How to install your ISOFIX carseat

Archive for category Babies 6 months – 4 years

How to install your ISOFIX carseat

How to install your ISOFIX compatible child restraint

Before commencing any installation its vital that you read the manufacturer’s instruction manual in full. If you don’t have a copy most seat manufacturer’s websites have a section with downloadable manuals available for car seat users.

When you have read your manual head over to the car. The first thing to do is locate the ISOFIX mounting points which are usually at the bottom of the seat where the seat back meets the seat base. If the car has ISOFIX mounting points, the location may be identified by a symbol on the carseat like these:

   

Sometimes the ISOFIX anchorage bars may be visible like this:

 

If your child restraint has rigid connectors fitted, engage each connector to the corresponding ISOFIX bar on the vehicle:

Push the child restraint towards the backrest applying a firm and even pressure on both sides. Care should be taken to ensure both sides have been engaged. This can be confirmed when the ISOFIX indicator turns from red to green.

If your restraint comes with flexible ISOFIX connectors (built on seatbelt material), engage the connectors into each ISOFIX low
anchorage. A click may be felt and a green indicator will show on the top of the flexible connector when it has engaged.

Pull each strap to ensure both lower anchorage connectors are engaged and all slack is removed from either side.

All ISOFIX compatible child restraints also require the use of the top tether strap which must be attached
to the vehicle’s child restraint anchorage point, and be adjusted to remove slack. Please note the top tether strap is engaged to minimise any forward momentum in a rear end accident. It needs to be adjusted firmly but not overtensioned otherwise your restraint will lift off the car seat and feel loose when touching.

No ISOFIX? No problem

Please note if your car does not have ISOFIX available, all Australian ISOFIX compatible child restraints are also able to be installed using the car seatbelt and top tether strap, just as in non-ISOFIX compatible restraints. The rigid connectors on the child restraint can be retracted if you are installing using the car seatbelt.

Can I use a restraint purchased or manufactured overseas?

Child restraints purchased from overseas, including ISOFIX compatible child restraints, are illegal to use in
Australia as they do not comply with AS/NZS 1754. Unlike the European standard, the Australian/New Zealand Standard requires all restraints to:

  • have a top tether strap
  • have a rebound prevention feature to keep a rearward-facing child restraint in the correct position in the event of a crash
  • be tested in a side impact
  • be tested in an inverted position to test for occupant ejection to ensure the child does not get ejected from their child restraint if the vehicle rolls.

AS/NZS 1754:2013 specifies child restraints Types A1/A2/A4, Type B, Type D, Type A1/B, Type A2/B, and Type A4/B are allowed to be fitted with ISOFIX attachment.

Booster seats and Type G combinations cannot use ISOFIX anchorages as there has been some concern
internationally about their likelihood for the occupant to submarine and Type G restraints are not allowed as the low anchorage may not be strong enough to withstand the crash load.

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Carseat Accessories: What NOT to use

Child restraints are designed to be installed in most passenger vehicles, without requiring any additional after market fitting accessories.

seat-belt-adjuster-use

Incorrect use and placement of additional comfort or fitting accessories by parents and carers can reduce the safety of the installation and should only be used if recommended by a qualified restraint fitter.
Accessories for child restraints, other than those supplied upon purchase by the manufacturer and crash tested with the restraint under either AS/NZS 1754 or AS/NZS 8005 are not recommended.

Reasons why accessories should not be used

The following reasons apply to some specific accessory items that are sometimes used in conjunction with children in child restraints. None of these accessory items are recommended for a variety of reasons.

Seatbelt positioners

Several common designs of seatbelt positioners link the sash and lap sections of a seatbelt, raising the lap belt up into the abdomen which increases the risk of submarining and abdominal injuries. If children cannot fit well in an

adult seatbelt, they should use a booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt.

Buckle covers

Buckle covers and other devices to stop a child from unbuckling a restraint can impede the rapid removal of the child in the event of an emergency (e.g. after a crash). Behavioural solutions are preferred wherever possible. If you do need to utilise a buckle cover aim to buy the model simplest to remove.

Padding, pillows and cushions

Adding additional padding, pillows and cushions that surround the head or neck that are not provided by the manufacturer and tested with the restraint, may result in the inbuilt harness or seatbelt being slack and/or encourage incorrect seated posture and therefore not optimal belt positioning. Pillows behind the head might increase the risk of head injuries in side impacts by pushing the head forward and beyond the side wings of a restraint.

Belt tensioners and other fitting accessories

After market belt tensioners are generally not required for standard installations. Where they are required the restraint manufacturer will provide an appropriate accessory and include instructions on how to use the tensioner in the manual. If used with booster seats or seatbelts, they can lead to injury if over tightened and they may make the seatbelt buckle more difficult to unbuckle in the event of an emergency. When used incorrectly to install a child restraint, they may deform the restraint, reducing the restraint’s strength.

Seatbelt extenders

A seatbelt extender is an extra piece which goes between the male and female ends of the seatbelt and makes the belt longer and more accessible. Originally designed to be used by obese adults to allow them to buckle up where the belt would have otherwise been too short to meet and buckle up. However they are now advertised as a solution to a variety of “problems” such as making it easier to buckle a child into a booster or carseat.

Seatbelt extenders should not be used if the buckle is located in contact with the child’s body. They can introduce slack into the belt which could increase the chance of the buckle being located in front of a child’s abdomen and causing injury. They can also interfere with the correct belt path if used with a booster seat. They also require the parents or carer to check that both the extender buckle and main belt buckle are connected each time, with the possibility that one buckle can be inadvertently unsecured without the knowledge of the carer.

Toys and entertainment accessories

Rigid toys and other types of entertainment accessories may pose a risk of injury if they come in contact with the child in a
crash. Also, if not secured, rigid toys may become projectiles in a crash and injure any of the vehicle occupants. Only soft toys that contain no rigid parts should be used unsecured in a vehicle.

Chest clips

Designed to prevent the child from removing their arms from the inbuilt harness, pose a strangulation hazard and could injure the child’s throat or chest in a crash or the chest. Behavioural solutions to a child slipping their arms out of a harness should be employed wherever possible.

Covers

Sun shades or insect nets, which cover both the child and restraint, may prevent a parent or carer from seeing a child misusing their child restraint or in distress. Such covers may reduce air circulation and result in the overheating of children.

If you have any questions or require any assistance with your restraints feel free to reach out, our staff are always happy to help.

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Everything you need to know about Extended Rear Facing

Did you know that if your child’s car seat was forward facing and you were to have an accident their neck would be hit with the force of between 180kg-220kg? Whereas if they were to be rearward facing that force would reduce to 40kg-60kg?

Without exception, rearward facing is the safest way for babies and children to travel in a car. While Australian law states that children can legally move to a forward facing restraint from 6 months onwards, this legislation also states that children can be kept in rear-facing car seats until they are four years old. It is safest to have children continue to rearward face for as long as the car seat allows. The law is the minimum and a guideline only, not a rule. Lets face it – who wants to aim for the minimum safety for their child?

The choice to go with extended rear facing or switch to forward facing is a personal one that it is different for every family and every child however as professional restraint fitters we will always recommend rear facing for as long as possible.

Benefits of Extended Rear Facing

The benefits of extended rear facing really come down to safety. If you were in a collision your child will be safer in a rear facing position. This is because of the way the car seat cushions the body in a rear facing versus forward facing position.

Rearward facing restraints are better designed to support a child’s head, neck and spine in the event of a crash. Upon impact, your child’s body is cocooned in the restraint while the forces of the collision are distributed across the shell of the seat. In a forward facing seat, a child’s head and body is thrust forward with the crash forces, and the harness is the main point of contact.

In children, this forward motion has the potential to cause serious injury as their muscles and bones are not yet developed enough to support themselves from the impact, unlike an adults body. Many parents turn their babies forward facing at 6 months old believing it’s a milestone, however it is always much safer to keep them rearward facing for as long as you can.

A video showing the difference between rear and forward facing can be viewed here:

Neuroscience Research Australia and Kidsafe recently released the National Guidelines for the Safe Restraint of Children Travelling in Motor Vehicles report, which outlined why rear facing options are safer for children up to the age of four.

“Rear facing restraints are highly effective in preventing injuries if used correctly because they fully support the child’s head and neck in the event of a crash,” the report says.

Rear facing height limits

When considering when to turn your child’s seat forward facing, your child’s height is more important than their age. If your child’s shoulders do not yet reach the shoulder height markers on their car seat, then they must stay rear facing. Once their shoulders reach the upper height markers, it is time to turn the car seat around or consider an alternative restraint if you wish to continue rear facing. There are quite a lot of seats on the market that allow for extended rear facing including this range from Infa Secure: https://infasecure.com.au/collections/all-of-our-extended-rearward-facing-car-seats

Where do their legs go?

Many parents worry about their child being uncomfortable or unable to find a safe position for their legs when they are rear facing. It is perfectly safe for their legs to touch the back of the seat in front. Children will find a comfortable way to sit and their legs are not at any greater risk in this position.

If you have any questions or need guidance about carseat choices or installation you can speak to one of our accredited restraint fitters by phone on 1300 859 775.

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Guide to choosing your next carseat

GUIDE TO BUYING YOUR NEXT CARSEAT

Our goal has always been to provide our customers with the most up to date information, products and resources to empower you to make informed decisions for your families.
You may be getting ready to return your hired capsule or carseat and that means you will be doing some carseat shopping. Our guide has been put together by our Accredited Restraint Fitting Team to help you navigate the choices, options and products that are on offer and help you to choose the right seat for your child, your needs and your budget.
When we arrive at a baby shop, instinctively we will gravitate to either a label or logo we recognise, or a colour we like. However choosing the correct product for your child is much more complex than that. We have set out our top tips as well as information on available products below for you. Of course this list is not exhaustive but we have done our best to be as comprehensive as possible. As always, if you need our help we are just a phone call away.

Choose the correct type of restraint for your child

Ensure that the seat you are considering is the right size for your child and that it meets Australian Standards and has the Australian Standards logo sticker present.
Contrary to popular belief, Australian Standards for car seats are in fact among the toughest in the world ensuring the best possible protection for our children on the road.
In Australia it is illegal to purchase or use a car seat that does not comply with the Australian/New Zealand Standard 1754 – even if you are visiting. Always look for the certification mark AS/NZS:1754 on the car seat you choose for your child.

Choose for the childs size not by their age

Seats are not graded by age of children but by their size. The size of children can vary – two 4 year olds can be entirely different heights and weights so check that your childs fits within the shoulder height marker label for the specific model of car seat you are considering. Just like when you are buying jeans – you take your legs with you to ensure the product fits so take your child with you to test the restraint does in fact fit them.

Is it easy to use?
You’ll be using this seat a lot. Is it easy for you to use? When you go to the hire company or the baby shop ask them to put the restraint on your backseat in the position it will be fitted in. How easy is it for you to get your child in and out of this restraint?

Is it easy to adjust?
We also suggest you test the adjustment mechanisms on the inbuilt harness – do they loosen and tighten easily? And when its time to adjust the shoulder strap height up a new level can you do that from the front of the seat or do you have to completely uninstall it, adjust them then try and reinstall it each time?

Is it affordable?
Price is not a great indicator for quality – and that is a good thing. There is something available for most budgets on the market today. Do not feel like you are a bad parent or being cheap if you can not afford $700 for a carseat. The biggest price tag does not ensure you have the safest seat. Have a look at the CREP results. The Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) is a consortium of government agencies and motorist organisations whose aim it is to provide independent and consistent information on the levels of child protection from injury in a crash provided by individual car seats and the ease with which they can be used correctly using a very simple star system with 1 out of 5 being the lowest score and 5 out of 5 the highest.
www.childcarseats.com.au

Longevity

How long can you use this carseat for? Try and find a restraint with the highest shoulder height markers for ending use so you can use the seat for a long period of time. If you hope to keep your child rear facing then an extended rear facing seat with a tall shoulder height marker will be idea for you. Or maybe consider getting one of the new Type G restraints – these use the inbuilt harness up to an average 8 year old meaning you do not won’t ever have to buy a booster seat.

The laws are the minimum

The road laws relating to kids and cars are minimums. We do not aim for the minimum safety – but for the maximum. So keep your child in their restraint for as long as they still fit in it. When your child reaches 6 months that does not mean its time to turn them forward facing. Just because they turn 3 you do not put them in size 3 shoes – if the seat still fits – keep using it.
Use their age as a guide only:

  • Children under the age of six months must use a rear facing car seat
  • Children aged six months to four years can use either a rear facing car seat or a forward facing car seat.
  • Children aged four years to approximately seven years must travel in a forward facing car seat or booster seat.

Use the shoulder height marker labels

Newer seats nowadays all have a label on the restraint showing you exactly where the childs shoulders can be to safely use the seat. Shoulder height markers make it so easy for parents and carers to establish if a child car seat is suitable for their child and when the child needs to have the shoulder straps adjusted or when they are ready to move to the next child car seat.
Shoulder Height Markers, located on the inner side of the seat, prompt parents and carers to ensure their childs seats, and associated harnesses, are adjusted at the right stages of the childs growth to maintain optimal safety in the event of an accident.

Your child should remain in a rear facing seat or position until their shoulder is in-line or above the forward facing height marker.
Your child should remain in a forward facing seat until their shoulder height is above the upper shoulder height marker.
Note: There is a slight difference between rear and forward facing and that relates to the dynamics in the event of a collision.

Ensure your restraint is installed correctly

We do not necessarily believe that you require professional installation of your restraint however there are a lot of belts, buckles and pathways to contend with. Before you begin, ensure you have read the instruction manual for your restraint in full and be confident that you understand how to install your seat. If you are uncertain please do not hesitate to contact us or a local restraint fitting station for advice.
Unfortunately there is a lack of understanding around the power of collision dynamics and there is an idea in the community that a car seat must be ‘rock solid’ post-fitment to be safe. This is incorrect. The Australian Standard testing procedures that these products are subjected to are stringent and demanding.
The more rigidly a restraint is attached to the vehicle chassis, the more collision force the infant will be subject to. Imagine if you will the catching arm of a cricket player. If it were completely rigid and unmoving it would shatter into pieces – exactly the same with carseats. Even the new rigid ISOFIX seats have a hinge that allow for some up and down movement to counter this possibility.
Overtensioning a restraint when installing it can cause stress damage to both the restraint and/or the vehicle seats unecessarily. A restraint that is fitted correctly does allow for some movement but no more than 2.5 cms from side to side at the belt path end of the restraint. Shaking your restraint around at the top end (where the top tether begins) is not an accurate test of correct fitment and will do nothing but loosen your restraint and perhaps leave the seat requiring refitment.

Use the top tether and harness straps correctly

We have had customers return capsules or carseats and inform us that they didn’t use the top tether because it was annoying or took up too much time to deal with. Please – use the top tether. In an accident it serves as a very important tool to minimise the possibility of your child being injured in the crash.
When you are using the inbuilt harness ensure that the shoulder straps are:

  • at the correct height for your child
  • there are no twists in the harness that is on your child. Twists here can cause significant injuries so ensure at every use that there are no twists in the harness
  • fitted firmly with no slack (a good way to test is to try and pinch the belt together. If you can not pinch any fabric it is firm enough).

Pinch test

Seats available for Purchase

Our retail arm has a selection of the latest, age appropriate current standard seats for sale including rear facing, forward facing, extended use seats and ISOFIX models. We can assist you to choose the right seat for your family. You can order and buy a seat from us and we will deliver it, pick up your hired restraint and install the new one all at the same time at no extra cost.
https://www.rockabyebabyhire.com.au/shop/category/carseats/

We hope that keeping our list of tips and information in mind will help you to make the right choice. If you have any concerns about child car seat use or how to choose please do not hesitate to contact our Team on 1300 859 775 who will be very happy to assist you.

Further resources:

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Time in -v- Time out

One of the most controversial topics relating to children is anything that touches on discipline or behaviour management. As someone who has been a foster carer I can say one thing with absolute certainty. Kids are not all the same and they don’t all behave or respond in the same way. You know this about your own little angels. Sleep patterns, feeding schedules, likes and dislikes vary and so do the ways in which they respond to you. What is important is choosing the right approach, with the right child at the right time. Simple, right?
One thing that almost all parents and experts agree on is that challenging behaviour, acting out, playing up or whatever you want to call it, is a form of communication and ALWAYS has a reason behind it.

When I was a child smacking was considered perfectly acceptable. Now we know better and have better techniques. These techniques not only work but reduce or even avoid the inevitable guilt we feel as parents when we discipline our children. Even that word, discipline, conjures up all sorts of dark and nasty images. In fact, the word derives from ancient Greek and means ‘to teach’. When it comes to managing behaviour that is exactly what we aim to do. Teach children how to manage strong feelings, teach them how to respond appropriately, teach them how to act or behave.
I’m sure you can relate to those situations when, for example, you implement a behaviour modifying technique on your child, that worked with them last time but now has no effect. It might be something like telling them you will take away their favourite toy for 1 hour because they are throwing their food at their older sister. You say to yourself “But that always worked before. Why isn’t it working now?”. Because the reason for the behaviour might be quite different this time. The reason behind the behaviour is more significant than the behaviour itself.

A lot of research is done on children and their behaviour. As I’m sure you know there is some controversy and conflicting advice. What seems to be a common and recurring theme is the importance of paying attention and addressing the cause of the behaviour. This is often called ‘Time In’. It’s a term that developed as response to the ‘Time Out’ behaviour management practice. In short, what the “Experts” say is that giving your child attention, talking to them, staying calm and trying to work out why they are upset or behaving badly is the best approach. Behaviour is communication and their behaviour is communicating that they are upset, sad, scared, angry, tired, etc. Reassuring, asking what’s wrong and comforting, can produce much better results, both short and long term, than punishing, placing them in ‘Time-Out’, taking away a toy or scolding.

It’s much easier said than done I know! Once I was in the supermarket the 2-year-old little boy who was currently in my care throws himself on the floor and screams and cries because I won’t put the packet of lollies he picked up in the trolley. I remembered what I was taught in my Foster Carer training and applied the ‘Time In’ principle. I stayed calm (despite the disapproving looks from other shoppers and previous advice from my grandparent’s generation) and did NOT apply the usual technique of threatening to take him straight home or take away his toy unless he stopped. Instead I picked him up, hugged him, talked calmly and asked him what was wrong. I didn’t say “no you can’t have the lollies” I just kept holding him and talking to him. After the crying stopped, he calmed down and he stopped saying he wanted lollies, I asked again what was wrong? He said “I want bunny”. He had a special toy bunny that we left in the car. He wanted it and didn’t know how to articulate that when he couldn’t see it. So we went back to the car, got bunny and then there were no more tears or demands for lollies. It really did work and I was so damn happy I was walking around the supermarket smiling. What I also did, as soon as possible is say, “now next time you feel bad like that tell me straight away so we can fix it”. That might seem too sophisticated for a 2 year old but the more you do and say it, the more they understand and it will start to prevent the behaviour in the first place.

This technique works much more than it doesn’t and has much greater results with different children with differing backgrounds and varying ages than any other technique. Believe me, I have tried them all and ‘Time In’ gets the best results. My advice is, just try it. What have you got to lose?

My name is Emma Hutton and I am the franchisee of Rock-A-Bye Baby Equipment Hire’s North and CBD branches. In a former life, I was a Specialist NICU Nurse and have also been a Foster Carer. The Foster caring, I miss and will be getting back to very soon. However, the nursing with night duty, working public holidays and having only one weekend off a month……not so much.
What has stayed with me through my career change is my passion for child safety and health. Precious and vulnerable little lives need to be protected and that is at the core of our business model at Rock-A-Bye Baby Equipment Hire. I make it my business to stay up to date with the latest research so that what I write about is relevant and factual.

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Our Top 5 tips when choosing a new carseat

We don’t want to recite statistics at you today. Suffice to say that car crashes are real and possible and we want everyone including our little people to be safe on the road.

By choosing and using your carseat correctly you can minimise the risk of injury in the event of an accident significantly.

Tip 1 – Is it easy to use?

You’ll be using this seat a lot. Is it easy for you to use? When you go to the hire company or the baby shop ask them to put the restraint on your backseat in the position it will be fitted in. How easy is it for you to get a baby in and out of this restraint?

Tip 2 – Is it easy to adjust?

We also suggest you test the adjustment mechanisms on the inbuilt harness – do they loosen and tighten easily? And when its time to adjust the shoulder straps can you do that from the front of the seat or do you have to completely uninstall it, adjust them then try and reinstall it each time?

Tip 3 – Is it affordable?

Price isn’t a great indicator for quality – and that’s a good thing. There’s something available for most budgets on the market today. Don’t feel like you’re a bad parent or being cheap if you can’t afford $700 for a carseat. The biggest price tag doesn’t ensure you have the safest seat. Have a look at the CREP results. The Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) is a consortium of government agencies and motorist organisations whose aim it is to provide independent and consistent information on the levels of child protection from injury in a crash provided by individual car seats and the ease with which they can be used correctly using a very simple star system with 1 out of 5 being the lowest score and 5 out of 5 the highest. Of course if you don’t wish to buy your baby capsule we have a range of high quality, clean and safe baby capsules for hire.

Tip 4 – Is it travel system compatible?

This tip relates mainly to baby capsules but gee the travel system concept is a good one! Imagine you’ve been driving around for ages and finally, finally!! the baby is asleep. Well now it would be nice to grab a coffee or do some shopping right without having to disturb the baby. So if you have a travel system compatible capsule you can just pop your capsule straight onto your pram frame and you’re off. Lots of pram companies sell adaptors to match your capsule to your pram and of course we offer a range for hire.

Tip 5 – Longevity

How long can you use this restraint for? For the early days we would recommend you consider hiring a baby capsule just for convenience, saving $ and ease of use. When you are ready to move out of your hired capsule into a carseat make sure you consider just how long this next restraint is going to be useful for. Try and find a restraint with the highest shoulder height markers for ending use so you can use the seat for a long period of time. If you hope to keep your child rear facing then an extended rear facing seat with a tall shoulder height marker will be idea for you. Or maybe consider getting one of the new Type G restraints – these use the inbuilt harness up to an average 8 year old meaning you don’t won’t ever have to buy a booster seat.

Using our tips we hope that you can get the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to buying your child car seat. Choosing the right restraint is an investment worth making.

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Common mistakes to avoid when choosing a baby car seat

There is lots of solid research both here in Australia and from overseas that shows that unfortunately, the rate of misuse of child car seats is very high.

“A 2010 study of 503 children from newborn to the age of 12 found half of all restraints had errors in how they were used. Some had up to seven errors each, ranging from failing to buckle the child in to slackness in the belts and sashes. Most often parents weren’t aware they had made a mistake.”
http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/errors-in-child-car-seat-use-putting-lives-at-risk-experts-warn-20170518-gw894a.html

When we arrive at a baby shop, instinctively we will gravitate to either a label or logo we recognise, or a colour we like. However choosing the correct product for your child is much more complex than that.

The following information is general and we strongly encourage you to read fully the instruction manual that relates to your particular make and model of child restraint.

Choose the correct type of restraint for your child

Ensure that the seat you are considering is the right size for your child and that it meets Australian Standards and has the Australian Standards logo sticker present.

Contrary to popular belief, Australia’s Standards for car seats are in fact among the toughest in the world ensuring the best possible protection for our children on the road.

In Australia it is illegal to purchase or use a car seat that does not comply with the Australian/New Zealand Standard 1754 – even if you’re visiting. Always look for the certification mark AS/NZS:1754 on the car seat you choose for your child.

Choose for the childs size not by their age

Seats are not graded by age of children but by their size. The size of children can vary – two 4 year olds can be entirely different heights and weights so check that your child’s fits within the shoulder height marker label for the specific model of car seat you are considering. Just like when you’re buying jeans – you take your legs with you to ensure the product fits so take your child with you to test the restraint does in fact fit them.

The laws are the minimum

The road laws relating to kids and cars are minimums. We don’t aim for the minimum safety – but for the maximum. So keep your child in their restraint for as long as they still fit in it. When your child reaches 6 months that doesn’t mean its time to turn them forward facing. Just because they turn 3 you don’t put them in size 3 shoes – if the seat still fits – keep using it.

Use their age as a guide only.

  • Children under the age of six months must use a rear facing car seat
  • Children aged six months to four years can use either a rear facing car seat or a forward facing car seat.
  • Children aged four years to approximately seven years must travel in a forward facing car seat or booster seat.

Use the shoulder height marker labels – that’s what they’re there for

Newer seats nowadays all have a label on the restraint showing you exactly where the child’s shoulders can be to safely use the seat. Shoulder height markers make it so easy for carers to establish if a child car seat is suitable for their child and when the child needs to have the shoulder straps adjusted or when they are ready to move to the next child car seat.

Shoulder Height Markers, located on the inner side of the seat, prompt parents and carers to ensure their child’s seats, and associated harnesses, are adjusted at the right stages of the child’s growth to maintain optimal safety in the event of an accident.

Your child should remain in a rear facing seat or position until their shoulder is in-line or above the forward facing height marker.

Your child should remain in a forward facing seat until their shoulder height is above the upper shoulder height marker.

Note: There is a slight difference between rear and forward facing and that relates to the dynamics in the event of a collision.

Ensure your restraint is installed correctly

We don’t necessarily believe that you require professional installation of your restraint however there are a lot of belts, buckles and pathways to contend with. Before you begin, ensure you have read the instruction manual for your restraint in full and be confident that you understand how to install your seat. If you are uncertain please don’t hesitate to contact us or a local restraint fitting station for advice.

Unfortunately there is a lack of understanding around the power of collision dynamics and there is an idea in the community that a car seat must be ‘rock solid’ post-fitment to be safe. This is incorrect. The Australian Standard testing procedures that these products are subjected to are stringent and demanding.

The more rigidly a restraint is attached to the vehicle chassis, themore collision force the infant will be subject to. Imagine if you will the catching arm of a cricket player. If it were completely rigid and unmoving it would shatter into pieces – exactly the same with carseats. Even the new rigid ISOFIX seats have a hinge that allow for some up and down movement to counter this possibility.
Overtensioning a restraint when installing it can cause stress damage to both the restraint and/or the vehicle seats unecessarily. A restraint that is fitted correctly does allow for some movement but no more than 2.5 cms from side to side at the belt path end of the restraint. Shaking your restraint around at the top end (where the top tether begins) is not an accurate test of correct fitment and will do nothing but loosen your restraint and perhaps leave the seat requiring refitment.

Use the top tether and harness straps correctly

We have had customers return capsules or carseats and inform us that they didn’t use the top tether because it was annoying or took up too much time to deal with. Please – use the top tether. In an accident it serves as a very important tool to minimise the possibility of your child being injured in the crash.

Pinch test

When you are using the inbuilt harness ensure that the shoulder straps are:

  • at the correct height for your child
  • there are no twists in the harness that is on your child. Twists here can cause significant injuries so ensure at every use that there are no twists in the harness
  • fitted firmly with no slack (a good way to test is to try and pinch the belt together. If you can’t pinch any fabric it is firm enough).

Keeping our list of tips in mind will help you to make a the right choice. If you have any concerns about child car seat use or how to choose please don’t hesitate to contact our Team who are well able to assist you.

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Safe restraint fitting explained

We do a lot of installing of carseats and capsules round here. Approximately 3 or 4 dozen a week, rising to double that during peak periods. We work very hard to ensure that our fittings always exceed the manufacturer’s instructions and do our best to teach our customers how to safely use their restraint once they leave our premises.

The one issue that seems to arise quite often is whether or not the seat is installed “tightly enough”. There is a perception in the community that a carseat or baby capsule has to be “rock solid” to be safe and that any movement at all is a sign of poor workmanship, incorrect fitment and/or dangerous for the infant. Parents will “test” their child restraint by shaking or pushing it from side to side, and when it moves panic sets in.

A restraint that has a firm relationship to the vehicle is preferred, but this aspect is often taken way too far, with some customers ‘testing’ their fitting by shaking the restraint to prove it’s ‘safety level’. The engineering reality is that nothing that is to survive extreme forces is designed to be rigid. Everything is designed to flex. We do not catch a cricket ball with rigid arm, otherwise we would have a cricket team with multiple broken bones in their arms. The more rigidly a child restraint is attached to the chassis of the vehicle the more force the passenger will have to cope with. This is one ‘perceived benefit’ that attracts consumers to ISOFIX products, thinking that its a tighter = better fitment. Its important to note that seatbelt webbings and mountings exceed the strength of ISOFIX fittings so if your car or restraint doesn’t have ISOFIX you’re not missing out on anything in the safety department.

As long as your capsule or carseat doesn’t move more than about 1.5 cms at the belt path end (ie. where the seatbelt or isofix points are attached) then it is fine. Some movement in some circumstances is perfectly fine. Pushing, shaking or rocking the restraint does nothing and is not an adequate test of correct fitment.

All restraints under the Australian Standard are tested stringently and any restraint installed to the manufacturer’s instructions and used properly each and every trip will keep your baby safe in an accident.
If you have any questions or concerns about your restraint please don’t hesitate to contact our Restraint Fitting Team on 1300859775.

Resources:

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How to choose the best baby capsule or carseat

There is a lot to consider when choosing a car restraint for your new baby. With all the products on offer, the shiny colourful products and the pushy salespeople it can feel overwhelming. We’re often asked what should parents look out for when buying a new car seat/capsule etc? What features are important? What safety certification should they have? Our guide to choosing the right baby carseat or capsule will hopefully help you to make the right choice.

What to look for:

  • Ensure the Australian Standard sticker is on the restraint – remember overseas manufactured restraints are illegal and cannot be used Australia.
  • Consider whether you want your baby capsule just for the car or if you’d like to use it on your pram to (creating a Travel System)? In that case you’ll need to find out which capsule is compatible with your pram. The manufacturer of your pram will have adaptors available for a variety of capsules to enable you to use your pram with the capsule instead of carseat on top.
  • Check with CREP. CREP is the “Child Restraint Evaluation Program”. CREP  is the independent body that assesses the crash protection performance of infant restraints using three simulated crash tests (frontal, side and oblique). Restraints are then give star rating (X stars out of 5 stars) for safety and ease of use with 5 out of 5 stars the highest rating awarded.
  • Weight – how heavy is the restraint out of the base? Add a 9 kg baby and will you be able to carry this in and out of the car?
  • Will it fit in your car? Consider how many other restraints are in the car and what space is available for the new addition. Its worth trying a few restraints in your car before making a final decision.
  • Remember – the most expensive/most popular is not necessarily the safest (see ChildCarSeats for safety information). Choose on safety, ease of use and the product’s compatibility with your lifestyle and vehicle.

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10 car seat safety tips from our Expert Team of Restraint Fitters

Did you know – Road trauma is the leading cause of death for Australian children up to 14.

You can however keep your children safer from harm by having properly installed restraints and correctly using your car and booster seats in your car. And before you roll your eyes and say, “Yeah, yeah I know all this already I have 4 kids” know this: Various studies have shown that even for parents who are on their third or even fourth child, car seat use and installation is one of the few things that people tend not to get better at.

Correct installation and ongoing use can be a matter of life and death – so please sit down and read.

  1. Keep children rear facing for as long as possible
    Turning from rear or forward facing is not a milestone that you should be excited to meet. Forward facing is far more dangerous full stop. Its not like walking or saying their first words.

    Once your child outgrows their baby capsule or baby carseat (which are always rear facing) then you’re ready to move them to a convertible carseat. There’s no reason why that seat needs to be forward facing. There are plenty of seats on the market that allow extended rear facing. Legally children can forward face at 6 months of age. But “can” and “should” are two different things. You should always keep your child rear facing until they reach the rear-facing limits of their convertible seat. With most modern seats that will happen from around 18 months old to 2 years plus.

    A common misconception we hear from parents is that they are concerned that their child’s legs will be squashed or in a dangerous position while rear facing. The fact is that children are actually at greater risk for leg injuries when they are forward facing in the car because in an accident, their feet make contact with the seat in front of them, which is simultaneously moving backward. Yep – in an accident – everything moves. The result is a compression injury, something that doesn’t happen when the child is rear-facing.

  2. Keep the car seat straps firm
    You may have noticed a little label on your carseat or capsule that says “A loose harness is dangerous”. That’s the truth. We see lots of people who are worried about having the straps firm on their baby in the seat but please make sure that yours are nice and tight. In the event of an accident a loose harness can be ineffective and can allow a child to fly forward very fast. You don’t want them to “jump into” the harness in an accident but rather to stay where they are in their restraint nice and safe.  The best way to check is the pinch test -when the harness is done up on your child can you pinch it? If not then its tight enough.
  3. Use the top tether
    We have been surprised sometimes by customers handing us the top tether strap from their capsule and saying they didn’t bother using it because it was annoying. Please don’t be this person. The top tether is a vital part of the restraint system and it decreases how far the child and the restraint will move in an accident by a great many cms.
  4. Don’t start using a Booster too soon
    A booster seat is really just a seatbelt positioning device – its purpose is to position the child so that the car seatbelt can be safely used and the belts will remain in a safe position on the child’s body. The lap section should remain low on the thighs (not on the tummy) and be completely flat and the shoulder belts need to be across the chest and rest between the child’s neck and shoulder. A lap belt that is on the tummy can cause life-altering injuries to the spinal cord and internal organs.
  5. Don’t stop using a Booster too soon
    Again, legally kids can stop using a booster when they’re 7 years of age. But “can” doesn’t equal “should”. Our simple 5 step test can help you decide whether or not your child is ready to stop using their booster:

    • Can the child sit with their back against the vehicle seat back?
    • Do the child’s knees bend in front of the edge of the seat?
    • Does the sash belt sit across the middle of the shoulder?
    • Is the lap belt sitting low across the hips touching the thighs?
    • Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
  6. Check your restraint daily
    Once you’ve been and had your seat professionally installed the responsibility to ensure its used safely every time is up to you. We give our customers a checklist of things to check daily and weekly post-installation so that they know how to safely use their restraint once they’ve gone home.

    Some of the daily checks we suggest include:
    • Is the car seatbelt still buckled up (*you can’t imagine how many times we’ve seen carseats that have been unbuckled by a toddler and no one knew for months!)- Are the shoulder straps free of twists (twists in the shoulder straps can cause very nasty bruising and more)
    • Is there any slack in the top tether?
    • Are there any loose items in the vehicle that could become a missile in an accident?
    Weekly checks we suggest:
    • Is the child too heavy for this restraint now?
    • Is the child too tall for this restraint now?- Are the child’s shoulders above the shoulder slots? Do they need an adjustment?
  7. Use the dedicated Child Restraint Anchor Points in your car
    If you’re installing your seat yourself, check your vehicle’s manufacturer manual that came with the car and be sure that you’re tethering the restraint to an anchor point and not a luggage tie down instead. In some cars it can be really confusing working out what is what so always refer to your car manual or an accredited restraint fitter to confirm that you’ve anchored the restraint to the right point. If not there is a chance that in an accident the anchor won’t hold and the child will fly into the seat in front face first.
  8. Check with CREP
    Surprisingly our most popular baby capsule for hire in 2013 was also the unsafest capsule on the market. The product shall remain nameless but that goes to show the power of marketing. Baby capsules aren’t a fashion symbol but a safety device so its best to choose one that has the best safety rating and put looks down the list of must-haves. Thankfully the highest rating products are often really affordable too being locally made and manufactured. You can get all the ratings information from Child Car Seats.

    Child Car Seats is an initiative of the Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP), a consortium of government agencies and motorist organisations who aims to provide consumers with information to help choose safe child car seats and to apply pressure on car seat manufacturers to only market seats that perform well beyond the Australian Standard.

  9. How tight is tight enough?
    For many parents, the idea that the seat be installed the tighter it can go the better. For many reasons including the engineering that goes into the restraints and crash dynamics this is somewhat untrue and can cause unnecessary anxiety. Despite a common opinion, pushing on a restraint particularly at the end that it is not attached to the car, and pushing it with your hand from side to side to see if it moves is not a valid test and may only loosen the seatbelt’s relationship with the restraint leaving it requiring reinstallation. Going by the Australian Standards, engineering and testing processes a restraint does not have to be ‘rock solid’ to be safe. As long as the restraint is fitted to the manufacturer’s specifications and the restraint is not moving more than an 1 inch at the belt path area it is in fact fine.
  10. Don’t text or talk while driving
    Don’t. Whatever it is can wait, or you can pull over, grab a cold drink and do your texting then return, safely to the road. Your children are relying on you to safely transport them wherever you’re going and these days there’s plenty of distractions on the road without taking your eyes off it to have a chat on the phone.

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Ready to get back into your fitness?

From Bub to Fit Mumma.. Here’s how you can do it too!

We are super excited to bring you these awesome tips from our friends at Run Faster Gear and Fit Mumma Kylah Edwards!
So you want to get fit, get active, feel good and be happy after having a baby?

But how oh how do you find the time to workout?

The first thing you need to do is shift your mindset… A workout, doesn’t need to be in a busy gym smashing out kms on a treadmill or bike… It doesn’t have to be getting yelled at by a burly trainer in a park… It doesn’t have to be impossible to figure out how to get to a class around nap times… And it definitely doesn’t have to cost and arm and a leg… In fact you can easily workout around your home, with bubs, at your own pace and get results!

My daughter is 17 months… I’ve been doing some form of exercise since she was 6 weeks old (as soon as I had clearance from my Dr of course).  I took it easy to begin with, getting my head around the sleep deprivation, I tried lots of walks with her in the pram or wrapped to my chest, and found the days I managed to get my exhausted butt outside for a walk I felt about a million times better… Just actually taking the first steps out side were the hardest, but so so worth it!

I got stronger, more motivated and more energetic and started doing squats… Any chance I got… when I was hanging out washing, or in between washing each dish in the sink, in the shower, brushing my teeth, even during those long long breastfeeds!!

I would lunge walk around the house from room to room instead of walking, jump lunge folding the washing, add a random burpee in here and there for good measure and hey, presto! I have a good excuse for wearing my mummy uniform standard issue RunFaster tights and runners all day!!

If you like being out and about invest in a good baby carrier… (You will likely have a baby wearing group in your area that you can join for free and try some options out before you buy). Not only will bubs love it, but you can set out on big bush walks, go climbing stairs and exploring with your very own squishy lovable weight vest! Plus you can show off your funky new RunFaster tights in the process!!!

Some other mini exercises that are effective and easy to do at the drop of a wet nappy are;
  • Push ups, (Nel loves it when we do push ups and raspberries on her tummy or neck.. )
  • Planks (again a good opportunity to plaster kisses over your bubba)
  • Mountain climbers
  • Burpees
  • Squats (jumping squats will elevate your heart rate a lot more if you want more cardio in your workout)
  • Crunches
  • Star jumps
  • Lunges (walking around the house/standing in the kitchen/ or jumping if you want more)
So you see, there is always time for a workout!(Please remember to drink plenty of water, eat healthy, and listen to your body)

Kylah xx

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Is your child ready for toilet training?

It’s always difficult to know when the best time to start toilet training for your little one. There is no specific date or time to start – it’s really up to your parental intuition and child’s physiological (bladder and bowel control), cognitive and verbal developmental stages, emotional and social awareness and their individual needs. Some kids are dry by 4 years, others are still wet at 6 – and both are perfectly normal.

Generally, most children have some control over their bladders in the daytime by the age of three and girls seem quicker to adapt than boys. At night it takes a little longer to get to grips with staying dry, as the child has no bladder awareness whilst asleep. The hormone that sends signals to the kidneys to delay urine production whilst resting develops in children at different ages, some younger and some older.

In a class of 30 children:
  • at age 5 there will still be 5 or more children in the class who are still wetting the bed
  • at age 7 there will still be a couple who are still wetting their beds
  • at age 10 there will be one or two still.

Children are either physically capable of holding their urine or waking up to wee or they aren’t. If your child is still waking up wet every morning he is not ready to be in underwear and there is no shame in that. Some kids can day train at 2 and still be in pull-ups at 5 or 6. It’s just the way they are made and every kid is different.  Don’t be concerned if your toddler wets the bed because most children under the age of 5 still urinate in their sleep and one in ten younger primary school children do to.

Doctors consider bed wetting normal until about 7-8 years old. After that point they’ll sometimes check to see if there are other reasons for bed wetting (infections, diabetes, etc).

How to tell when your child is ready
  • Your child may attempt to go to the toilet or call out for your help.
  • They may become interested in watching you “go”.
  • Does your child say they want to try without nappies.
  • When your child is having dry nappies for up to two hours – this shows he’s able to store wee in his bladder (which automatically empties in younger babies or newborns).
  • She can pull her pants up and down
  • They may start to dislike wearing a nappy, often pulling it off when its wet or dirty.

Good luck and remember, its really an individual thing not an age or maturity related milestone at all.

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