In New Zealand, children are required by law to travel in an age-appropriate car seat from their very first ride.
Sixteen children per year die as passengers in motor vehicle accidents, and on average 23 per month are hospitalised. The risks are considerably higher if a child is unrestrained. Studies show that putting children in car seats can reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death by up to 70%. (source: Safekids New Zealand, 2010).
The right type of car seat for your child depends on their age, their weight and their height. Use a rear-facing seat for as long as possible. It is recommended that infants and toddlers are put in rear-facing car seats until they’re at least two years old. Your child’s head is heavy and even a minor scrape can severely strain a child’s neck if they’re facing forwards.
Never put your child in the front seat when there’s an airbag, even if it’s switched off. Airbags inflate at 300km per hour and can cause serious head and neck injury in children. Children are safest in the back.
All car seats and cars have different specifications, so refer to the instruction manual of your car seat and your car owner’s manual before fitting a car seat. Try before you buy, to make sure the car seat fits your car, and check the expiry date.
Avoid buying second-hand. A second-hand car seat may have been bought overseas and not comply with safety standards, it may have been in an accident, or it may simply be too old.
You can hire a car seat through Plunket’s Car Seat Rental Scheme. Trained staff will be able to advise you on which car seat is best, and fit the car seat for you.
To find out more about hiring a car seat through Plunket, go to http://www.plunket.org.nz and click on ‘rent a car seat’.
For more information, visit Safekids, the national child injury prevention agency at www.safekids.org.nz
The first few weeks of a baby’s life are about getting to know each other.
It’s a time for the whole family to bond. A newborn’s needs are pretty simple: lots of love and cuddles, lots of feeding and lots of sleep. Don’t expect any set routine. It’s a time to go with the flow.