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    Archive for category Safety

    Safe restraint fitting explained

    Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, Babies 6 months - 4 years, General, How to, Safety on March 20th, 2017

    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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    The latest news regarding SIDS

    Posted by admin in Attachment Parenting, Babies 0-6 months, Breastfeeding, Safety, Sleep on January 23rd, 2017

    Scientists have identified a possible biological cause for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) that was never known before. There has been a recent breakthrough in research into SIDS with results that could help prevent even more of these tragic deaths. SIDS is defined as the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy infant under 12 months of age. There has been extensive research and awareness campaigns conducted around the world over the last 20 years that have resulted in an 80% reduction in SIDS deaths. However, last year there were still 113 infant and newborn SIDS deaths. The aim is for that number to be 0.

    Scientists at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, have discovered that babies who die from SIDS are deficient in a protein called Orexin. This protein is responsible for regulating sleep arousal in babies and adults. A cohort study of more than 27 SIDS cases and 19 controls found the level of Orexin was 20 per cent lower in the brains of those babies who had died from SIDS. What this means is that the message to wake up may not be getting through to babies’ brains.

    Associate Professor Alexandra Martiniuk from The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Sydney says that the study found it was the Orexin deficiency along with environmental factors that resulted in the deaths. She stated that in most cases of SIDS related deaths, the baby was found either face down or with their head between the mattress and something else. The conclusions were that in most cases Orexin deficiency along with other factors resulted in the deaths. The discovery of this protein deficiency may be able to help health professionals identify babies at greater risk of SIDS. They hope to have a screening test within 10 years.

    What the researchers and SIDS experts do emphasize is the need for all parents and carers to follow safe sleep practice guidelines. This is still considered the best method of preventing SIDS. The research may also have significant implications for how parents choose sleeping arrangements for their baby. Many parents are choosing co-sleeping arrangements these days with very positive outcomes. Research into these practices has found that when babies are in the same room as parents then the parent often wakes up when there is an adverse event. However, it is still recommended that babies under 3 months sleep on their own surface.

    An excellent method for addressing both issues is by using a co-sleeper bassinet. A cosleeper is a baby bed that can securely attach to the parents bed, meaning both parent and baby have their own sleep surface but baby is easily accessible for nighttime cuddles, feeds and settling and can wake and see and smell his or her parents.

    As a former Neonatal ICU nurse specialist, I am particularly focused on the health and safety of vulnerable babies. While it is great to have a test to see which babies will be most vulnerable to SIDS, its vitally important to continue safe sleeping practices. Those guidelines are listed by www.rednose.com.au and recommended by all medical experts and midwives. They include:

    1. Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side
    2. Sleep baby with head and face uncovered
    3. Keep baby smoke free before birth and after
    4. Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day
    5. Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult care-giver for the first six to twelve months
    6. Breastfeed baby

    Emma Hutton RN Post Grad. Cert. NICU
    Owner Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire (North Branch)
    www.rockabyebabyhire.com.au

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    How to choose the best baby capsule or carseat

    Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, Babies 6 months - 4 years, General, How to, Safety on March 27th, 2016

    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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    When to stop using a booster seat?

    Posted by admin in General, How to, Safety on March 27th, 2016

    A booster seat is an additional seat that sits on top of the carseat to lift the child up several centimetres to avoid them being injured in the neck area by the car seatbelt. Booster seats should be used once a child no longer fits into their forward facing restraint as indicated by the shoulder height markers (and not just because they’ve celebrated their 4th birthday). There are two types of booster seats available on the Australian market. The first is a dedicated booster seat with a back. This type of booster uses the car lap/sash seatbelt to secure the child; the other is a convertible restraint that converts from a harnessed carseat into a booster once the child reaches the appropriate shoulder height marker within the restraint.

    The new Type G restraints available here to hire or brand new seats to buy have an inbuilt harness suitable for children up to about 8 years of age.

    Booster cushions (the little bottom only cushions that have no back, sides, head or tether) were deleted from the 2010 Australian child restraint standard and are no longer manufactured. They are however still used and are often seen for sale on the second hand market. I would not recommend you use one of these cushions due to the fact that they offer no side or head protection at all in a collision and could leave your child vulnerable to serious injury. The decision regarding when to move your child out of a booster is one that has confused many parents.

    There is, however, a very simple 5-step test that can assist you to make the right decision. Seat your child in the car without the booster and buckle them up in the car seatbelt. Now answer these 5 questions:

    1. Can your child sit all the way back in the carseat?
    2. Are their legs bent comfortably at the knee at the edge of the carseat?
    3. Does the car seatbelt cross their body at the shoulder between the neck and arm (not cutting into the neck)?
    4. Does the lap belt sit low across their thighs (not their tummy or abdomen)?
    5. Can the child stay seated in that position for an entire car trip?

    If you’ve answered yes to all of those questions (and your child is over 7 and has outgrown their current restraint) then your child is ok to ride in the car without a booster.

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    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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    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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    Hooded sleeping bags – a warning

    Posted by admin in Attachment Parenting, Babies 0-6 months, Babies 6 months - 4 years, How to, Safety, Sleep on July 21st, 2015

    Infant sleeping bags can be a great option for babies as they eliminate the need for any extra bedding and for babies who roll around lots in bed it means they can’t get completely uncovered and cold. Sleeping bags also eliminate the need for lots of bedding which can become a suffocation risk in bed.

    However, some baby sleeping bags on the market – particularly but not limited to those sold overseas and on online auction sites – have hoods despite hoods posing a significant safety risk to babies.

    Hooded sleeping bags can potentially cover a baby’s face while they sleep, increasing the risk of suffocation significantly.

    There are a few important things to look out for when you’re choosing a sleeping bag for your baby:
    • make sure the sleeping bag is the right size and fit for your child;
    • make sure the sleeping bag is the correct weight for the season and the temperature in your child’s room. Thicker higher weight/tog bags should be kept for winter months and the thinner lighter weight/tog bags for warmer seasons and climates;
    • you can always add another layer of clothing under the bag when necessary;
    • ensure that the sleeping bag has a fitted neck (that can’t slip up and over baby’s face), well fitted arm holes and no hood.

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    Are second hand cot mattresses safe?

    Posted by admin in Attachment Parenting, Babies 0-6 months, Breastfeeding, How to, Safety, Sleep on July 17th, 2015

    When you are becoming a parent you’ll often find yourself bombarded with lots of information – some helpful, some not so much so. One of the things as a parent you will need to learn about are how to put your baby to bed safely. SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is a genuine concern for all parents and at present the cause of SIDS remains unknown.

    For some time there was a theory that there may be a link between SIDS events and the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) which can be present in baby’s bed mattresses. SIDS and Kids has reviewed the research to date and has found that there is no evidence to show that there is an increased risk of SIDS for babies who sleep on the back and on a firm, clean, well fitting mattress that is in good condition. There is no reason for you to buy a brand new mattress for every baby if the mattress you have or are hiring is clean, firm, it fits the bed its being used in well without any gaps it is perfectly safe.

    A complete copy of the Information Statement can be found by following this link to the SIDS and Kids Website.

    The Safe Sleep Guidelines as recommended by SIDS and Kids are:
    1. Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side
    2. Sleep baby with head and face uncovered
    3. Keep baby smoke free before birth and after
    4. Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day
    5. Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult caregiver for the first six to twelve months
    6. Breastfeed baby

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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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