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3

Welcome

Michael Hohl, Director Product Content and Testing (and new dad)

With your first

baby on the

way you’re

probably

excited, apprehensive, and

maybe a little lost all at once

– I know I was! Where do you

start to get your head around

everything you need? Are they

going to break the bank? And

have you missed anything on

your checklist of things to buy

for when junior first comes

into the world?

Luckily, CHOICE knows a thing or two about babies and

toddlers. After all, our experts have been testing their products

for more than half a century, offering advice and suggestions

to members that save them money and provide them with full

peace of mind. Whether it’s rolling strollers along our custom-

made rig for hours on end in the CHOICE labs, or checking for

sharp edges and finger traps in – well, pretty much everything

– safety is at the forefront of all we do.

2

PLUS! Join CHOICE today and you’ll receive the latest issue of CHOICE Computer and

a CHOICE multi-mini tool set – FREE! Enter the promotion code CCTOOLOFFER

at the checkout to receive your giftsOFFER ENDS 31 DECEMBER 2013 OR WHILE STOCKS LAST

Contents

ChoICE & safety 6How we test products for babies and toddlers and why our focus on safety is so important

Planning for baby 8Yes, no, maybe – a checklist of what you definitely, possibly and definitely don’t need for your first-born

What you need 10-15With our help, you can get the safest and best value for money must-have products on the market

• Cots• Strollers• Car seats• High chairs• Baby carriers & slings• Nappies

What you might need 16-19Useful but not essential, these products are still definitely worth considering

• Baby monitors• Change tables• Safety gates & barriers• Other safety equipment

What you don’t need 21The products that are more contrived than crucial

Child care 22CHOICE members share their tips and tricks on this daunting and costly exercise

health & other insurance 24Knowing you’re fully insured is very assuring

Beyond baby 26How CHOICE can continue to help you out long after baby has grown

4 Back to cover 5

ChoICE & safety

Back to cover6 7

No matter what you’re buying for

your baby, whether it’s furniture,

toys, a stroller or car seat, there

are certain important things to

check for. Although CHOICE reports

on these, nothing can beat a close

look before you buy.

• Make sure there are no sharp

edges or protruding points,

rough surfaces or small parts

that might be bitten or could

break off

• Check there are no gaps or

holes where a child could

trap their fingers

• Look for sturdiness, stability

and quality materials

• Clear and concise instructions

always help, especially if

you haven’t used that

product before

• Check for mandatory or

voluntary Australian

standard certification

SAFETY FUNDAMENTALS

When you have a child, you start to see danger everywhere

When you have a child,

you start to see danger

everywhere. Poisons,

electrical sockets, climbable

furniture – your lovely family

home suddenly seems full of dangers for the inquisitive

and mobile toddler.

But safety is just as much

an issue even when your

child isn’t yet moving around.

When it comes to baby

products, beautiful designs,

cute patterns and bold and

bright colours are important,

of course, but what really counts is safety.

Up to standard?Wherever possible, CHOICE

will test to mandatory

Australian standards.

And when the standard

is only voluntary, we’ll

test to it anyway.

But sometimes there’s no

standard at all to test to,

such as with change tables

(see page 17). When that’s

the case, we come up with a

standard of our own, based on

our common-sense approach

that reflects how you use

those products.

the baby checkli$t

Back to cover8 9

What you definitely need• Cot (see page 10)

• Pram or stroller (p 11)

• Child car restraint (p 12)

• Nappies (p 15)

• Bucket with a secure lid.

Two buckets if you’re using

cloth nappies, one if you’re

using disposables

• Up to eight singlets,

size 000

• Up to eight onesies

(jumpsuits) and/or nighties,

size 000

• Two long-sleeved tops or

jackets for cool days

• Soft sunhat for summer,

warm hat for winter

The costs of baby items can be daunting, especially if you’re moving from two salaries to one. But by sticking with items you need – and avoiding the ones you don’t – you won’t blow the budget.

• Two pairs of small socks

• Bibs

• Bottles and teats, bottle

brush and sterilising

equipment

• Sheets, blankets and

mattress protector

• Three or more bunny rugs

or muslin wraps

• Soft towel and face

washer, baby soap or wash,

cottonwool balls, sorbolene

and glycerine cream, soft

hairbrush and round-tipped

nail scissors

• Thermometer

What you might need• High chair (p 13)

• Baby carrier (p 14)

• Baby monitor (p 16)

• Change table (p 17)

• Safety equipment such as

gates, child-resistant locks

and catches, stove guard

and door knob covers (p 18)

• Playpens (p 20)

• Baby bath

• Baby sleeping bag

• Bouncer or rocker

• Breast pump

• Breast pads – four pairs of

reusable pads or a pack of

disposables

• Baby bag for outings

• Cottonwool squares or

wipes, baby wipes and zinc-

based cream (for preventing

and treating nappy rash),

petroleum jelly

• Bassinet or cradle for first

few months

• Portable cot or highchair

• Day clothes – a special

outfit or two for when

baby’s on display (though

you’ll probably get some

as presents)

• Toys and other amusements

• Dummy

• Olive oil for massage

or moisturising

What you don’t need• Baby walkers (p 21)

• Other baby-specific

products (p 21)

• Cot bumpers

• Quilts, doonas, duvets and

pillows (not recommended

for the first year)

• U-shaped pillows (not

recommended for the

first two years)

Look out for these logos throughout

this guide

Cots Strollers

Back to cover10 11

Household cots are only

used for a relatively short

period of time, but it’s during

this time that safety is most

critical. Look for one that’s

certified to AS/NZS 2172.

Most cots are certified when

first produced but may then

be manufactured for several

years without ever being

re-certified, which means

manufacturing variations

can subtly change the cot

over time.

Also make sure the cot is:

• Smooth, gently contoured,

sturdy and durable

• Deep enough to

stop a child from

falling out

• Has no head,

finger or limb

entrapment hazards

• Has no sharp

edges or hazardous

protrusions

• Has no footholds

Buying a

stroller can be

a complicated

exercise. Some

things you

can check for

yourself in the

shop — such as

size, features and

manoeuvrability

— but how

can you tell whether the

pram/stroller model you’re

considering is safe, durable,

and easy to use? CHOICE test

cots thoroughly in our labs,

focusing on all those factors.

Three or four wheels?Three-wheelers tend to be

wider, longer and heavier than

four-wheelers. They’re usually

easier to push around, thanks

to larger wheels and inflatable

tyres that help absorb bumps.

But that easier manoeuvrability

can also make them more likely

Children are ready to move

onto a bed when they can:

• Stand confidently in a cot

• Shake the sides of the cot

• Start to attempt to climb out

Making this change at the

right time will help to prevent

injuries associated with your

child falling out of the cot.

Most cots come with a junior

bed conversion kit that will

increase its longevity, although

sometimes these parts are

sold as an optional extra.

MOvINg ON UP

to roll away if left unattended.

They can also be more prone

to tipping, especially when

turning corners or mounting

a kerb.

Four-wheelers are more

compact when in use and

generally fold into a smaller

package, so they can be a better

option for public transport.

Some have two small wheels at

the front and two large wheels

at the rear, which can provide

the stability of a four-wheeler

with the manoeuvrability of

a three-wheeler.

Car seats & restraints high chairs

Back to cover12 13

When it comes to your baby

travelling in a car there’s a

lot to take on board. What

type of car restraint do

they need? Does your car

have the features to fit a

restraint? What’s the law on

car restraints? How do you fit

the restraint and secure your

child properly?

If you’re going to install the

seat yourself make sure you

follow the manufacturer’s

instructions, but it’s certainly

worthwhile visiting an

authorised fitting station.

The most common form of

injury involving high chairs

is when a child falls after

trying to stand up or climb

out or into the chair. Other

serious injuries include

having their fingers, toes or

other small limbs pinched or

crushed by moving parts or

gaps and choking on easily

detachable small parts.

For these reasons a

high chair should be

sturdy, with a stable

base, include a five-

point harness and

have no sharp edges

or exposed gaps

and traps for

little fingers.

Other safety essentials• Moving

parts These

shouldn’t be

able to pinch,

crush or trap a child’s finger,

toe, limb or head (or the

fingers of an adult adjusting

the chair).

• Also check for easily detachable parts

(including stickers) that

could pose a choking hazard.

• Castor wheels are useful

for moving the chair around.

They should have brakes

that lock in position on

at least two of them

(the front or back

set). If the chair

doesn’t

have

castors,

check that it’s

light enough to

move easily

without them.

These centres (listed on your

state’s motoring organisation

website) have experts that can

inspect, adjust or fully install

your restraint for a small fee.

By using a restraint that’s

correctly installed, you can

significantly reduce the risk

to your child in an accident.

What’s the law?• Under six months

Children must be seated

in a rearward-facing child

restraint or infant capsule.

• Six months to four years old Children are to use a

rear- or forward-facing car

restraint with an inbuilt

harness. Children under

four years old can’t travel

in the front seat of a vehicle

with two or more rows.

• If your child is too tall or

heavy for their age group’s

restraint you can move

them to the next restraint.

A high chair

should be sturdy, include a five-point

harness and have no sharp edges or exposed edges

Baby carriers & slings nappies

Back to cover14 15

Disposable nappies

dominate the market, with

more than 95% of parents using

them some or all of the time.

But the current incarnation of

modern cloth nappies has

made inroads over the past

decade or so, with almost one

in five respondents to a 2011

CHOICE survey using them

at least some of the time.

• A soft padded carrier

(pouch) worn on your front

allows your baby to snuggle

up in the face-in position.

Many carriers also allow

you to position your baby

face out, which allows more

freedom of movement and

visibility for an older baby.

• A sling, also worn across

your front, also offers the

“peapod” position, where

a young baby is carried

wrapped around or across

your body.

Assuming your baby uses about

6500 nappies from birth to toilet

training (based on six nappies a

day for three years), Huggies,

the most popular brand of

disposable nappy in our survey,

will cost around $3000 when

bought in bulk packages.

A cheaper disposable, such as

Aldi’s Mamia, the second-most

popular brand in our survey, will

cost you around $1900 all up.

By contrast, cloth nappies cost

about $30 each on average, plus

boosters and liners. You’ll need

about 20-24 to get started, which

will allow you to wash every two

days and still have a set to use

on laundry day. However, the

number required will vary

depending on washing and drying

habits, climate, season etc. That’s

an upfront cost of around $600-

$700 (excluding laundering costs).

THE COST OF CHANgE• Backpack carriers usually

have rigid frames and are

suitable for older babies.

Look for:

• Broad, well-padded shoulder

straps that cross at the back

and help distribute the

weight. The straps shouldn’t

pull too much on your neck

or shoulders.

• A broad hip or waist strap

will take some weight off

your shoulders and limit

sideways movement of the

carrier, adding stability.

• Straps that are fully and

easily adjustable with

one hand.

• A carrier that supports a

baby sufficiently without

restricting head, leg and

arm movement.

• Adequate head support is

particularly important for

younger babies, who have

little or no head and neck

control yet.

There are risks with some baby slings, as

CHOICE has highlighted

Baby monitors Change tables

Back to cover16 17

These days baby monitors

do more than just let you know

when your child is making

noise. Some models have

extras such as temperature

monitors, night lights, tunes

and features where you can

talk to your baby while you’re

not in the room.

Some monitors can also tell

you if your child is moving,

and more and more come with

video capabilities so you can

watch your baby too.

Babies need their nappies

changed several times a day,

and a good change table

can make the job much easier.

A stable, level surface at the

right height – plus shelves or

drawers for storing nappies,

wipes and other odds and ends

– saves time and effort (and

your back).

Three main types of change

table are available:

Also look for:

• Sound range, quality

and sensitivity. The baby

monitor should maintain

a good, acceptable sound

even when you’re at the

other end of the house.

• Sound indicator lights on

the carer unit are useful if

you want to see the noise

your baby makes rather than

hear it. This is particularly

useful if you’re talking on

the phone, have visitors or

if you’re in a noisy room.

The sound indicators will

light up to alert you to the

baby’s call.

• Mains and battery operation

are handy if you want to use

it in areas without mains

power – if you’re working

in the garden, for example.

• Baby room temperature

monitor displays the

temperature in your

baby’s bedroom.

• Wooden tables with two or

three tiers or drawers

• Portable folding tables with a

metal frame and fabric body

• Tables that include a

baby bath under the

change surface

Changing baby safely• Ensure collapsible frames

are locked securely in place

before use.

• Keep everything needed to

change your baby close at

hand but out of their reach.

• Ensure the change table is

free from small objects that

can cause choking.

• Keep one hand on your baby

at all times while changing

them. Never leave your baby

unattended on a change

table, even just to grab

something across the room

– always take them with you.

• Be aware of older siblings

climbing on change tables.

Safety gates & barriers other safety equipment

Back to cover18 19

gate or barrier?Gates are convenient when

you need frequent access to

the closed-off area – it’s much

easier to open a gate than

step over a fixed barrier.

However, being more basic, a

barrier is often cheaper.

Look for:

• Latch Gate latches should

be easily operated by an

adult, but not by a toddler.

Gates should require two

separate actions to open,

such as unlocking and lifting.

The gate should close easily

and positively – that is, it

should be clear whether the

latch has engaged properly,

with an audible or visible

indicator – and be operable

with one hand, so you can get

through easily while carrying

your child or a basket of

washing, for example.

• Adjustable width Most

gates or barriers will fit a

Recently, we looked at a range of home safety devices,

including cupboard and drawer

locks, door handle covers, oven

door latches, toilet seat locks

and more. All are potentially

useful, but you probably won’t

need most of them. A few key

devices, together with some

common sense and good safety

habits, will ensure your home

is safe enough.

Safety switch You should protect

each power circuit with one, and

ideally lighting circuits too.

Smoke alarms Mains-powered

alarms are preferable, and

photoelectric alarms are the best

type. Also consider other fire

safety equipment such as a fire

blanket and extinguisher, and

have an escape plan.

First aid kit Antiseptic cream

and insect bite treatment are

particularly important for kids. In

the event of a serious accident, an

ambulance may be only a phone

call away, but having basic first

aid skills on hand can be vital.

Window & door glass Any

glass within easy reach should be

safety glass, which shatters into

small chunks rather than jagged

pieces if broken. Panes should be

securely fitted to resist coming

loose on impact.

THE bASICS

range of door widths, but

some are more adjustable

than others.

• Gaps between bars should

be between 50mm-95mm

to avoid head entrapment.

Any accessible smaller

gaps should be between

12mm-30mm (to avoid limb

entrapment) or less than

5mm (to avoid trapping

little fingers).

A few key

devices, together with some common

sense and good safety habits, will ensure your home is safe

enough

Playpens What you don’t need

Back to cover20 21

• Don’t place objects against or

inside the playpen that may help

them climb over the side

• Ensure all latches are securely

locked before use

• Keep it away from hazards, such

as heaters, power points and

dangling cords from curtains

• Avoid soft bedding and use only

one floor pad

• Baby bath cradles and seats

• Toy boxes (or remove the lid if

you do)

• Baby (“jolly”) jumpers

• Any toy, part of toy or object

small enough to fit into a

film canister

• Projectile toys

PLAY SAFE

NO NEED FOr THESE EITHEr

It comes as quite a shock

to parents when their once

immobile baby becomes a

fearless little explorer. So to

avoid that dreaded “where are

they?” moment during times

when you can’t keep a constant

watch, a playpen can bring

some peace of mind.

But as there is no current

mandatory or voluntary

Australian standard for

playpens, unlike high chairs,

some models currently on the

market may pose potential

safety risks to your child (such

Of all the don’t-needs listed

on page 9, two in particular are

common traps for new parents.

baby walkersEssentially a frame on wheels,

a baby walker is a piece of

play equipment designed to

support a baby who isn’t yet

able to walk. Because babies

in walkers are much more

mobile they can readily get

themselves into dangerous

situations, which can lead

to serious injury. In 2004,

at the Children’s Hospital

Emergency Department

in Sydney, 12% of injuries

involving nursery furniture

were due to baby walkers.

Child-specific productsThere’s a booming market in

products tailored to babies

and toddlers. For almost

every adult product there’s

invariably a “baby” or “child”

as sharp edges or protrusions

to bump themselves on and

the possibility of trapping

body parts between gaps). In

the absence of a standard, our

testers have developed a set of

safety requirements and test

procedures based on various

local and overseas standards

for children’s products such

as baby furniture, as well as

the Product Safety Framework,

and use those to assess

the playpens.

version sitting next to it on

the shelf, often with a hefty

price attached.

But CHOICE found many are simply unnecessary.

In particular, we recommend

you steer clear of baby-

and toddler-targeted:

• Moisturisers

and body wash

• Shampoos

• Sunscreens

• Milk

• Juice

• Snacks

Child care

Back to cover22 23

“In my area, often the only way

to get a spot is to try enrolling

your child in a brand new centre

before it opens. I actually took

to scanning the development

applications in my area

whenever I saw a building going

up that looked like it could be a

new centre just to secure a

spot.” – CHOICE member Kate

“I spent months waiting for a

place to come up in one of three

local childcare centres. In the

end I summoned up as much

negative energy as I could,

walked into a centre and burst

into tears. Within two days I

was called back for an available

spot. You have to pull out

whatever artillery you have

(sick parents, redundant

partner and above all tears)

in order to be considered.”

– CHOICE member Sara

WIN THE WAITINg gAMEFinding good, affordable child care can be a tough

gig. In a recent survey,

CHOICE asked parents about

accessibility, affordability and

quality of child care. What we

found is worrying:

• Fewer than half of parents

with children in long day

care (LDC) were very

satisfied with the

quality of care;

• Only one in five were very

satisfied with the ease of

securing a place;

• And a paltry one in 10 with

the cost.

How much?!The average LDC cost for

our survey respondents was

$78.50 per day, with wide

variations depending on the

type of child care used and

where they lived. The average

daily cost is about $84 for

city parents, and about $62

we found, with an average

daily cost of $57 compared

with $80 on average for LDC.

• Nannies Costs can be

prohibitive for many

parents, and prices can

vary widely depending on

hours of care and whether

you share the nanny with

another family. In our

survey, the price paid

ranged from $88 to

$250 per day.

for those in a regional or

country area.

As well as LDC and care

given by relatives or friends,

there are two other main

childcare options:

• Family daycare Carers

look after children in their

own homes and usually

operate within schemes

managed by community or

government organisations.

FDC is the cheapest option

health & other insuranceOne of the first things you

should do when planning

a family is review your health insurance. If you

can, do this before you fall

pregnant, as waiting times of

up to 12 months apply until

you would be covered for a

full-term birth.

• If you don’t have private

hospital insurance, check our report to choose

your cover.

• If you already have private

hospital insurance:

- Talk to your fund and

find out your level of

obstetrics cover. Can

you go to a private

hospital? Can you go

to a public hospital

as a private patient?

- Review your excess

and co-payments and

consider upgrading

to a policy without

an excess.

Back to cover24 25

of illness. Premiums vary

depending on your risk

factors, the waiting

period

until the benefit kicks in,

and the duration of cover,

which ranges from two years

up to age 65. Premiums for

income protection insurance

are tax-deductible.

• Trauma insurance

If you’re not employed

because you’re looking after

children, you usually can’t

take out income protection

insurance. Consider trauma

insurance instead, which

pays a lump sum in case you

suffer one of a number of

conditions, such as cancer,

stroke or heart disease.

• Total and permanent disability insurance pays

a lump sum if you become

permanently disabled

because of an accident or

an illness such as a stroke.

You can be insured against

either not being able to do

your specific type of work

or any work generally.

- Check with your fund

how soon you need to

upgrade to family cover

(couple and family

cover is usually the same

price so it won’t cost you

more) to make sure that

your baby is covered.

Other insurance• Life insurance covers

your dependants if

you die. The sum

insured should be

10 times your salary.

However, you may

need more depending

on your individual

circumstances –

consider how much

you owe, how many

children you have

and their age.

• Income protection insurance pays up to

75% of your salary if

you can’t work because

Beyond the first months

Back to cover26 27

CHOICE isn’t just there to

help you make the safest,

best value for money essential

purchases for your baby. We

will continue to be relevant

as they grow, offering advice

and information for all

ages and stages.

They can bank on youWe recently checked out

children’s bank accounts

and discovered that although

most offer reasonable interest

especially those marketed to

children, contain alarming

levels of sugar – so much so

that they really belong in the

confectionery aisle.

In 2010 CHOICE analysed the nutritional value of 166 ready-to-eat breakfast cereals found in major

supermarkets. While the

colourful packaging and cute

characters of those marketed

to kids capture their attention,

don’t be fooled by the claims

crammed onto every panel

of the box. Many cereals

claim to be a source of

vitamins and minerals,

but, if your child eats

well, they won’t need

the extra vitamins

or minerals

rates, they can also come

with very confusing terms

and conditions. However,

the tricky rules give kids

an opportunity to turn the

system to their advantage

– a skill that can have

lifelong benefits.

Savvy kids can divide their

savings between a higher-

interest savings account

requiring a regular monthly

deposit and the discipline

not to withdraw for

longer-term goals and a

transaction account for

cash on demand.

Healthy start to the day?Many ready-to-eat

breakfast cereals,

that a sugary, salty, low-

fibre cereal offers. Scan the

nutrition information panel to

make sure the cereal is a good

source of fibre and low in fat,

sugar and sodium as well.

On their bike• The most important

consideration when buying a kid’s bike is safety

and size and fit. Don’t be

tempted to buy a large bike

they can grow into – it may

be hard for them to control

and could lead to a crash.

• While all new bikes should

meet the Australian

standard for bike safety,

it’s useful to know what

to check for, especially if

you’re buying second-hand.

• Buying a better-quality

bike can mean getting a

safer bike, and it will also

hold its value better if you

want to sell it later on.

To find out more or to subscribe visit choice.com.au or call 1800 069 552

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