When I was pregnant with Popps there seemed to be an endless
number of things on the list of items we must have. Prams, cots, cradles,
wraps, slings, baby bags, monitors, designer toys and the list went on. I soon
realised that a decent car seat was actually the most important item to
consider when you look at the list of things your baby will need.
It took me a couple of seats to work that out, so here is
what I suggest you do to save yourself purchasing an excessive numbers of car
seats.*
Firstly, when it comes to the cost consider that your baby
will be in a couple of car seats for at least seven years, long past the point
of being pushed in a pram or sleeping in a cot and certainly past the time you
want to hear their every word on a monitor strapped to you as you walk around
the house. If you need to save some coin, ditch the nappy bin, the dummy strings,
the bumbo, the floor mats and all those things that last a few months and put
the money to the car seat.
It can be difficult to choose the right car seat, there are
many to choose from and they do differ quite a bit. There are also
road rules that you will need to abide by that assist in looking after the safety of
your child. The laws differ depending on the age of your child and apply to
babies under six months, from six months to four years and four to seven years.
Each age group has a specific style of seat recommended. Some seats will work
for many years, but you will generally use at least two different seats until
your child is seven.
All car seats must meet the Australian Standards, regardless
of cost, but you can consult the
NRMA’s test results to
choose a top safety rating restraint.
This site also tells you how easy the seat is to fit.
You can buy a second hand car seat or use one which you
know the history of. If the seat is second hand, take a look at the sticker on the
side or back of the chair, this will tell you when the seat was made, if it
happens to be more than ten years old, then the seat is no longer considered
safe, no matter how clean it is and how little it was used. If you are unsure
if a seat was previously in an accident then don’t risk using it for your child
either.
Once you know you are looking at a seat that meets safety
standards the next thing to look for is how easy it is to use and will it fit
in your car.
Crucial to any new seat I now buy is how easy it is to
adjust the straps. Make sure you play around in the shop with the straps. Often
Immy might be in a bulky coat and jumper in the morning and I need to lengthen
the straps, by the time we are strapping in again later in the day she may be
in a t-shirt. I adjust the straps each time and the car seat with the push
button adjustable harness is far simpler to use for both of us. I also did this
when the girls were newborns. Tiny babies can be fiddly, it can be easier to
lengthen the straps quite long, place the baby in the seat click them in and
adjust accordingly. If you are unsure how tight to make the straps, you should
be able to fit two fingers between the child and the straps.
When Popps was a newborn we purchased a cheaper seat for the
second car, initially we were moving the one seat from car to car which is a
really stupid idea. Currently we have both cars fitted with appropriate seats
for a 6 year old and a 3 year old. We also have spare seats in case we need to
travel with a little friend in each car and one for the grandparents to use.
While a booster seat for a child over the age of 4 doesn’t
legally need to use the tether strap in your car we only use those that are. I
also prefer to use booster seats that have what is called an anti submarine
clip on the seat; this clip ensures the belt is held down around the hips area
and stops the belt creeping up over your child’s tummy where little internal
organs could be damaged in the case of an accident.
Once you have fitted a few car seats into a car you get used
to it pretty quickly, but the statistics show a very high number of seats are
not fitted correctly into cars. There are now a number of places that provide
free fitting of child seats into your car or you can pay a
small fee to have it done for you. Mr H did this while I was in hospital and it made that
first wobbly drive home from hospital a tiny bit calmer. They showed him how to
fit the seat and included the additional buckles we needed at the time.
In a perfect world you will never test the safety of the
seat you choose, but the
Child Restraint Evaluation Program has done many tests and rates the seats accordingly - it can be a useful place
to start when you begin the search for a car seat.
Interestingly, not a single seat gets the
full five stars in the ratings for both safety and ease of use. The things that
are not taken into account are the added extras; cup holders, cushioning, fabric
design, and speakers in the headrest. These are things that your child doesn’t
need to be kept safe, but they can be rather useful for parents, especially
those that spend many hours in the car.
Buying the right seat can be tricky. But never fear, there
are plenty of people who can help you.
If you are in Sydney and heading to the Sydney Baby and Toddler
Show on 28-30 September you should track down the NRMA booth and go and talk to
them. NRMA wants to share everything they know on how to keep kids safe in and
around cars. They will be able to help you with any further questions you have
about the right seat for you. Also, if
you are an NRMA member you get 40% off the cost of the ticket for the Show.
* At last count I have had nine seats for two children. This
wouldn’t have been required if I did my reading first.
