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We all use car seats because they are protective in a car accident. A child restraint is designed to spread the forces of a collision over a child’s body so as to reduce the tissue damage that would result if it were applied to only a small area (such as when a child’s head hits a windscreen). Carseats and capsules are made with energy absorbing material and in comparison to the hard interior of the car or objects outside the car, mean that the deceleration is slower and the resultant forces being exchanged are reduced.
The four main functions of a seatbelt or child restraint are to:
Videos of how child car seats are tested by CREP (the Child Restraint Evaluation Program) can be reviewed here:
https://www.childcarseats.com.au/testing-explained
In order for a restraint to perform these functions optimally, it is important that children are in the correct restraint for their age and size, that they are using the restraint properly and that the restraint has been correctly installed in the vehicle to the manufacturer’s instructions. Furthermore, there should be no objects that interfere with the correct performance of a restraint during a crash (additional aftermarket accessories for example) or that can collide with the child or another occupant in the vehicle (loose items in the boot or seat that can become projectiles and injury an occupant).
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact our Restraint Fitting Team on 1300 859 775 or via email at jess@rockabyebabyhire.com.au.
Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, Babies 6 months - 4 years, General, How to, Safety on November 13th, 2020
Before commencing any installation its vital that you read the manufacturer’s instruction manual in full. If you don’t have a copy most seat manufacturer’s websites have a section with downloadable manuals available for car seat users.
When you have read your manual head over to the car. The first thing to do is locate the ISOFIX mounting points which are usually at the bottom of the seat where the seat back meets the seat base. If the car has ISOFIX mounting points, the location may be identified by a symbol on the carseat like these:
Sometimes the ISOFIX anchorage bars may be visible like this:
If your child restraint has rigid connectors fitted, engage each connector to the corresponding ISOFIX bar on the vehicle:
Push the child restraint towards the backrest applying a firm and even pressure on both sides. Care should be taken to ensure both sides have been engaged. This can be confirmed when the ISOFIX indicator turns from red to green.
If your restraint comes with flexible ISOFIX connectors (built on seatbelt material), engage the connectors into each ISOFIX low
anchorage. A click may be felt and a green indicator will show on the top of the flexible connector when it has engaged.
Pull each strap to ensure both lower anchorage connectors are engaged and all slack is removed from either side.
All ISOFIX compatible child restraints also require the use of the top tether strap which must be attached
to the vehicle’s child restraint anchorage point, and be adjusted to remove slack. Please note the top tether strap is engaged to minimise any forward momentum in a rear end accident. It needs to be adjusted firmly but not overtensioned otherwise your restraint will lift off the car seat and feel loose when touching.
No ISOFIX? No problem
Please note if your car does not have ISOFIX available, all Australian ISOFIX compatible child restraints are also able to be installed using the car seatbelt and top tether strap, just as in non-ISOFIX compatible restraints. The rigid connectors on the child restraint can be retracted if you are installing using the car seatbelt.
Can I use a restraint purchased or manufactured overseas?
Child restraints purchased from overseas, including ISOFIX compatible child restraints, are illegal to use in
Australia as they do not comply with AS/NZS 1754. Unlike the European standard, the Australian/New Zealand Standard requires all restraints to:
AS/NZS 1754:2013 specifies child restraints Types A1/A2/A4, Type B, Type D, Type A1/B, Type A2/B, and Type A4/B are allowed to be fitted with ISOFIX attachment.
Booster seats and Type G combinations cannot use ISOFIX anchorages as there has been some concern
internationally about their likelihood for the occupant to submarine and Type G restraints are not allowed as the low anchorage may not be strong enough to withstand the crash load.
Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, Babies 6 months - 4 years, General, How to, Safety, Travelling with kids on November 13th, 2020
Child restraints are designed to be installed in most passenger vehicles, without requiring any additional after market fitting accessories.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You’ve probably seen the shoulder height marker labels that are sewn into all new child restraints in Australia – but do you know what they are for, or how to use them?
When the Australian Standard for child restraints was revised in 2010, it made significant changes to the way the suitability of a restraint was measured for a child. Previously, suitability had been determined by the weight of the child, but the 2010 standard removed all mention of weight, opting instead to add shoulder height marker labels that are sewn into the covers of all child restraints.
These new shoulder height marker labels give parents and carergivers an easy to understand, visual reference for fitment and suitability for their child, taking away the guesswork and the potential to lose track of your child’s growth in any given child restraint.
When researching restraints, it can be extremely helpful if you know your child’s seated shoulder height, so we thought we’d write a guide describing how to measure that correctly.
Your child should be in their regular clothing (if they normally wear a nappy when travelling, have them wear one now, for example).
As children’s shoulders slope downward from their necks, we recommend you measure to the middle point between their neck and the outside of their shoulder (where the shoulder strap of the child restraint harness would naturally sit).
If your child is still to young to sit up unassisted:
Understanding what the shoulder height labels mean is the key to ensuring your child is in the correct car seat for their age and height. The correct restraint is the safest option. Ignore what you think is the correct information about age, weight, abilities etc. Just follow the instructions on the shoulder height markers.
If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch.
Using a baby capsule for your baby can be such a help to new parents and if you’re environmentally conscious, not sure if you want another baby or just want the convenience of having it delivered at your home, installed and picked up at the end, then hiring rather than buying a baby capsule or newborn carseat is the perfect solution.
Baby capsules are not only very safe and comfortable for new babies, but they can also make your life as a new parent much easier too. A short survey of our hire customers tells us that some 30% of our hire customers already have carseat but have realised that having a capsule would make their lives much easier.
Baby capsules are suitable for newborn babies until until they are approximately 6 months old. They’re rear-facing which is the safest way for babies to travel in the car and there are a wide range of brands and models to choose from.
Most baby capsules are compatible with a variety of prams, meaning you can attach the capsule to the pram frame creating a travel system that makes being out and about with your baby even easier.
If you choose to hire a capsule instead of buying one outright you’ll reap all the benefits but have the advantage of giving it back when your baby no longer fits in it.
There are quite a few benefits to using a baby capsule over a carseat and we’ll go over a number of those for you now.
Baby capsules are designed to cocoon your baby in the car with high side walls, rear facing installation, a 5 point inbuilt safety harness, head supports and a top tether strap to limit any forward propulsion in an accident.
Whether you are bringing your baby home for the first time or doing the daily school run for siblings, you’ll feel much more confident knowing that your baby is safe.
You won’t need to wake your sleeping baby
Believe us when we tell you this – nobody wants to wake a sleeping baby!
Car trips are renowned for putting babies to sleep (seen that McDonald’s ad???). When you reach your destination and your baby is snoozing happily in their baby capsule, you can simply unclip the capsule from the base and carry them or pop it on your pram, all without waking them!
Capsules have a curved base so parents have their baby fall asleep in the capsule before going out by rocking them gently and then simply popping the capsule into the car once they have nodded off.
Many capsules also have the benefit of rain covers to keep your little one protected from the sun and rain.
An added benefit of a capsule is how easy it is to use in multiple cars. If you own more than one vehicle, you can hire an additional base and just use the one capsule to move between the two cars.
You can use it in multiple cars!
If you own more than one vehicle, or you would like a grandparent or carer to also be able to transport your baby you can simply hire an additional base and just use the one capsule to move between the two cars.
We are COVID-Safe
We have completed the NSW Department of Health Infection Control Training – COVID-19 and we have increased our hygiene practices in accordance with government health recommendations.
All our staff have medical grade masks which we can wear on request and all staff use hand sanitiser before and after contact with any customer or product.
Hire items are quarantined for 7 days between hires before being thoroughly cleaned and safety checked.
During COVID we can offer contactless delivery and pick up keeping you and your family safe.
If you’re away from home and hiring a car in Sydney or Wollongong, we can deliver your hire baby capsule (and pram, cot and steriliser!) to the hire car before you arrive and pick up from the hire car once you have departed.
Hiring a baby capsule is handy, cost-effective and means you get the great benefits of using a capsule without laying out the full cost for one and with free professional installation included you’re saving even more!
Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, General, How to, Safety on May 26th, 2020
It is important to ensure you are monitoring the ongoing use of your baby capsule or carseat. As your child grows in weight and height it is important to check your baby’s shoulder height in relation to the harness straps of their restraint and, where necessary, make the necessary adjustment to the height of the harness to keep your baby safe. It is really important to ensure that the harness straps are always at or above the shoulder in rearward facing mode as there is potential for significant crash loading to be put on the child’s spine as they ramp ‘up’ the seat in the initial crash phase.
Capsules and carseats have multiple shoulder strap slots so you can move the harness up as your baby grows.
In rearward facing restraints, you should use the slot that is level or slightly above your child’s shoulders. Do not use a slot if it is below your child’s shoulders.
In forward facing restraints, you should use the closest slot to your child’s shoulders, but not more than 25mm below your child’s shoulders.
It is really important to ensure that the harness straps are always at or above the shoulder in rearward facing mode as there is potential for significant crash loading and to be put on the child’s spine as they ramp ‘up’ the seat in the initial crash phase resulting in serious spinal and other injuries.
To adjust the height of your harness, you will need to loosen the harness as much as possible and lay your restraint face down, so that the spreader / G plate becomes visible on the back of the seat. Simply unhook the ends of the harnesses from the spreader / G plate, and re-thread the straps through the appropriate slot for your child’s shoulder height. When you are finished, ensure that you’ve correctly re-attached the straps to the spreader / G plates.
A link to our instructional video demonstrating how to adjust your capsule harness is here and this makes it easy to do:
Some carseats and capsules have a feature that is built into the restraint which adjusts both the headrest and the harness simultaneously. With this feature, there is no need for rethreading or undoing the harness from the spreader / G plate at the back of the seat.
Still need some help with your carseat or capsule harness? Just give us a call on 1300 859 775 option 2 to speak to one of our accredited restraint fitters.
From time to time you may need to express your breastmilk and store it for your baby to be fed later, or you may have an abundant supply and wish to stockpile some milk for later.
You can express milk by hand or with a breast pump. Different pumps suit different women, so ask for advice or hire one first before you buy. Always make sure that the container or pump is clean and has been sterilised before you use it.
Breast milk can be stored in a sterilised glass or plastic containers, including sealable plastic bags. Always use a new container rather than add to previously refrigerated or frozen milk. A Guideline sheet on how to store breastmilk is here:
Please note : Breast milk must always be stored in a sterilised container. If you use a pump, always clean and sterilise it before and after each session.
Any expressed milk not used within 2 days should be frozen. Remember to put the date and time the milk was expressed and use the oldest milk first.
If you have frozen your milk, defrost it in the fridge before giving it to your baby. Once it’s defrosted, use it straight away. Milk that’s been frozen is still good for your baby. Don’t re-freeze milk once it’s thawed it has to be discarded.
You can feed expressed milk straight from the fridge if your baby is happy to drink it cold. Or you can warm the milk to body temperature by placing the bottle in lukewarm water.
Don’t use a microwave to heat up or defrost breast milk as it can cause hot spots, which can burn your baby’s mouth.
If you’re expressing and storing breast milk because your baby is premature or ill, ask the hospital staff caring for your baby for advice on how to store it.
The school holidays have arrived! No doubt you have already got school aged kids saying they are bored and want something to do. There is plenty to do around Sydney these school holidays. Some of these can become expensive if you have multiple children to take, however there are also a lot of things that you can do around Sydney at a minimal cost.
One of the most popular places to visit these school holidays is the Royal Easter Show. Packed full of animals, strange and exciting foods, activities and shows to watch it will keep the children occupied for the full day. If you are visiting the Royal Easter Show it is a good idea to take as much of your own food and drinks as possible because the day can get expensive. Plenty of water is a must. If you have younger children, make sure you take them in a pram. It is a long day with lots of walking around and they will get tired very quickly. There is also a lot of people at the show each day so being able to keep your little ones in a pram will save your sanity a bit! Plus it is a great place to store your showbags!
If you have little adventure kids who love animals, Featherdale is a great option for them. You are able to go through and see a range of different animals, attend feeding sessions where the animals eat right out of your hands and learn a lot of interesting information about the different animals and their lifestyles.
There are picnic areas so you can bring your own food and have a picnic lunch with the family. Remember to take hats and water as it is all outdoors and can get very warm
A great day out for the kids is to the beach. Who doesn’t love the beach! A great day playing in the sand and water followed by lunch either on the beach or one of the picnic and park areas close by. If you are planning on spending the whole day at the beach you can take a day tent to put up to shield you from the sun too much and provide some shelter. There is plenty do to around Bondi, so make sure you have a pram in the boot of the car so that you can take a scroll along the streets once the kids have had enough time at the beach.
There are a lot of places within a few hours drive from Sydney that you can go for an overnight trip. Wollongong is a great place to visit or somewhere in the Blue Mountains. You can normally pick up an Airbnb or hotel room quite well priced for one night. If you do not have a portacot or the place you are staying does not have one, make sure you book ahead and hire one so your little one has somewhere to sleep. Having an overnight trip means that you can take your time seeing the sights of the area and can head back to your room at any point for a rest or nap.
Sydney Harbour is the most well known area of Australia. Equipped with the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge it is a great day out for the whole family. You can either drive into the City or catch a train – the kids will love the train! And then spend the day seeing the different sites. There is plenty of attractions to see including the bridge and Opera House. There are parks and grassy areas to stop and have some lunch and lots of unique things to see including street art and music. If you have time whilst in the City, try and get a movie in at the IMAX Theatre. The experience is one not to forget.
You do not need to plan trips or attractions everyday of the school holidays, there is plenty you can still do at home including movie days and arts and crafts. However if you have the time try to get out in the sunshine (before winter really hits) and enjoy a day out with the kids. The best part is they will be exhausted at the end of the day and hopefully sleep well for you.
Easter is just around the corner. If this is your first Easter as a parent, it must be a very exciting time for you! Easter means a lot of different things to different families and each have their own traditions and customs that they do over the Easter period. With having a little one – chocolate is probably not on the top of the list on ways to celebrate the day (give it a few years ? ) There are still plenty of ways to celebrate and include your little one in the Easter celebrations.
Since chocolate is probably not a good idea for an Easter present for a baby, you may need to look at different ideas for gifts. A cute pair of pajamas or a cute onesie is always a good gift idea and one that is also practical. A soft bunny rabbit toy is also a good gift to give to your little one as an Easter present, if you can date the year on the tag of the bunny so that it can be a gift that is remembered each year moving forward. Puzzles, books and toys are always a good gift to give. You do not need to go overboard, it is their first Easter so it will be more about ripping paper off for them anyway.
The long weekend is a great chance to get out for the day with the family and spend some time outside enjoying the fresh air. There are plenty of places that you can visit including the Easter Show, the Zoo or the beach. You can even organise a picnic with all the family at a local park so that you can all celebrate together.
At some point over Easter you are sure to have a family event (or two) to go to. This is a great way to catch up with all the family, spend some time together laughing and enjoying each others company and giving your baby a chance to socialize with their extended family. Whether it is a lunch, a dinner or just a quick catch up it is definitely worth making the time for it. Everyone will enjoy it and will be a great chance to take photos and make memories.
Easter, like any other holiday is a great excuse to have a photo shoot. You can book in for a specialized Easter photo shoot with a photography company or you can simply put together your own at home to save on costs. Setting up a few soft blankets, adding in bunny ears and a cute little outfit for your child will make for a great scene. If you have more than one child, get them all together and have a few good family photos so that you can print them out and have them hung up around the house. One tip for the school aged kids is to promise them that they can do a silly photo after they sit for a nice photo – works every time!
If you are lucky enough to have the full 4 days off over Easter, turn it into a mini holiday. You can book to go away for a few days and create lots of memories. If you are staying in a hotel make sure you check ahead of time if they have the equipment you need for bubs; cot, pram, highchair etc and if they do not you can either take these items with you or organise to hire them and have them delivered straight to the hotel.
With this being your little ones first Easter, you do not need to go over the top. They probably will not remember it and the most important thing is that you all enjoy the holiday. Take lots of photos, spend time with those who matter to you and make sure that you have fun. There is no point stressing about the Easter period and creating unnecessary stress that will then in turn make you not enjoy the time off.
Happy Easter!
With just a week to go till Easter holidays we think now is a great time to do a pre-holiday check of your carseats. Our little checklist has some simple checks you can easily do at home to ensure you are all travelling safely at this very busy time on our roads. If you have any doubts please just call – we are happy to check seats free of charge.