Preparing for the arrival of a bub can be one of the most exciting times of your life! While there is plenty to do before your little one arrives, we've made it a little easier for you and listed the five must-haves for every newborn:
1. A safe car seat
A car seat is one of the first things your bub will use in the real world - crazy! For a newborn, you will be required to purchase a reward facing child restraint, and it will need to comply with the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1754.
Reward facing restraints must have a 5 or 6 point harness, and it should be positioned in your car, so your child is facing the rear (as the name would suggest!). There are three options of reward facing restraints that are appropriate for newborns:
- Capsules: these restraints are suitable for newborns up until the age of 9 to 12 months. They contain an inbuilt harness and are handy because you can keep your bub in the capsule when taking them in and out of the car. However, they are only designed for a reward facing position, so once your bub is ready to move onto a forward-facing restraint, you'll have to upgrade
- Convertible restraints: these restraints are a combination of a rearward and forward-facing restraint. Once your child has outgrown their rear-facing restraint, it can be turned around to be used as a forward-facing restraint. While they're not as convenient for taking newborns in and out of cars, they do last longer
- Extended rear-facing restraints: these restraints are suitable for newborns up until the age of 2-3 years old. Compared to a capsule, they last for a bit longer and can cater for your growing bub. The downside? They take up a lot more room in your car and sometimes don't leave much room for a front passenger or another child restraint.
How do I know when my child is ready to move onto a front-facing restraint? Well, the law says that children over six months can use either a rearward-facing or a front-facing restraint, but it is important that you keep your child rear facing for as long as they fit the size limits of their restraint. To learn more about this, click here.
It's also best to have your seat fitted by a professional, especially if it's your first bub. This way, you'll know that it's properly installed.
2. A nursery
While your bub is likely to spend most of their nights with you in your room - it's vital to have a separate nursery set up with everything your little one could ever need. This includes:
- A change table, nappies and wipes
- A comfortable chair for feeding
- A cot with a firm fitting mattress
- Bottles and breast pumps
- DummiesBaby monitors
- And some cute clothes, of course!
Click here to download a handy checklist which outlines everything you need to purchase before your bub arrives!
3. A safe pram
While design can be at the forefront of most people's minds - as parents, we need to ensure that safety takes precedence. Here is what you need to look for when purchasing a pram:
- Ensure that the pram meets the Australian mandatory standards AS/NZS 2088:2000 - you can find this on the Australian standards label
- Make sure it has a five-point restraint harness that goes around your bub's waist and in between their legs
- Check to see that the pram has at least one or more parking breaks with a red brake lever
- Ensure that the pram has a tether strap that is both short as practical and that it does not form a loop with a perimeter of 360mm or more
- Make sure that the actual pram itself has a sturdy frame, is easy to steer and has a secure and robust footrest
- If your pram has a carry basket, check to see that it doesn't tip or rock the pram when full. If you are going to have a carry basket, the best spot to pop one is in a central location underneath the pram
4. An insurance policy (aka life-saving education!)
It's the moment every parent dreads. Your little one is seriously sick - but you have no idea how to help. When every second counts, it is essential for you to be equipped with baby and child first aid knowledge to protect the little person you love the most. Taking a Tiny Hearts First Aid course is just like taking out an insurance policy for your little one. While you may not ever use the first aid skills you learn, safe is better than sorry. To view more about our courses, click here.
5. Parenting resources
While it's incredible to learn and do as much as you can before bub arrives, sometimes, in the baby bubble, important details can slip your mind - especially during an emergency! This is where technology is terrific.
Thanks to the world wide web and apps, parents can have access to resources at the touch of a button. We recommend downloading about five different apps relating to first aid, pregnancy and parenting, so if you ever have a question, you can refer to them quickly.
Next week, we're launching something that is going to an absolute game-changer for every single parent and caregiver. It will ensure that every parent in Australia gets accessible and affordable access to our vital education. To be the first to find out what we're launching, make sure you click here to register your interest.
