When Mike McGoff heard parents visiting the High Country had to purchase baby and toddler supplies from Walmart just for one-time use during vacations, he knew there was a better solution.

MountainTot is a new equipment rental company serving Summit County. Travelers can rent high chairs, strollers, cribs and even toys at daily or weekly rates.

McGoff and his wife Anna started MountainTot at the beginning of August. After catching the last of the summer resort rush, they are now starting to prepare for more reservations in winter.

“It’s something you really need when you travel with young kids,” Mike said.

The couple has two young daughters, ages 6 and 9, and used a similar rental service on their frequent trips to British Columbia. Anna said as a mom, she preferred renting heavy and cumbersome equipment rather than lugging it onto a plane or car.

“There was a huge void here,” she said. “We wanted to have a service that provided clean, quality gear.”

MountainTot is entirely delivery-based, and customers can make reservations and pay online. The service is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

“Breck and Keystone are especially family orientated destinations,” Mike said. “It’s hard to travel with a baby and have no crib or high chair or toys.”

The business offers a flexible model where parents can order last-minute additions or extras. MountainTot coordinates with local property rentals and often is able to set up the rental gear before a family arrives.

“It just makes it easy for any visitor,” Anna said.

The McGoffs purchase all new equipment and rotate their inventory frequently. But just because it’s high-quality, Mike said, doesn’t mean it’s expensive.

“It shouldn’t cost $1,000 to rent a crib for one week, when you could go out and buy one for less than that,” he said.

All of the MountainTot prices are in line with national industry standards. Mike said there are approximately 500 rental companies who offer baby and toddler necessitates in the U.S. MountainTot is a member of Travel Baby Pros, a professional organization for similar businesses.

“It’s an evolving trend,” Mike said. “Once people know it’s available, it becomes an inexpensive option.”

Anna said many customers are also grandparents and other residents who live in Summit County and have family or friends visit with younger children. She said one grandmother had twin granddaughters visiting, but only had one high chair, so she rented another one from MountainTot. Boxes of age-appropriate toys are also big sellers.

“You have toys all over your house and car, and then you go on vacation and you’re in a condo and you have to give your kid a spatula to play with or something,” Anna said.

In the future, MountainTot might expand to offer items like baby-proofing packages for rent as well. For now, the family is content with helping make vacations in Summit County easier for other parents.

“When you drive up from DIA and you’re exhausted and the kids are tired and hungry, the last thing you want to do is set up a crib,” Anna said.

Visit http://www.mountaintot.com to place a rental order or learn more. MountainTot can be reached at (970) 368-4447 or info@mountaintot.com.