The Saco Saplings
Traveling Reccomendations for Littles at The Lodge
What to bring, and how we've got you covered!
We know traveling with small children requires a lot of gear! To help you pack perfectly for your stay, here is a quick guide on what we provide and what we suggest bringing for your family’s Maine adventure.
What to Leave at Home
Portable Crib & High Chair: We have a portable crib and high chair ready to go so you can save trunk space. If your child requires something different, we recommend you planning ahead and packing a personal option.
Kitchen Essentials: Our chef’s kitchen includes a microwave (great for bottle sanitizing bags) and a blender (perfect for purees).
Washer, Dryer & Detergent: No need to overpack outfits—you have full access to our laundry room for any inevitable spills or messes!
Kids’ Bedding: Our third bedroom features a twin daybed with a twin trundle, perfect for siblings or older toddlers.
Potty Training: If your child is still learning how to be a big-kid, no worries as we do provide potty-proof bed pads available with the linens in the upstairs bathroom. Due to hygiene protocols we do not provide toddler toilets or attachments.
First Aid: We do provide a standard, small first aid kit at The Lodge, found on the laundry room shelves. In the event that you or your child experience a health emergency we recommend you dial 9-1-1 or utilize our local Urgent Care in Saco off of Route 1.
What to Pack for the Lodge (Safety & Comfort)
Baby Gate(s): All three bedrooms are located on the second floor, while the main living space is on the first. We highly recommend bringing a portable travel gate to keep your little ones safe around the stairs.
Baby Monitors: We do not provide baby monitors at the lodge. Since the bedrooms are upstairs and the main living and outdoor areas are downstairs, bringing your own monitor is a great idea so you can relax downstairs or out by the firepit while keeping an ear on sleeping children.
Baby Bath Supplies: We do provide complimentary toiletries for adults, but be sure to pack your child’s preferred wash, toys and accessories for bath time!
Summer Fun: We are just minutes from Old Orchard Beach, Aquaboggan Waterpark and SplashTown USA! Don’t forget sunscreen, swim diapers, sun hats, toys, goggles and any other swim-safe necessities for your water-filled day trips. Our house already provides beach towel sets for both kids and adults but for frequent beach-goers, we recommend bringing a few back-ups. When returning from sandy adventures please be advised that our septic system is very sensitive to sand so we ask that you shake out any beach linens and rinse down shoes, feet and supplies using our outdoor shower system, before reentering the home.
What to Pack for the Maine Outdoors (Adventure Ready!)
Child Hiking Carrier or All-Terrain Stroller: Southern Maine features a plethora of family-friendly trails and public woods to explore. A standard stroller sometimes might not roll well out there, so a wearable carrier or off-road stroller is best for going on adventures! Strollers are just an item that we do not provide at this time.
Child-Safe Bug & Tick Repellent: The Maine woods are beautiful, but they do come with ticks and mosquitos. Bring your preferred child-safe bug spray and plan for daily “tick checks” after playing outside. Permethrin and DEET based chemicals really do offer the best, fool-proof protection but we recommend you read the safety and usage instructions when applying on or around small children.
Sturdy, Closed-Toe Shoes: Keep those little toes safe from uneven ground, roots, and rocks while roaming the backyard. Our driveway is an unpaved gravel drive so we ask that children refrain from playing with our rocks and landscaping while visiting.
