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    • Our guide to buying the perfect Family Car

    Archive for category General

    Our guide to buying the perfect Family Car

    Posted by admin in Explore Sydney, General, How to, Safety, Travelling with kids on March 27th, 2016

    There’s a lot to consider when you’re looking to find the perfect car for your family. How many people are you likely to be transporting each day? What size pram, bikes etc will need to be stored in your boot? Bigger is not necessarily better, its more about what space is available in the vehicle and if it will configure to suit your family’s needs today, and into the future. In a panic you might be looking at a 7 seater to ferry all your kids and their friends to sport on Saturdays, but a vehicle with a versatile interior with multiple folding seat and access options that are easy to use may be all that is required.

    Here’s our checklist to help you find the perfect car for your family:

    • Consider SEATS –how many do you need and not just for today –will you be adding to your family in the foreseeable future? Will you need to transport your kid’s friends to places? If you’re have 3 kids or more its going to mean a 7 seater so you can eliminate anything less. Many modern cars have a third row of seats that fold down when you’re not using them leaving you with a super-sized boot when the third row isn’t in use.
    • Think about SPACE – this car is going to have to transport more than your neat little leather weekend bag and a set of golf clubs. You’ll need room for scooters, bikes, prams, beach equipment and a full grocery shop. Perhaps consider a back seat with a split fold so you can fold down the seats you’re not using to give you more room. Again I suggest you eliminate anything that isn’t going to suit immediately. Taking your pram or some other items with you when you’re test driving is a great idea so you know exactly how it all fits.
    • What SIZE? Do you live in the city driving amongst narrow streets with a tiny garage or limited onstreet parking? Perhaps a smaller car will be more suitable for you long term. Consider the fuel economy of your vehicle particularly if its going to be in use a lot of the time. Petrol is expensive!
    • What’s the in house ENTERTAINMENT LIKE? Yes yes, kids don’t need more screen time and should be looking out the window or reading a book. But sometimes on long road trips you’re going to be ever so grateful to the engineer that installed the DVD players on the backs of the carseats.
    • Ban lap only seatbelts. Far too many cars still have a lap only belt in the centre of the rear passenger seat. They’re dangerous and can cause horrific internal and abdominal injuries. No three point seatbelt? Eliminate that vehicle from your shortlist.
    • Avoid the car showrooms on the weekend. Everyone’s out on the weekend test driving cars. I’d suggest you go on a quieter day through the week to ensure you have the full attention of the sales staff and no one is feeling rushed or pushed through a sales funnel just to close the deal.
    Unfortunately road accidents do happen so from a road safety aspect I would suggest you seek out the following features in your new car:
    • ABS brakes.
    • Multiple air bags – particularly side airbags which lessen the chances of a fatality by up to 50%!
    • If available and within budget, I would recommend you opt in for rear parking sensors and/or vehicle mounted cameras to give you the best possible visibility when reversing your car. Sadly far too many children are killed each year in their own driveways.
    • Child safety locks on doors and windows.
    • Narrow down your search by reviewing what your prospective new car’s ‘Crash Safety Rating’ is. You can do this by visiting the Ancap website and look for cars that rank the highest for safety.

    Are we there yet?

    In car entertainment is quite legal for everyone except the driver (for obvious reasons!). Hearing the words “are we there yet?” on high repeat can turn a lovely Sunday drive into a teeth grinding horror movie. Many kids get bored in the car and need some distraction.

    Thankfully these days, the electronica can come on the journey with you. Whether you choose handheld gaming consoles or go all out for the in-car entertainment system, you might get from A to B with barely a noise from the back seat.

    Its important that safe headphones are used to avoid distracting the driver and that the children know how to activate/reactive their games or movies themselves so that the driver isn’t required to intervene and take their eyes off the road.

    If you’re not a fan of devices in the car, that’s ok. There’s always eye-spy!

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    What to look for when choosing a baby capsule or carseat

    Posted by admin in General on February 24th, 2016

    What features are important? What safety certification should they have? Do you want it to fit your pram or is it only for use in the car? These are all important questions that you need to consider before you make your choice.

    What you need to look for:
    Ensure the Australian Standard sticker is on the restraint – remember overseas manufactured restraints are illegal in 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 by visiting the website of the pram manufacturer and checking their travel system matrix to see which brand and model of capsule is compatible with your pram. With most prams you will need an adaptor – the adaptors are specific to the capsule and the pram (ie. a Bugaboo Bee adaptor for a Maxi Cosi is a different adaptor to a Bugaboo Cameleon adaptor for a Maxi Cosi). The adaptors are manufactured by the pram companies and don’t come with the capsule as each pram has a different adaptor.

    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. You may be surprised at the very low ratings some of the more expensive and popular brands get!

    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? Do you have lots of stairs to navigate each day?

    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 is not necessarily the safest. Choose on safety (first), ease of use and the product’s compatibility with your lifestyle and vehicle.

    If you have any questions around baby capsule hire please don’t hesitate to call one of our expert staff on 9589 4942.

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

    Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, Babies 6 months - 4 years, General, Safety on September 28th, 2015

    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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    Which is the lightest baby capsule for hire?

    Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, General, How to, Safety on September 7th, 2015

    We are often asked which of our baby capsules for hire are the lightest in weight or the smallest in size so to make it nice and easy we’ve prepared a simple comparison table for you here. The table lists all our current capsules for rent and their weight and dimensions as well as their CREP (safety) rating where that rating is available.

    Weight and size of our baby capsules for hire

    Product Capsule weight (out of base) Product dimensions Pram compatibility 2nd base available for hire from Rockabye Baby Hire
    Safety 1st One Safe Infant capsule 3.5 kgs H 440 mm x D 660 x W 430 Safety 1st, Maxi Cosi Yes
    Babylove Snap’nGo Series BL620A/2010 3.8kgs H 405 mm x D 660 x  W 430 Babylove, Valco Yes
    Chicco KeyFit Plus 79046 4.8 kgs H: 415mm x D: 710 x W 435 Chicco, Bugaboo, Baby Jogger, Mountain Buggy Yes
    Arlo Baby capsule (with or without ISOFIX) 3.8 kgs H: 540 mm x D: 745 x W: 460 Arlo Stroller available for hire Yes
    PegPerego Primo Viaggio PP01/2010 5 kgs H 430 mm x  D 720 x W 440 Peg Perego, Bugaboo, Baby Jogger, Phil & Teds, Mountain Buggy Yes
    Maxi-Cosi MICO  AP (with or without ISOFIX) 3.9 kgs H 415  mm x  D 760 x W 430 Quinny, Maxi Cosi, Bugaboo (Mico only), Baby Jogger, Phil & Teds, Mamas & Papas, Icandy, Valco, Joolz, Jane Rider Yes

    If you have other questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly staff either via email on jess@rockabyebabyhire.com.au or by telephoning 02 95894942.

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    How to jog with your pram

    Posted by admin in General, How to, Maternal Health, Safety, Travelling with kids on August 31st, 2015

    Getting back into exercise after having a baby can feel like a big ask but getting out there in the fresh air together can really benefit your mental as well as physical health. Before you start it is important to get clearance from both your own care provider and your baby’s paediatrician to confirm you’re both ready for exercise. Babies will require some time to have the necessary head and neck strength to prevent injury, as you’ll need to make sure all is well post-birth.

    Choosing a jogging pram

    When you’re choosing your jogging stroller, be sure to check for features designed to keep you and your baby safe. Look for a fixed front wheel that does not swivel, which allows your stroller to continue moving straight forward as you jog, and a five-point safety harness for keeping your infant safe and stable within the pram. Check for well-inflated tires, good suspension and effective shock absorbers, as well as features like hand brakes and a wrist strap to prevent the stroller from getting away from you on hills or if you become distracted at all. If you’re not sure you might consider hiring a jogging pram to try before you buy.

    Running with your pram

    • Make sure you’ve got the ok from your OB or care provider that you are indeed eady to run, i.e. your pelvic floor is strong enough to withstand the impact of jogging. Pregnancy hormones will have loosened your ligaments and made your joints less stable.
    • Choose a reasonably flat route for starters. Hills will put more pressure on your joints and can be added at a later time.
    • Make sure the handlebars have been adjusted to the correct height; in line with your waist is usually about right.
    • Have enough space to run behind the stroller.
    • Don’t dangle a baby change bag on the handle-bar as it will push you further away and you could strain your back as well as bang it continually into your little one!
    • Try interval training at first; run for a minute then walk for two. Always leave one but preferably two days in between runs until you’ve built up your capacity again.
    • Wear the right clothing – a properly fitting pair of trainers and layers you can remove. If you are still breastfeeding, consider wearing a seamless sports bra over your usual nursing bra for some added support.
    • Take a water bottle and drink some water before and after the run.
    • Babies can get cold in the pram, so dress them appropriately. Take a drink and some snacks for them too.

    Looking to hire a jogging pram for your holiday in Sydney? Click here to check out our Nipper Sport prams for hire.

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    Breastfeeding and expressing: 10 tips to pumping succesfully

    Posted by admin in Attachment Parenting, Babies 0-6 months, Babies 6 months - 4 years, Breastfeeding, General, Pregnancy on June 12th, 2015

    There’s many reasons why mothers might express their breastmilk to feed their babies.
    Some are short term issues that need to be overcome such as having to take a medication that is incompatible with breastfeeding;
    or to manage breast engorgement or allow sore or damaged nipples to heal. Sometimes using an electric breastpump such as a Medela Symphony is recommended as a way of increasing a mother’s milk supply.
    For some mums expressing is a longer-term plan for managing times when you can’t physically be with your baby – perhaps you’re going back to work or study or your baby is in hospital still and you need to pump and feed that way.
    For occasional short term separations (such as a weekly evening out), hand expression or a manual pump may be all you need.
    But if you’re going to be expressing most of your baby’s feeds then you’d be best to consider a hospital grade breastpump like the Medela Symphony. These generally aren’t available as retail items due to their very high price tag (in the thousands) so its definately an item that you’d hire rather than buy.
    Hospital grade breast pumps are extremely powerful, long-lasting, super efficient at extracting breastmilk yet very gentle and comfortable to use. Most importantly, the Medela Symphony has been designed to be able to be safely and hygienically used by multiple users.
    When you hire you have a “single user sterile pumping kit” that contains all the parts that come into contact with you, your breast, your milk and your baby so hiring is quite safe.

    Our 10 tips for successful expressing:
    1. Choose your time
      Find the time that suits you best to express. Allow yourself this time to rest, read a magazine or listen to a radio programme. If you can make it a regular set appointment time in the same place.
    2. Get a pumping bra
      It allows for hands-free pumping by holding the bottles for you. You can pump while working, typing, and talking on the phone.
    3. Keep a hand towel handy
      Having a little handtowel or facecloth handy to clear up any drips is essential and will save you doing a load more laundry.
    4. Look at your baby
      Even looking at a picture of your baby or holding an item of their clothing will help to stimulate your let down reflex and get your milk flowing.
    5. Store your milk in small batches
      You can always add or heat more but you don’t want to waste liquid gold.
    6. Make Breastmilk Cubes
      Freeze your expressed milk in ice cube trays then pop the cubes in a freezer-lock bag. Much cheaper than buying breastmilk specific bags.
    7. Date your milk
      Remember to write the date the milk was expressed so you can use the oldest first and rotate your supply through the fridge.
    8. Have your own esky
      It’s fine to leave breast milk out at room temperature for six to eight hours if you don’t have a fridge. But to be safe, and if you work or are out for a longer day, have your own cooler bag with an ice pack to keep your milk fresh. When you get home, transfer your milk to the refrigerator or freezer ASAP.
    9. Ask for special treatment
      Don’t be shy – you are entitled to a safe clean place to express at work and you don’t have to do it in the toilet.
    10. Learn to hand express
      Just in case you forget your pump one day, or you get stuck in a meeting or whatever. If something falls over in the plan, being able to hand-express will prevent engorgement and mean you’ve still got something to give to baby.

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    Men giving birth – The Try Guys

    Posted by admin in General, Pregnancy on June 5th, 2015

    Have you heard of The Try Guys? They’re BuzzFeeds quartet of men who try things that typically men don’t, wouldn’t or can’t normally do.

    In one of their most viewed episodes they endure simulated labour and the pain that goes with it. If you’ve ever wanted to see a man feel the pain of childbirth, this video is for you. Its very funny indeed to watch. Some of the best quotes from the video include:

    • “F*ck f*ck f********ck!!!!!”
    • “The back is the most painful $&$% I can’t even explain the feeling.”
    • “I love my mom. I am sorry I did this to you.”

    A word of warning there is quite a bit of language in the video as well as lots of crotch grabbing etc so viewer discretion is advised.

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    10 things you should do before your baby is born

    Posted by admin in Attachment Parenting, Babies 0-6 months, General, How to, Maternal Health, Pregnancy on May 27th, 2015

    When you first fall pregnant, 9 months can seem like FOREVER. All the shopping and appointments and excitement among family and friends is so wonderful and you can’t wait to hold your very own baby in your arms. But before you know it, you have your baby shower or gender reveal party behind you and and just a big belly in the front and wham! your due date is just weeks away. Why not check out our list of 10 things you should get done BEFORE bubs arrives.

    1. Sign up for a Prenatal Class
      Most likely your hospital will offer an array of classes to choose from, and a birthing class should be one you don’t miss. There’s also privately run classes that focus on different birthing ideas, such as CalmBirth and Transition to Parenthood. No matter if you’re planning to go 100% natural or take every relief option available, the classes truly are helpful explaining about the stages of labor, how the baby progresses, and what you can expect during your baby’s birth. Knowledge is power here sistas!
    2. Put a waterproof mattress cover on your bed
      Your waters may very well break when you’re in bed. Don’t ruin your $5,000 pillow top latex mattress!
    3. Do a little cooking
      While it may seem ridiculous to make dinners for a month or two in advance, believe me, you’ll be thanking this article for a nice hot dinner you didn’t have to cook when you can hardly keep both eyes open from sleep deprivation. There are tons of websites that offer easy freezer meal recipes that you can make in bulk and reheat easily for a comforting warm meal. Casseroles, bolognese, stews, soups and curries all freeze well and only require the addition of some hot rice or pasta and you have a complete meal ready in minutes.
    4. Go on a Babymoon
      Whether it’s a full blown no expense spared holiday, a romatic weekend away or even just a “Last Supper” before your new baby comes, spend some much needed time with your partner before it’s not just the 2 of you anymore. Take pictures and keepsakes, you won’t be sad you did. Before you know it, you’ll hardly remember what it was like before a baby was in the house!
    5. Book your baby capsule and hospital bassinette
      You know our motto – why buy when you can hire? Hiring a baby capsule and their first bed makes perfect sense. When you hire your capsule remember $10 automatically goes to Sydney Children’s Hospital, you get free professional installation of your hired restraint and a lesson in how to use it. And if you’re hiring a bed too we can have it all home delivered for you, and we’ll pick it up once you’re done with it all.
    6. Binge-watch some TV
      There’s nothing like watching a whole boxed set of your favorite stories in one go. Whether its Downton Abbey, The Wire or How I Met Your Mother, binge watching on a weekend with lots of yummy snacks and company is a great way to waste some time. Or why not grab a few movies from our list of movies to watch when you’re pregnant?
    7. Prewash all the wee baby clothes
      Oh there’s nothing at all like a line full of tiny little baby vests and rompers and socks. And prewashing means they’re all ready to wear when baby gets home and – just between you and I – for such small people they make a fair bit of mess so a few changes a day? Perfectly normal.
    8. Pre-prepare the birth announcement
      If you live far from family and friends, or if you just want to show off your perfect new baby (who doesn’t want that?), a birth announcement is a great way to introduce your newborn. You can either do something simple yourself or use a handy website like Shutterfly or Tiny Prints. There are tons of templates and you can order as many as you would like. You just upload your pictures and enter in the name and size of your baby. Super easy, super fast. And if you’ve already looked through the many templates before your baby is born, you won’t have to stress about picking one after they’re born. Also – having all the envelopes pre-addressed and ready for filling will also save you time you won’t want to spend away from your baby.
    9. Charge the battery for your camera
      Yes, I know that like everyone has a smart phone and can take pictures on their phones, but it is a good idea to bring your camera with a full battery to the hospital. My camera takes really nice pictures, and it was nice to be able to have my phone as a backup instead just in case.

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    Our 10 Best Gender Reveal Ideas

    Posted by admin in Attachment Parenting, Babies 0-6 months, General, How to, Pregnancy on May 26th, 2015

    Whether you’re hosting a Gender Reveal Party or you just want a cute way to tell family and friends that you are having a baby boy or girl, we’ve got our top 10 gender revealing ideas to help you make the big announcement.

    Ballooon reveal
    1. Coloured Cakes
      Who doesn’t like cake? By adding pink or blue food coloring to a white cake mix and covering the cake completely with frosting, you have a fun way to reveal your baby’s gender. Make sure you ice the cake completely so that no colour peeks through and spoils the surprise.
    2. Gender Reveal Balloons In A Box
      In the world of gender reveal parties, helium balloons in a box may be gaining on cake and cupcakes as the hottest gender announcement trend around! All you need is large packing box and the assistance of your local party supplier to fill the box with blue or pink coloured helium balloons then you open the box and let the reveal happen.
    3. The Envelope, Please…
      If you can handle the anticipation, have your ultrasound technician or OB write your baby’s gender on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope. Open the envelope in front of your guests, or let an honored guest (mother in law perhaps???) open it and announce what you’re expecting.
    4. Confetti Push Pops
      When it’s time for the big reveal, gather your guests and hand out these poppers available from When it’s time for the big reveal, gather your guests and hand out these poppers. Leave the caps on, and don’t hold back—a big push works best—then watch the blue or pink confetti mix fly! Gender Reveal on Etsy. Leave the caps on, and don’t hold back—a big push works best—then watch the blue or pink confetti mix fly!
    5. Gender Reveal Party Piñata
      Don’t let the kids have all the fun! Announce the gender of your baby with a gender reveal piñata. Most pinatas can be purchased empty from Spotlight or party supply stores, just pack yours with pink or blue confetti, lollies, glitter or whatever takes your fancy then have your guests take turns trying to crack it open.
    6. Pop goes the News!
      Buy a balloon for every person at the gender reveal. Before you blow them up, put some pink or blue confetti inside each balloon. Hand everybody a balloon and a pin. Count to three and have everyone pop their balloon. The confetti will scatter and everyone will know if it’s a boy or a girl.
    7. Siblings say it best
      A no-fuss, no mess way of doing your gender reveal that can involve your other child(ren). This reveal involves having an older child wearing a cute tee like the one above. They can get changed right before announcement time or you could sneak the tee on at a random time, then let the child roam around until someone notices!
    8. Fur Baby announcement
      For all the pet lovers out there! Would you like to get your pet involved in the act? If you have a cat or dog for example, you can organise for them to come out to the guests at announcement time – wearing something around their neck to announce the gender. It might be a pink or blue ribbon or bow, a dummy tied to a ribbon or anything else you can think of.
    9. Silly String reveal
      There are a couple of ways you can do this, either way you’ll need to cover up the outside of the cans, so no-one picks the colour of the spray. To announce the gender, you can: a) At the announcement time, mum and dad-to-be count to three and spray each other with silly spray in pink or blue; or b) Have a countdown, after which all the guests spray each other with pink or blue silly spray.
    10. Team Pink or Team Blue?
      This can be a fun game or the main event for the party. Pop a bunch of Team Pink and Team Blue badges in a bowl and the guests get to place their bet by wearing one or the other. After the reveal the winning Team the losing team has to clean up! Only kidding.

      11. Gender reveal parties are a fun way to include family and friends in the joy and excitement that comes with a new baby. Feel free to share your own gender reveal party ideas below or your pics on our Facebook page.

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    What is the safest capsule on the market?

    Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, General, Safety on May 11th, 2015

    With so many different capsules and carseats available on the market today in Australia, it can be really difficult to choose. So many brands, names, colours, recommendations from friends and family – new parents can be quite overwhelmed with so much to choose from and so many questions including:

    • Which capsule is the safest?
    • Which is the lightest?
    • Which will fit in my car?  What if I have a small car?  What if I already have one or two car sears already in the car?
    • Which will fit onto my pram to make a travel system?

    To help answer all of these questions we have put together a summary below as well as some information on safety testing and ratings of our current range of baby capsules for hire.

    The website www.childcarseats.com.au is an initiative of the Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP), a consortium of government agencies and motorist organisations who share a common interest in improving safety for children travelling in vehicles. CREP provides parents with independent and unbiased information on the levels of child protection from injury in a crash provided by child car seats and the ease with which they can be used correctly.

    The Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) assesses the crash protection performance of car seats using three simulated crash tests:

    1. Frontal impact test
    2. Side impact test
    3. Oblique impact test.

    In all tests, crash test dummies that are equal to or above the upper end of the mass limit for each type of child car seat are used to measure the forces experienced by the dummy during the test. The data gathered is then analysed and the car seats are scored based on several performance aspects.

    Latest safety ratings of baby capsules

    Product CREP Safety Test result (out of 5 stars) Product dimensions and weight Pram compatibility 2nd base available for hire from Rockabye Baby Hire
    Safety 1st One Safe Infant capsule 5 out of 5 stars H 440 x D 660 x W 430
    3.5 kgs    		 Safety 1st, Maxi Cosi Yes
    Babylove Snap’nGo Series BL620A/2010 4 out of 5 stars H 405 mm D 660 mm W 430 3.8kgs Babylove, Valco Yes
    Chicco KeyFit Plus 79046 4 out of 5 stars H: 415mm D: 710mm W: 435
    4.8 kgs    		 Chicco, Bugaboo, Baby Jogger Yes
    Nuna Pipa CF-03 4 out of 5 stars H: 470mm D: 745mm W: 450mm 60 + compatible prams! Yes
    PegPerego Primo Viaggio PP01/2010 3 out of 5 stars H 430 mm D 720 mm W 440 mm
    5 kgs    		 Peg Perego, Bugaboo, Baby Jogger, Phil & Teds, Mountain Buggy Yes
    Maxi-Cosi MICO Air MCM 2010 3 out of 5 stars H 415 mm D 760 mm W 430 mm
    3.9 kgs    		 Quinny, Maxi Cosi, Bugaboo (Mico only), Baby Jogger, Phil & Teds, Mamas & Papas, Icandy, Valco, Joolz, Jane Rider Yes

    Baby capsules for hire in Sydney – just call Rock-A-Bye Baby Equipment Hire prices range from just $60 for 6 months and all capsule hires come with free professional installation by one of our ACRI accredited restraint fitters.

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    How tight is tight enough?

    Posted by admin in General, How to, Safety, Travelling with kids on May 8th, 2015

    Safe, satisfactory restraint installation explained

    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.

    Question: Should the baby capsule or carseat move about?

    Ideally No. For a more satisfactory fitment and one, which is less likely to cause unnecessary injury to all passengers, we recommend and always work until we get a firm fitment.
    If you’ve followed the manufacturers’ instructions accurately, some movement may be present – and that’s ok. 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 is not a valid test and may only loosen the seatbelt’s relationship with the restraint leaving it requiring reinstallation. If you want a firmer fitment, then there are many ways that can be achieved. Your particular restraint may have device that can contribute to that, otherwise a ‘Gated buckle’ or deploying the ALR seatbelt (if available) may be useful for this purpose.

    Going by the Australian Standards, engineering and testing processes a restraint does not have to be ‘rock solid’ to be safe. Be mindful that even mild tension on the vehicle seat cushion may damage the vehicles trim, especially leather trim. Restraints can also be damaged by over-tensioning. A good rule of thumb is that if you pull on the car seat, if it moves more than 1 inch from front to back, or side to side – and this is the important bit – at the the belt path end of the restraint, it is not tight enough.

    Often parents will grab the opposite end of their capsule base (where it not tethered) and start pushing it side to side and become anxious that the base isn’t installed correctly and is dangerous. 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.

    Be mindful that even mild tension on the vehicle seat cushion may damage the vehicles trim, especially leather trim. Restraints can also be damaged by over-tensioning which is a common issue with people not qualified to install your seat.

    If you have followed the manufacturer’s instructions and are still concerned please seek professional advice from an RTA or ACRI accredited restraint fitter.

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    How to find the anchor points in your car

    Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, Babies 6 months - 4 years, General, How to, Safety on May 8th, 2015

    We have many calls and emails a week with people having trouble trying to find the child restraint anchor points in their car. Sometimes even we have trouble finding them when we go to do installations as there’s a fairly variable range of position, type, material and location in different cars.

    Location of Anchorage Points

    Depending on the date your car was built your vehicle may or may not have anchor points already present and ready for use. It is important to note that in the rear of cars the luggage points are not confused for anchor points. This is something we see often with seats installed by well meaning relatives or friends. Unfortunately the luggage tie down points are just that – for luggage – and in an accident are not built to withstand the huge force that will be brought on it meaning the seat may not stay restrained in the car and the passenger could suffer serious injury or worse.

    Where to find child restraint anchorage points in your car

    Child restraint anchor points can generally be found in the following locations:
    • In sedans – on the rear parcel shelf
    • In hatchbacks – below the tailgate in the beaver panel/on the floor or in rear of rear seat.
    • In station wagons – in the roof, on the floor or in the rear of the rear seat.
    • In 4WDs – in the roof, on the floor or in the rear of the rear seat.

    Sometimes you will have to actually drop the backrest of the seat forward to locate the points. If you have your car manual that will often give you the location of the restraint points to clear up any confusion between what they are and what are luggage tie down points.

    Which cars have anchorage points?

    Anchorage points are required to be in vehicles in accordance with the AUSTALIAN DESIGN RULE 34 (ADR34)

    • Passenger Cars from 1st July 1976
    • Station Wagons and Hatch Backs from 1st January 1977
    • Vans up to 9 Adults from 1st January 1986
    • Vans up to 12 Adults from 1st January 1987
    • 4 Wheel Drives from 1st July 1990

    It is important to note that not all vehicles come fitted with an anchorage point. Some vehicles will require modifications to accommodate anchor points, while in some situations it can be illegal to install an anchorage point so it is best to refer to the owner’s manual of the vehicle or contacting the manufacturer before purchasing.

    What about Imported Cars?

    Imported vehicles require anchorage point to be established in most vehicles, prior to the vehicle being registered.

    Dual Cab vehicles

    Some Dual Cabs do not have anchorage points. If required, it is possible to fit Anchorage Points to most Dual Cabs.

    People Movers and kids

    Some vehicles do not cater for the larger families with small children and therefore the vehicle has no 3rd row anchorage points. Again its worth checking prior to purchase.

    What do they look like?

    Some images of child restraint anchor points are set out below:

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