Baby & Toddler Friendly - The details
We moved to Trevorrick when our eldest, now 9, was 18 months, our youngest now aged 5, was born here. Therefore our business has grown up around our ('ex') toddlers, and our toddlers have grown up around our business. Not always an easy juggle for us! But we hope our experience can add to yours.
The following information is intended to be as comprehensive as practical, and we have tried to be as open and honest as possible, but if you need any further information before you come, or anything else when you are here just let us know!
What we can provide - inside the cottage
We know how much packing is needed when one travels with young children, therefore the following is a selection of the items available for use in your cottage, at no extra charge. Please note that we only have limited numbers of some of these items, so if you need anything in particular (even a particular type of toy!) it is best to ask in advance - first come, first served. Cots/highchairs should be reserved at time of booking. Many other items will be in the cottage on your arrival, but if not please ask - sometimes items have been removed for checking/cleaning/replacement or by mistake (!!) or we keep stored unless required. However we cannot guarantee that any item will be available, unless it has specifically been reserved in advance.
Cots (but not bed linen). We have 3 wooden cots and 2 travel cots. We can only provide a travel cot in Owls Roost and Credis View. Otherwise we try to provide a wooden cot in preference to a travel cot if possible, but cannot always guarantee.
High chairs (we ask that you bring your own 5 point safety harness as these get soiled so easily)
Plastic plates and cups (but not cups with spouts or plastic spoons etc for hygiene reasons)
Booster seats
Baby bouncers
Baby baths
Baby bath support/bath seat for child to sit in
Non-slip mats for baths
Potties and toddler toilet seats
Baby front carriers (Baby Bjorn or Wilkinet type)
Waterproof sheets for single beds (usually provided for the under 10s 'just in case'), however we suggest you bring your own in the 'training' period 'just in case'. Disposable 'bed mats' or night time 'training pants' available to buy on individual basis (please ask)
Bed guard
Baby/toddler back carriers for children up to 3. The walk to Padstow is a 'must do', but best by carrier rather than buggy because of stiles, but you can drive to the Camel Trail from here (along lanes) and 'buggy' into Padstow on the flat.
Selection of toys for children up to 5 eg, sorting/stacking toys, duplo, wooden railway etc. We try to suit toys to age of the child/children - please ask if we have not! We also try to check these are complete and clean before your arrival – if not please let us know.
Children's videos/books/puzzles (DVD player in all cottages, but please bring
your own DVDs)
Stair gates in Owls Roost and Curlew. Fitted at top of stairs in Owls ('upside down' cottage) and bottom of stairs in Curlew only - please ask if you require any further information on these cottages.
We also have single storey cottages to avoid stairs at all.
Ladder guard for bunk bed in Owls Roost, where only bottom bunk is in use (upper bunks are not suitable for children under age of 6)
Socket covers (in drawer for your arrival, your choice as to where/whether fitted or not)
Night light
Baby monitor (monitor always supplied in Curlew, one other available to borrow)
Pushchair/buggy (one larger pushchair, one lightweight buggy - to borrow on
daily basis)
Welly 'library' - sizes 4 (baby) to 3 (child). Wellies are always whatever the time of year, even in the warmer months grass can be dewy in the morning, and are useful to avoid dirtying shoes whilst helping to feed the animals.
Available at extra cost of £10 per week (must be reserved and paid for in advance only - charge due to time involved in putting up and dismantling as anybody who owns one will know!!) large hexagonal Baby Dan play pen with padded base. Please note this will limit the living area in your cottage, therefore please bear this in mind when requesting.
Please note that our cottages have to be 'practical' for guests of all ages. Therefore there are some things that we cannot offer, which you may have in your own home environment, but which are not suitable for use in our cottages. We have tried to list these things here, however children in a different 'home' setting will need more supervision than in their own home environment: we hope our guests appreciate this. We cannot provide child locks on fridges or kitchen cupboard doors. We have tried these and they get broken too easily, so we could not guarantee they were "working" for your arrival. However all cottages have adequate 'out of reach space' to store things (please ask if you feel you need more - we will try to help!!). We limit 'chemicals' in the cottage to the necessary cream cleaner and washing up liquid; any other cleaning products may be available on request. However for safety we do not provide anti-bacterial sprays or any kind of spray or aerosol product to guests. We can't provide 'sticky pads' on table corners, but can cover (or remove if practical) any coffee tables etc for you if asked. The cookers in the cottage are electric and the main cooker switch will always be 'off' when you arrive (and we suggest it is kept 'off' when not in use), but we cannot provide a cooker 'guard'. In cottages which have open fires or log burners, we always advise that these are used after 'bed time', as we can only provide 'moveable' fire guards rather than fixed. However we do provide alternative heating (in addition to the night storage heating) so that open fires or log burners need to be used only if you choose. We do not provide steam sterilisers; we feel this could be too much of a risk if they were 'faulty' unbeknown to us.
What we can provide - outside the cottage
Over the last 7 years we have continually upgraded and improved our children's facilities and can now offer:
Giant 'play' combine harvester. A favourite with all our younger guests. Sit in the cab and turn the wheel, or hide from mum and dad inside! (Ours have!!!)
Large sandpit (covered when not in use) with sand toys
Play house, with play food etc
Toddler swing and slide
Giant 8-in-1 Little Tikes climber
Large 'curly caterpillar' crawl through
Variety of trundle toys - sorry, most of these are suitable for 3s and under only
Larger wooden climbing frame with curly slide
Small bouncer trampoline (our large 14' trampoline is not suitable for the under 5s)
In games room - further selection of 'large toys' - eg Giant Little Tikes dolls house, large construction set, baby walker with blocks.
Heated swimming pool to 29 degrees. Please note that our pool is in a converted barn, so that whilst the water is 'normal' swimming pool temperature, the air temperature will fluctuate according to outside air temperature.
Entry to pool area only by digital keypad (little ones should not be able to access) - all guests briefed on health and safety rules
prior to pool use and rules strictly enforced.
Hygienic plastic padded play pen in the swimming pool area.
Arm bands, baby floaty seats and buoyancy aids (you may need to ask for these)
Swim nappies available to buy
Friendly 'animals' to feed and pet. Ducks, bantams and hens to feed. New for 2009 - friendly turkeys! Rabbits and a guinea pig to pet. Summer resident pigs. See our animals page.
Lots of grassy space in which to run around, or for Mum and Dad to watch the little ones running around!
Need more? Although you may need to drag your little one away from our facilities we thought it was appropriate to mention here 'Cornwall's Crealy' adventure
park, just 3 miles away. As parents of young children we have tested out most of Cornwall's attractions for the little ones. We think Crealys is one of the best, especially as you pay once and can get in free for seven days and it's so close! Worth going near the start of your holiday. Lots of animals, outdoor play areas, several big indoor play areas - absolutely ideal for under 10s, but there are a couple of rides such as the log flume that may thrill the mums and dads! Little ones under 92cm are free. We have plenty more ideas of great things to do for little ones - just ask. If you are thinking of going somewhere we have probably been there and are happy to share our views.
And lastly, sorry, the boring but necessary bit
Please see our 'booking terms and conditions' re use of amenities and liability of owners. We would stress that parents are responsible for the well being of their children at Trevorrick Farm, both within the cottage and in our farm setting, and we would expect that for their own safety children are adequately supervised inside and outside the cottage at all times. In an unfamiliar setting it is to be expected that children will require more supervision than in a home environment. We try to ensure that any baby/child equipment or toys provided in the cottage are clean and suitable for purpose and we try to check that this is so before your stay (not always easy with a box of building bricks!). - Just let us know if we've missed anything. It remains the parents responsibility to check that anything provided in the cottage is safe and suitable for their child.
If you have any concerns, we are always on hand to help. We have tried to think of as much as we can, but if you have any suggestions, please do let us know - preferably when you are with us, however you are welcome to send us an e-mail after your holiday.
