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Hiring Baby car seats in Sydney

Mary said: 18 September 2010 9:07 PM

Our daughter is flying from England in November with her 7 month old son. She requires a baby safety seat for the day she arrives in Sydney, and the same again when she leaves three weeks later. She has family members at each of her other destinations who can have baby seats fitted in their cars when she arrives, but Sydney is the the problem, because it will be for such a short time. Is it possible to hire one for one or two days at a time? She will be using private transport so doesn’t need to hire a taxi. I realise that that car will have to be fitted out to take a baby seat. It will difficult enough travelling with a baby without having to carry her own baby seat, as well.

Donna @ Little Gulliver said: 20 September 2010 2:33 PM

Hello Mary,

That sounds great. I’m surmising you’re based in Australia and no doubt you’re a bit excited about seeing your Grandson (and his mum)!

Since you’ve mentioned private transport, hiring a car + seat is out. But, yes, absolutely you can hire just a seat for a day or 2 at a time. (Of course individual places may have a minimum number of days hire, so you may have to pay for some extra unused days). There are a number of businesses that hire baby equipment. You could also hire other things, like port-a-cots, strollers and the like.

I’ve listed a couple below that rent baby equipment in Sydney;

http://www.hireforbaby.com/

http://www.phdrentals.com.au/hire-baby-products.html

And a couple of Directory’s can be found here;

Kidspot’s Sydney Baby Hire Directory

Bubhub Nursery Eqipment Hire NSW

I’m sorry I can’t personally recommend any in particular, although I have used ‘Hire for Baby’ a couple of times. (It is a franchise business though and I have not used it in the Sydney region).

As your Grandson is around 7 months, the hire company will advise which car seat option will suit him – based on his weight. Baby capsules are most likely out and it will depend on whether he would suit a rear facing car seat or face forward. At his age, rear facing is likely to be the best option. Just check his weight before you make any calls.

Other things to consider when hiring the seat is delivery and installation. Depending on circumstances, they are likely to visit the house with the car and install a day or so before the baby arrives and pick it up the day after he leaves. It will also help if you can tell them the make and model of the car when booking. (I’m not sure why, but I’ve been asked this before)!

Also, with the private car, just make sure it is baby ready. It should already have at least 1 vehicle anchor point (to attach the car seat). Newer cars have these already. Otherwise, you can easily get 1 from a baby store or even a department store. Again, the baby hire organisation you use may be able to help on this.

I absolutely agree that your daughter need not bother about bringing her own seat. Apart from actually having to bother with it, I think they are better off staying in your car – where you know where it’s been. The other thing is legislation. I am uncertain as to whether UK car seats would even be approved for use in Australia and may not be worth the worry.

Here is a couple of recent posts which you may find helpful;

http://www.littlegulliver.com.au/blog/flying-with-babies/

http://www.littlegulliver.com.au/blog/choosing-an-aeroplane-seat/

Let me know if there are other things you’re wondering about that I haven’t mentioned. Also, Little Gulliver’s Baby category is here, in case you need any ideas.

Best of luck with the planning and I hope you get lots of cuddles!

Regards,

Donna

Mr Men take off

Put together your own kit! Choose from a number of road tested boredom busters=>visit our popular Travel Activities category Little Gulliver fun stuff!

Qantas is rolling out new Kids Kits on domestic and international services Qantas kids kits. Children travelling on domestic and trans-Tasman services receive an activity pack from the Mr Men range of books. The new characters Mr Messy and Little Miss Sunshine will be featured (suitable for 3-12 year olds). Children on other international services will receive a Race Around the World pack, comprising a reusable travel pouch with an activity book, a time-zone card, a deck of cards, jigsaw and pen.

-adapted from Kay O’Sullivan, Smart Traveller, The Age, Saturday September 18, 2010

Sounds great? Put together your own kit! Choose from a number of road tested boredom busters=>visit our popular Travel Activities category Little Gulliver Games and Activities

Packing for the Kids

Clothes – packing for late winter

People often ask me about packing. It can be a hard one, as you’re not sure what you’ll be doing and what the weather will be like. Keep it simple and don’t take anything they don’t normally wear at home (chances are you won’t want them wearing it when you’re away). Make sure the clothes are comfortable and that the kids will actually want to wear them (especially older kids).

Because we’re staying with family and will have access to washing I’m taking 3 full sets of clothes per child. This will allow for one set to be washed each night and a spare. This doesn’t include “plane clothes” – because we have such a short flight and will have rel’s waiting at the other end we normally dress up a bit in our “good” clothes and shoes. (I always keep it simple though and always wear the same clothes there and back).

Three “full” sets of clothes includes;

Boys	Girls
singlet	singlet
socs	socs
undies	undies
long sleeve shirt	long sleeve shirt
pants	pants + pinafore dress
jumper/light jacket	jumper / light jacket
casual shoes (1 pair)	casual shoes (1 pair)

Extras – 1 set of pyjamas + dressing gown + slippers, nappies for the baby, extra undies for the 3yo, emergency princess dress up for 3yo girl, footy top for 4yo boy, 1 beanie and hat each.

My kids get reasonably dirty every day. You could possibly take less clothes if you have children of the non-grubby variety, or if you’re happy to wash and use a clothes dryer every night.

I always take as many nappies as I can fit, less bother about shopping while you’re there I say. Alternatively, if you’re staying with family they may be happy for you to let them know a shopping list ahead of time.

By laying out your 3 sets of clothes in little piles, before you pack, you have less chance of forgetting anything. Just make sure you have each set complete before you start packing or you’ll keep wondering if you did actually pack that singlet. You won’t want to unpack your whole suitcase to make sure!

Country NSW here we come…

Those of us who live away from our families will understand that the most time we spend on planes is unfortunately not off to a destination like a tropical island or a theme park. Most of our trips are off to see our loved ones, and though this is exciting, it’s when I’m packing that I wish the bathers could fit in and that I would have a need for them!

Anyway, this trip we’re off to the Hunter Valley. From where we are, based in Melbourne, it’s only a short 1 ½ hours in the air. One difference for me this time is its the first time the three kids and myself are heading off on our own, Dad free. Our kids are now 4, 3 and 1, so things are fairly easy (compared to 12 months ago). But I’m still dreading the possibility of sleepless nights and unsettled souls leading to a tired mum. Oh well, it’s the price to pay for getting away.

One week out, I’m making my list and checking it twice. I’ve bought extra nappies, pre-packaged snacks (normally I’m a ‘I bake it you eat it’ sort of girl). I’ve bought everybody new toothbrushes (so I can pack them early), organised hairdressers, checked ahead for the weather (we won’t need our coats – hooray), have organised car seats for the drive at the other end, cancelled fruit delivery…can’t think of anything else!

As seen in Shop 4 Kids Magazine

If you’re reading through the Spring 2010 issue of ‘Shop 4 Kids’ Magazine (issue 9) you may recognise some of our products! When putting together their ‘Are We There Yet’ collection they came to Little Gulliver to feature some of our top selling items.

Look out for;

Potette Plus (page 192)
Medibuddy (page 191)
Aquadoodle (page 190)
CARES (page 189)
Heinz Disposable Bibs (page 188)

Where are you heading?

At Little Gulliver, we appreciate that our customers are travelling for all sorts of reasons.

lake como villa — Fancy a reception at Lake Como Villa?

Some are catching up with family and friends, others have ailing loved ones abroad, while some are treating themselves and the kids to a much needed break. All are really good reasons to visit Little Gulliver for some help in getting the kids organised and making your life a little easier.

One memorable customer this week is Tamara. We would like to wish her all the best as she heads off to Italy to get married! We hope you and your loved ones have a really memorable time.

All the best for the future,

Donna

Kids Fly Safe with the CARES Harness

The Cares Kids Fly Safe Harness seemed like the perfect solution to my concerns about flying for the first time with my four-year-old son.

This article was written by US parent Bostonmom for Trekaroo.com.

A link can be found here cares review.

The CARES harness (A$99.95 at Little Gulliver) seemed like the perfect solution to my concerns about flying for the first time with my four-year-old son. While my son loves riding in the car and has never complained about sitting in his car seat (thankfully!),this would be the first time he would spend several hours on a plane. In particular, I was nervous about whether he would sit still with just a lap belt restraining him.

Installing the harness was easy, but required an awkward moment of asking the person behind us to move her tray table down while we installed the wrap-around strap. If my son had been seated on the aisle, this may have been an easier installation, but he insisted on sitting by the window. Installing the Cares Harness while kneeling on the middle seat and trying not to hit my head on the overhead bins was tricky. If there were some way for the system to work without having to bother another passenger, that would make it better.

Once that part was done, though, strapping in our son was a breeze. From that point on, the 4-point harness made my son feel like he was in his car seat at home rather than in an airplane. Well, apart from the clouds passing by the window to show we were in the air. My son really does enjoy being in his car seat, so we did not experience any problems with him getting antsy from being restrained by the Cares Harness. It also may have helped that this was his first flight and he knew no other way of flying. I would imagine that children who do not like being strapped in a car seat or who are used to flying with fewer physical restrictions may not appreciate this product in quite the same manner.

For the two-plus hour flight from Orlando to Boston, I was not interrupted by my son complaining about being buckled in, and he was much more contented than other children I witnessed climbing all over the aircraft without any seat belt being used except for takeoff and landing. I was actually very close to offering up the harness to the family aside of us who probably could have gotten much better use out of it than we did!

The belts used to create this harness are very similar to those used for the lap belts, so the system looks like it belongs on the plane. One might almost wonder why the airlines do not make these available to all families flying with younger children. It is a great concept that keeps kids safer than just using a lap belt. We chose not to bring our car seat with us on the vacation and this product allowed us to keep our son safe without the hassle of lugging onboard a car seat. We saw one family with twins carrying their car seats onto the plane, installing them, and then having to carry them out of the plane with them. It looked like way too much for anyone to handle at the airport.

The only problem I encountered with the harness was my husband and his unwillingness to let me use it on the flight down to Florida, as he did not want to let me ask the person behind me if I could move his tray table to install the straps.

For families that travel frequently with young children over age two (or under age two and using an individual seat), this is a great product if you’re willing to bother the person behind you for a moment to install the Cares Harness. The price of $US 69.70 for the CARES harness is a little steep if you were planning to only use it once. With no visible expiration date, it certainly looks like it is made to last for a long time.

Here’s a quick summary:

Pros:

Only FAA certified alternative to a car seat
4-point harness that’s identical to your child’s car seat configuration
Durable material that’s made by the same company who makes airplane safety belts
Light (500 grams / 1 pound) and portable
You can check-in your 50 pound car seat instead of lugging it on board

Cons:

Simple to install, but requires an awkward moment when you ask the passenger behind your child to put their tray table down.
No straps between the legs (the 5th safety point), so the straps have to be very snug or else smaller kids may slide down or wiggle out
Red strap sometimes doesn’t align flush for curved back seats
A big price tag if you don’t fly often

This article was written by US parent Bostonmom for Trekaroo.com.

A link can be found here cares review.

Top Ten Travel Activities

Little Gulliver has launched a new ‘Travel Activities’ category. We have many of the above activities (and more still to come) for a flat rate $5 delivery, posting daily to your door.

What to take with us when travelling is a common question among parents. Having the right things with you can help keep everyone entertained and help pass the time with happy faces!

I try and think small, new and cheap. For babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers in particular, it is easy to excite them with something new and fresh. This is why I like to present them with some new goodies on the plane.

I have included some of my favourite things, for plane travel in particular, in a list below. Just keep your child’s age and interests in mind when reading.

Etch-a-sketch, Doodle pro – some sort of magnetic drawing system. They will have fun drawing, erasing, thinking about how it works and looking at the pen.
Colouring books – choose a new one which may hold some interest for your child. A nice pencil case can also be entertaining (that zip). When it comes to your child, consider whether pencils or crayons would suit. For instance I prefer the twistable pencils for older kids, but younger children may just entertain themselves twisting the lead up and breaking it off (crayons only)!
Aquadoodle – I fell in love with the Aquadoodle at a Toy Fair last year. Its fun for parents! The travel Aquadoodle is such a simple device. The child can pick it up, carry it, it is its own tray and comes with its own pen. Just add water to the pen and you’re set to go. The great thing about this is you don’t have to worry about the plane seat being marked and unlike some markers – faces and hands don’t need cleaning later.
Color Wonder – a great colouring activity where only the book can be drawn on with the special color wonder texta’s. These are another great travel tool. I only bring them out for trips, so they are a bit new an exciting each time. Choose a favourite character.
Sticker books – they are a classic for travelling as they have some activities (the stickering) and often stories and colouring too. We have stickers stuck all over the house though, so consider the child in question when choosing. I’ll include some of the magnetic travel books and games here, but our pieces have tended to get lost or chewed on.
Books – great for long haul, but these can be bulky so choose carefully – try and keep them small and light. This is where something familiar may be comforting, especially before a “nap”. Make sure the topic is especially popular with both you and your child or you may not be that keen to read it over and over. It should also have enough interest that your child may be happy to look at it on their own. Consider board books or lift the flap books for the smaller ones and bright pictures and a fun story for the older kids.
Something with wheels – if it is something they already own and a favourite, be prepared to loose it. The problem about wheels is that they have a tendency to roll under things. (I had a brilliant plan and took some cars to a beach wedding – of course they got buried almost immediately)! I like the ‘Chubbies’ range – colourful and exciting, soft wheels they can’t do too much damage and we have used them as bath toys. Choose something like a plane or bulldozer as the moveable parts can add interest. They also come in a great range of colours.
Don’t discount what you can find around you. We often read the supplied In Flight magazine during take off and landing (while you have to have all your belongings stowed away). My son enjoys any car ads, while my daughter looks at the “neckalaces” and clothes. You can also play “spot this or that” either in cabin or out the window. A plastic pen and paper cup (nothing that can be broken easily or eaten) can make for a impromptu pretend tea party. In one desperate stuck-on-the-tarmic time my daughter and I played “shoes on and off” – more entertaining than you’d think!
Zoobies – if you’re travelling with a comfort toy then it’s hard to look past a zoobie. They are a cute toy to cuddle or role play with, a pillow and have a blanket concealed in them!
A kids magazine – There are some of these on the market which you may find suits your child. Bringing out a Dora, Pets or Cars magazine can be exciting. There are plenty of things to look at, read or colour in.

Put it all in a bag, drawstring bag or a backpack and you have your own Travel Activity Pack – custom made for your child’s interests. You may want to put it away when you reach your destination (to keep it fresh) or save something in your suitcase to add in for the trip home.

Little Gulliver has launched a new ‘Travel Activities’ category called ‘Play’. We have many of the above activities (and more still to come) for a flat rate $5 delivery, posting daily to your door Little Gulliver Play.

Any other activities you love? Share your suggestions!

Child Restraints and Taxis

Considering Taxi travel with kids creates a number of different concerns and questions for us all. This post is a brief outline of some things to look at.

Taxi travel with kids creates a number of different concerns and questions for us all. Below is a brief outline of things which may be worth considering;
Where possible, it is best if you can supply your own car seat when intending to travel in a taxi to ensure that your child is safe. All taxis should have the correct anchor point for fitting the restraint, but it is always advisable to call the taxi company in advance to check.

Taxi companies may be able to provide child restraints if they are given sufficient notice. A surcharge is the norm for the hire of the child seat and you will often have to pay for the taxi to collect the seat from a depot or taxi company’s headquarters. Your journey will be metered from the car seat collection point, to wherever you are picked up and then onto your final destination. Check all charges with your taxi company in advance and ensure that you book your vehicle well in advance (at least an hour).

Older children (up to age 7 years) must use a child restraint if one is available. If there isn’t one available, the child must wear a properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt.

The rules for travelling in taxis with very young children do vary from state to state within Australia. It is advisable to check with taxi companies when booking and to order a child seat in advance. Customer service desks at airports (both within Australia and internationally) should be able to assist you with booking taxis with child seats if you are not able to pre-book a taxi prior to your arrival.

Other options

One idea which may be useful for travel is to take a small booster seat or booster cushion, which sits on the taxi seat. This will lift the child up from the taxi seat and help to lift the seat belt away from the child’s neck. Also look at “seat belt adjuster’s”. I believe this is a better option than nothing at all, as per current taxi regulations. (Of course a high back booster and harness is preferable, when possible).

Consider hiring a car and driver. This can be an easier, though more costly option than a taxi. Here you can easily book ahead and the car seat will be installed with a friendly driver waiting for you at baggage claim on your arrival.

Unless you need more than 2 car seats installed, hiring a car may be a useful option (more on this coming in a separate post).

Interesting reading

Here is a recent newspaper article explaining one Dad’s frustrations Fare Go for Kids in Cabs.

More to come

We are asked regularly about this topic and I have certainly found it to be a big area with many issues and alternatives to consider. I will be posting more on this in the future. Any questions or comments please let me know.

Milk for Toddlers Overseas

I can’t give you any specific feedback on milk in this region, but a milk powder does seem a smart alternative to using fresh milk if you’re concerned. I’m wondering if you’re looking at using bottled water also?

Lynn : July 21st 2010 12:22 PM

Hi, my 2.5 years old son has cow’s milk twice a day. My husband and I don’t trust the fresh milk in Asia and we are thinking about taking full cream milk powder with us. We are going away for 3 weeks, just wondering if milk powder are good for my 2.5 years old son to consume for 3 weeks overseas? If it’s good, can you recommend any brand. Thank you.

Donna @ Little Gulliver said: July 22nd 2010 2:16 PM

Hi Lynn,

3 weeks in Asia with the family sounds lovely!

I can understand your question, as our kids are big milk drinkers too. I can’t give you any specific feedback on milk in this region, but a milk powder does seem a smart alternative to using fresh milk if you’re concerned. I’m wondering if you’re looking at using bottled water also?

Normal powdered milk is generally considered to be low fat (even the full cream), so the fact that your son is over 2 means it is still suitable for him. Just make sure the milk powder is not a skim milk powder as this will not be suitable (until after 5 years of age).

The other alternative is to look at one of the specially prepared toddler milk powders. I can see that something like this (with the extra nutrients offered) may be good during travel. This can help if you’re not able to provide many of his favourite healthy meals and his nutritional needs may be higher than normal. If you do consider a toddler formula, I suggest checking the labelling. They can be quite high in sugar. Also, if it is in a large tin, you may like to carefully measure and decant what you may need (plus a bit extra) into a smaller clean container to save packing space. Just don’t forget the measuring spoon!

Just for the record though, I am generally against the toddler milks altogether (powdered or fresh) for kids with balanced diets. Choice (http://www.choice.com.au – toddler milk) provides 2 cautions which may be worth keeping in mind. Toddler milk (powdered or fresh) can;

a) Contribute to constipation: so, if using toddler powder you may like to introduce it gradually leading up to your travel and gradually stop using it when you get home.

b) Give toddlers a preference for drinking sweet milk rather than normal milk. Unlike infant formula, toddler milk is sweetened and often flavoured as well – just make sure your son brushes his teeth well before bed.

All this being said though, ordinary milk does have natural sugars and should be given only during meals or snack time anyway.

Another thing I have used (but only when travelling) is the formula in sachets. It can be convenient to use, as there is no need for measurements. Perhaps you could make one up in the morning (maybe take a plastic bottle with the water measure marked) if you have a fridge in your accommodation and are able to clean it thoroughly.

Another alternative is UHT milk. You may not want to travel with 1 litre cartons, but it may be handy to take a few of the small size. You could keep a couple in your day bag during transit and perhaps some straws (cut to size). Note, full size straws are handy for toddlers to use with bottled water when travelling too.

The recommended daily intake (RDI) of calcium for your son’s age group is 500mg. Just 1 cup of full fat milk is 295mg of calcium, so I guess you needn’t worry that he will need a lot of milk everyday. You may be OK to cut back (unless he’s missing it) by supplementing his calcium with extra cheese. A 30 g piece of cheddar cheese gives 255 mg (cheese sticks are handy for travelling). And half a cup of baked beans has 40mg of calcium (the small tins of baked beans are handy if he likes them).

I also like the pre prepared squeeze fruit and veg in sachets. Once again, if he’s a good eater than these may not be necessary, but are a handy way to consume fruit if fresh is not available. Like fresh fruit, he can suck on them (so no need for a spoon) and they can be easily disposed of. I always take enough snacks for the duration of the trip in an ice cream type container. When travelling home you can then leave the container there and have more room in your suitcase for souvenirs (or duty free treats)!

I always think that travelling is the best time to make allowances and take it easy. Depending on how you think he will go with food, toddler milk during your travel period may be worth considering. Check a few brands next time you’re at the supermarket and evaluate their nutritional information.

I hope some of these thoughts may suit you and have given you some more ideas. Let me know how you go. I hope you make some great memories together! I’d love to hear from other readers too, on what they did travelling through Asia which may help us.

Regards,

Donna

Disclaimer

This answer provides general information. It is based on my own experiences and research and is not intended to take the place of medical advice. Please seek advice from a qualified health care professional if necessary.