The totally off-topic thread

[Cossie]

swimbo (she is an icu nurse) giving first aid to a collapsed volunteer spectator marshal at rally GB. She is the one above the added arrow. Stage delayed by about 1/2 an hour. swimbo thinks it was a seizure of some sort, clenched teeth making it difficult to remove his dentures. I'd been talking to him just before this and he seemed quite ok.
St Johns ambulance (or ambiwlans in Welsh!) came then a motorsport rescue vehicle, which looked like a great piece of kit. We probably will never know the outcome, but we are hoping all is ok. Volunteers are the backbone of motorsport events.

 

[JohnK]

And get reviews of them on Safety Websites as well. One mistake you would never want to own up to is saying "if only I bought the safest rated seat". Being a passenger is one of the most dangerous things in life we can do.

Would Babies'R'Us sell a car seat that was not safe? If they do they should be out of business.

Just thinking out loud but is a $100,000 Porsche safer than my $30,000 solid Ford sedan? I don't think so and we can debate that until the cows come home. Price does not necessarily mean safer? Does it?

Target is selling a rearward facing car seat for $189. This is not safe? Babies'R'Us are selling them from $229, some at $499 and others more expensive. Where do you draw the line?

I looked at prams today that are $1,500+. Wow. Just for a pram? I don't need a designer brand pram. The $200 pram should be just as good?

I guess it all comes down to taste but I would expect a $189 rearward facing car seat to meet all the safety conditions. If it doesn't then someone is not doing their job.

Just my warped thoughts....

 

[Quickstatus]

So does the cheapskate buy an expensive car seat or a cheap one? $229 too cheap?

For what its worth grandparents are paying and they want to spend $500 or more but that's not in the cheapskates nature.

Think there are some old threads on AFF. Need to work out if I need a second car seat suitable for air travel as she'll be going back to Thailand a fair bit.

Beware these baby stuff shops. More expensive does not mean better. So long as car seat has AUst standards sticker and approved you don't need all the accessories.
And they grow out of it -fast

 

[bismarck]

I looked at prams today that are $1,500+. Wow. Just for a pram? I don't need a designer brand pram. The $200 pram should be just as good?

Bargain. Colleagues of mine have spent >$2k on a pram. One upgraded their car to a SUV because they didn't want to have to bend down to put baby in backseat. Crazy stuff.

 

[GarrettM]

Bargain. Colleagues of mine have spent >$2k on a pram. One upgraded their car to a SUV because they didn't want to have to bend down to put baby in backseat. Crazy stuff.

Our prams have been in the $500 to $700 range, which is plenty costly for me. More than that seems silly.

But the bending down thing is a legitimate issue. I have an SUV and getting LittleMissGM into it is not so bad. But the wife has a smaller Hyundai sedan and trying to squeeze myself and bub into that space and get her locked in is murder on the back.

 

[LadyC]

Bargain. Colleagues of mine have spent >$2k on a pram. One upgraded their car to a SUV because they didn't want to have to bend down to put baby in backseat. Crazy stuff.

We bought a great second hand pram off eBay for $100. In good condition and very versatile. Many people buy the high end models and sell them off after a few years. If they have been looked after, then definitely a bargain.

 

[RAM]

Bargain. Colleagues of mine have spent >$2k on a pram. One upgraded their car to a SUV because they didn't want to have to bend down to put baby in backseat. Crazy stuff.

Depends on the car doors (2 door or 4 door) and shape of seat vs door.

Some people I know chose the wrong seat and ended up with back problems.

See how the belts are done up. Some require you to hold 3 different components while the baby/toddler may be twisting away testing your agility.

Can be worthwhile hiring a 'baby' seat for the first 6 months (Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney had such a service).

The one we bought as branded "Century" and had a 3 way use (but does not seem well stocked anymore - too cheap and good quality).

It was also the brand rented by PoW. Good until 12 months. Was a bit like a flower basket.

Could be used as a car seat, taken out and clipped onto nearly every shopping trolley that existed and also could be used as a rocker.

Its support device could be locked into 3 positions - one as a handle to carry, one to firmly support it in the car and the 3rd for locking it on a shopping trolley. And yes it had all the relevant safety ratings. May be able to pick one up second hand rather than new.

Most baby seats have a cover that you take off for washing (in a washing machine). You will soon discover why they come off....

Most common FAIL is how they are installed. Not the seat itself but incorrect attachment to the anchor points.

 

[Pushka]

Those baby capsules - well early model ones, did my back in. And our first son was born before any harnessing was required by law. Unthinkable now.

 

[get me outta here]

Have a good think about a pram / stroller where the baby faces the most adored thing in their little life, their mum and dad. Research shows that babies and small children who can see their parent whilst in the pram are more settled. I just don't understand why strollers all deprive the child of being able to learn from what their parents are doing and saying by sticking them out looking forward.

For all those tiny people know, the parent could have been abducted by aliens back there.

Would Babies'R'Us sell a car seat that was not safe? If they do they should be out of business.

Just thinking out loud but is a $100,000 Porsche safer than my $30,000 solid Ford sedan? I don't think so and we can debate that until the cows come home. Price does not necessarily mean safer? Does it?

Target is selling a rearward facing car seat for $189. This is not safe? Babies'R'Us are selling them from $229, some at $499 and others more expensive. Where do you draw the line?

I looked at prams today that are $1,500+. Wow. Just for a pram? I don't need a designer brand pram. The $200 pram should be just as good?

I guess it all comes down to taste but I would expect a $189 rearward facing car seat to meet all the safety conditions. If it doesn't then someone is not doing their job.

Just my warped thoughts....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just thinking out loud but is a $100,000 Porsche safer than my $30,000 solid Ford sedan? I don't think so and we can debate that until the cows come home.

In many cases price can be - at least initially - an indicator of better safety for cars. Many high-end European cars had advancements like side-curtain airbags as standard well before their Australian or cheaper European counterparts. Sure Aussie cars may now have caught up, but then the Europeans have come up with new stuff. So yeah, pay more and you quite often get more.

 

[JohnK]

Beware these baby stuff shops. More expensive does not mean better. So long as car seat has AUst standards sticker and approved you don't need all the accessories.
And they grow out of it -fast

Daughter is small build so should be ok.

Anyone with any experience on Infasecure Kompressor 4 Elements? Too many brands and not enough reviews.

 

[Quickstatus]

But a baby car seat does not need to be any more than "Approved".

These shop assistants are very good at pulling those heartstrings.
Research your stuff and go into these baby shops and get out - oh check your wallet on your way out!

 

[Steady]

RACT fit baby capsules and seats for free (or a small fee) in Tas - it would be worth considering having yours installed if you haven't already got the anchor point in the vehicles you plan to use it in.

No point having a capsule if it is not installed correctly IMO

 

[JohnK]

Have a good think about a pram / stroller where the baby faces the most adored thing in their little life, their mum and dad. Research shows that babies and small children who can see their parent whilst in the pram are more settled. I just don't understand why strollers all deprive the child of being able to learn from what their parents are doing and saying by sticking them out looking forward.

For all those tiny people know, the parent could have been abducted by aliens back there.

Totally agree. I want to see what is happening to my baby.

In many cases price can be - at least initially - an indicator of better safety for cars. Many high-end European cars had advancements like side-curtain airbags as standard well before their Australian or cheaper European counterparts. Sure Aussie cars may now have caught up, but then the Europeans have come up with new stuff. So yeah, pay more and you quite often get more.

You get more unnecessary bells and whistles. A $30,000 Ford sedan is very safe. I wouldn't spend more to get a safer car. I may spend more to get a faster car. I may spend more to get a nicer looking car.

But I don't need to spend more as I've already got most of the safety I need in the Ford.

 

[JessicaTam]

There simply aren't enough Simpsons reference on this thread for my liking.

I salute you.

Well if I had my way ...

 

[JohnK]

RACT fit baby capsules and seats for free (or a small fee) in Tas - it would be worth considering having yours installed if you haven't already got the anchor point in the vehicles you plan to use it in.

No point having a capsule if it is not installed correctly IMO

Anchor point? See how much I know about baby car seats? Hope this anchor point comes with the baby car seat. Local mechanic?

 

[JohnSydney2000]

Anchor point? See how much I know about baby car seats? Hope this anchor point comes with the baby car seat. Local mechanic?

Hi JohnK,
All modern vehicles should have these as standard. Highly recommend , as mentioned before, having your choice of car seat correctly fitted by NRMA, or whomever does it in SYD. And, btw, heartiest congratulations to your wife and yourself. And, I still have HKG photos to send you - pm me your preferred email addresss.
Happy travels, John.

 

[Quickstatus]

Any car in the last 18 years should have one. Eldest is 18 so that's why

 

[Mal]

Any car in the last 18 years should have one. Eldest is 18 so that's why

Appears to have been mandated for passenger cars from 1995 : https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2012C00358

 

[Pushka]

Appears to have been mandated for passenger cars from 1995 : https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2012C00358

I know my car had one in 1990 but not 1985.