sense.

Related: Baby Registry for First Time Parents

Nantucket With a Baby: Why Packing Felt Like Too Much

Nantucket with a baby is not impossible, but the packing list gets long fast.

Even for a short trip, babies need a lot of little things. The problem is not just the number of items. It is the size of the bigger items.

A travel crib, stroller, high chair, bath seat, or baby lounger can take up a lot of space. Some of those items are annoying to load and unload. Some are things you only need once or twice during the trip, but when you need them, you really need them.

Taking the car helped, but it did not make the packing list disappear.

Why We Rented Baby Gear

We decided renting baby gear was worth it because it let us avoid packing some of the bulky items.

For us, renting made the trip feel more manageable because we could keep our car from being completely overloaded and still have the baby items that made the stay easier.

The biggest benefit was convenience. Instead of treating the trip like we were moving into the hotel, we could bring the essentials and let the rental gear cover some of the bigger pieces.

This was especially helpful because travel days with a baby already have enough moving parts.

What Baby Gear Is Worth Renting?

What you rent depends on where you are staying and what your baby needs.

Common baby gear rental items include:

• Full-size crib
• Pack ’n play
• High chair
• Stroller
• Baby bathtub
• Bouncer
• Toys
• Beach gear
• Sound machine
• Bottle drying rack
• Baby monitor

I would start by asking what your hotel or rental house already provides. Some hotels can provide a crib or pack ’n play. Some rentals may already have baby gear. Others may have nothing.

Do not assume. Ask before you pack.

Related: Baby Travel Packing List

What I Would Still Pack Myself

Even if you rent baby gear, there are things I would still pack myself.

I would bring:

• Bottles
• Breast milk or formula supplies
• Pacifiers
• Sleep sack
• Baby monitor if you prefer your own
• White noise machine if your baby is used to it
• Diapers for the travel day
• Wipes
• Extra outfits
• Burp cloths
• Diaper bag
• Any medicine or health items
• Favorite small toys
• Feeding items your baby uses daily

I would not want to rely on a rental for anything highly personal, feeding-specific, or part of the baby’s normal sleep routine.

Related: Best White Noise Machine for Baby

The Ferry Adds Another Layer

Taking the ferry to Nantucket is part of the experience, but it adds logistics.

The Steamship Authority lets travelers book vehicle reservations for Nantucket, and its reservation page explains options for vehicle and passenger reservations: Steamship Authority Reservations

If you are taking a car, plan ahead. Vehicle space can be limited, especially during busy travel periods.

Steamship Authority fare information is here: Steamship Authority Nantucket Fares

For us, the car made the trip easier, but the ferry still meant we had to think through timing, loading, unloading, feeding, naps, and how much stuff we wanted to drag around.

We had a similar takeaway on our Martha’s Vineyard trip: the island is doable with a baby, but where you stay, whether you bring a car, and how much gear you pack all matter. For a full breakdown, see our guide to Martha’s Vineyard with kids.

Travel Day With a Baby

Travel days with a baby are long, even when the trip itself is not that far.

For the ferry day, I would think about:

• Feeding before or during travel
• Diapers and wipes within reach
• Extra outfit easy to access
• Pacifier or comfort item
• Burp cloth
• Cooler bag if bringing bottles
• Snacks and water for parents
• Baby carrier
• Stroller plan
• Timing around naps if possible

Even if you usually limit certain things, travel days are different. A little extra flexibility can make the day smoother.

Related: Daycare Bag for Baby: Diaper Bag vs Backpack

Room Setup Matters

Once we arrived, the room setup mattered more than I expected.

With a baby, you need to think about:

• Where the baby will sleep
• Where bottles will go
• Where diapers will be changed
• Where dirty clothes will go
• Where the stroller will be stored
• Whether cords are reachable
• Whether there is space for a crib or pack ’n play
• Whether the room is dark enough for naps
• Whether the sound machine is close enough but not too close

A rented crib or pack ’n play can help, but you still need to set up the room in a way that works.

Related: Sleep With a Newborn

Beach and Walk Logistics

Nantucket with a baby can be beautiful, but the beach is not exactly simple.

If you are planning beach time, think about:

• Shade
• Sun protection
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Sand management
• Feeding
• Cooler bag
• Extra clothes
• Towels
• Stroller or carrier
• Timing around naps
• Where you will rinse off

A baby does not need a long beach day. Sometimes a shorter, easier outing is better than trying to force a full day.

Related: Taking a Baby to the Beach: Packing List and Advice

What Renting Gear Helped With Most

Renting gear helped most with the mental load.

We did not have to think through how to fit every bulky item in the car. We did not have to bring every single baby item from home. We could focus on the things we really needed for travel day and daily care.

That made the trip feel more like a trip and less like a packing project.

What I Would Do Again

I would rent bulky items again, especially for a destination like Nantucket where travel already involves extra logistics.

I would still pack the things that are personal to the baby’s routine, especially feeding and sleep items. But for larger gear, renting made sense.

I would also ask more questions ahead of time:

• What does the hotel or rental provide?
• Where will the baby sleep?
• Is there space for rented gear?
• Can gear be delivered?
• What time will it arrive?
• What happens at pickup?
• Do we need to clean anything before return?

A little planning makes the rental feel much easier.

What I Would Not Overpack

I would not overpack toys, outfits, or “just in case” baby gear.

Babies mostly need feeding, sleep, diapers, clothes, and a few familiar items. Nantucket is not the place where I would want to haul around every baby product we own.

If something can be rented, bought locally, or skipped for a short trip, I would seriously consider leaving it home.

Final Thoughts

Nantucket with a baby was easier because we rented some of the gear instead of packing everything ourselves.

Taking the car ferry helped, but it did not make the packing list small. Renting bulky baby items gave us more space, less stress, and a more manageable travel day.

For us, the best approach was simple: pack the daily essentials, bring the feeding and sleep items we cared most about, and rent the bulky gear that would have made the car feel overloaded.

Traveling with a baby is still work. But renting gear made it feel a lot more doable.