Carseat Accessories: What NOT to use

Archive for category Travelling with kids

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.

, ,

No Comments

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.

, ,

No Comments

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:

No Comments

How to adjust the shoulder straps in your hire baby capsule

As your baby grows it is important to check and, where necessary, adjust the inbuilt harness in your hire baby seat.

Your capsule would have been provided to you on its lowest (newborn) setting with the shoulder harness on the very bottom option. Week by week, new babies put on weight and grow in length and this will mean that from time to time you will have to move the shoulder straps up a level to ensure your baby enjoys optimum safety in their hire capsule.

Harness straps that are too low for baby’s height or are twisted can be the cause of very serious injury in the event of an accident so ensuring that the shoulder harness straps are flat, firmly fitted and at the right level for your baby is vitally important.

We invite you to view our instructional video that shows how quick and simple it is to adjust the shoulder straps in your baby seat:

No Comments

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.

No Comments

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.

No Comments

Our guide to buying the perfect Family Car

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!

No Comments

How to jog with your pram

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.

No Comments

How tight is tight enough?

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.

No Comments

More detail on ISOFIX in Australia

Our good friends at Maxi-Cosi were the first infant car seat provider to offer ISOFIX-compatible infant car seats with the launch of its ISOGO range. ISOGO is an ISOFIX compatible system for Maxi-Cosi child restraints.

As experts in child mobility, Maxi-Cosi is an international leader in the production and testing of child restraint products. Maxi-Cosi’s ISOGO is a simple and user friendly latch system that enables parents and care givers to safely connect their Maxi-Cosi child restraints to their vehicle’s ISOFIX lower anchorages in a simple step. With its green and red indicators, the question of whether or not you’ve done it correctly is eliminated giving parents peace of mind that the installation has been done correctly at just a glance of the indicator.

With a staggering 88% of infant car seats not fitted correctly, Australian parents have been desperate for ISOFIX-compatible seats so this range has been very welcomed by our customers.

ISOFIX compatible systems must comply with the Australian/ New Zealand 1754 Standard. Seats that comply must be fitted with rigid or flexible lower attachment connectors as well as top tether straps. The dynamic testing required varies from country to country and therefore a child restraint that is purchased overseas is illegal and any insurance will be null and void in the event of an accident. The Australian/ New Zealand 1754 Standard is known to be the most stringent in the world.

Designed to make fitting an infant car seat sercurely easier, ISOFIX is an international standardised fitting system for attaching infant car seats securely without the need for the vehicle lap sash seatbelt. Most modern cars sold in Australia offer ISOFIX mounting points, but if you’re not sure take a look at the base of your backseat in the gap between the base of the seat and the back of the seat. Generally there will be some writing saying ISOFIX above the mounting points; if in doubt, check with your local mechanic. See image below:

According to Maxi-Cosi, “fitting a Maxi-Cosi ISOGO car seat is easy. Simply click your ISOGO car seat into your car’s ISOFIX lower anchorage points and click the upper tether strap. You can then check the seat is correctly installed by making sure the harness tension colour indicator is green”.

“Our family is always on the go, so it is wonderful to finally have a car seat that?we can fit so quickly and be confident that it is properly fitted and secure,” says mother-of-two and Maxi-Cosi Ambassador, Rebecca Judd.

“Maxi-Cosi ISOGO has taken the guess work out of fitting our kids’ car seats, and we now have greater flexibility should grandparents or friends wish to borrow a car seat for a special day out”.

Maxi-Cosi ISOGO car seats and capsules are available for both hire and purchase on our site.

, , , ,

No Comments

What are the benefits of a baby capsule?

Considering the wide range of baby capsules and carseats available for sale or hire can make it difficult to choose – do you go for a baby capsule or is a carseat a better option?

Although convertible carseats are just as safe as a baby capsule and you get more use out of them we’d suggest that a baby capsule has many benefits over a carseat that are worth considering before you make your final decision. Many parents find baby capsules a practical and easy alternative for the safe transport of their baby for the first 6 months or so.

We see many parents who come in and have a baby seat already installed in their car but have found that taking their baby in and out of the seat when they arrive at their destination often disturbs the baby’s sleep and unsettles them. Having a baby capsule means you can take your sleeping baby straight from the car without having to wake them to move them to the pram.

Of course, the most important reason to choose a baby capsule is to ensure the safety of your baby when travelling in the car. Baby capsules are suitable from newborn until six or twelve months depending on the product and the capsule you choose. They are engineered to cocoon your baby with their high side walls, ensuring your child is secured safely within the capsule using a five point harness that is easy to adjust.

All our capsules for hire carry the Australia and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 1754 sticker so you can feel confident the capsule meets Australia and New Zealand standards. Likewise, it is also important to make sure your capsule is properly fitted to your vehicle to maximise the safety benefits and minimise the risk of serious injury or death in the event of an accident. That’s why we offer free professional installation with all of our hire baby capsules.

Another major benefit of hiring your baby capsule is the ability to move the capsule in and out of the car while the baby is safely tucked inside. A base is installed into your car that the capsule clicks into, so you can quickly and easily move a sleeping child in and out of the car without disturbing the baby or playing around with straps. Baby capsules are generally quite light and fitted with a handle for easy manoeuvring. You can also hire pram adaptors so that you can drop your hire baby capsule straight onto your pram with just one click giving you a great deal of flexibility and freedom.

This freedom to effortlessly move a sleeping baby is particularly precious in these first months together with your baby. So, here at Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire we have a range of compatible prams and adaptors for hire that our capsules for hire can click into, allowing you to move your sleeping baby from car to pram and back again without disturbing their sleep.

Click here for our baby capsules for hire in Sydney range.

Maxi Cosi AP

Click here to view our prams for hire in Sydney.

Our travel system (capsule and pram hire) range is here.

, , , ,

No Comments

Can I use my carseat or baby capsule on an Airplane?

The short answer is – yes for the carseat; definately no for the capsule.

Child restraints that are not permitted for aircraft use are:
  • Baby Safety Capsule
  • any other type of Baby Carrier that requires the use of a base
  • Booster seats or Booster Cushions
  • Child Safety Harnesses (except CARES Aviation Harnesses – an air travel specific harness, please click the link for more info).

Some airlines that operate under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will accept child seats on their aircraft that are compliant with the Australian Standard. Currently we understand that the companies that do include Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Blue, and the regional airlines. These airlines should accept your restraint without question although some customers have reported that they have had to have the seat to be checked before the flight for fit the day before. The width of the child restraint may be more of a concern for smaller aircraft used in regional services such as Rex etc. It is best to always check with the airline some time before you’re due to fly.

CARES harness

Unlike seats made in America, Australian standard restraints do not have a sticker or indicator that says “Suitable for use in aircraft” as our standard does not have this requirement. Your Airline may look for this statement as it is accepted by the USA Federal Aviation Authority, however, all airlines should accept the CASA acceptance of Australian child restraints. Sometimes however, the staff onboard the aircraft are not aware of this so again its really worth the call before you fly to check.

Please note: The tether or upper anchorage strap does not need to be attached although Qantas do have dedicated seats where child restraints can be fitted and the tether or upper anchorage strap connected to straps fitted to the aircraft. This seat must be requested on booking.

You will need to book and pay for a seat to use your child restraint when flying and this can be arranged at the time of booking or through your travel agent.

Airlines do provide an additional strap for very young children and babies and that uses the parent’s seat belt and does not require an extra seating position so if you don’t wish to take your carseat with you this is always an option, or you can hire a CARES Harness for the trip.

Some airlines do provide child restraints for use in their aircraft. Again, we suggest you check with your travel agent or with the Airline at the time of booking.

Safe travels!

, , ,

No Comments