choosing the right baby gear
Contents
1. Hu Wes NO gp i d the right fi k gear E oe why is this brochure important for you to read Why is this brochure important for you to read Every day hundreds of children end up at the doctor s or even the hospital because of an accident in or around the home Obviously all parents to be want to avoid this And we re here to help This brochure helps you choose safe products for your child Take this brochure with you In this brochure we provide practical tips on buying and using each product Take it with you to the shop so that you know what to look for when considering your options And read through it again when you start using the products so that you ll know you re using them safely VeiligheidNL VeiligheidNL has been a safety expert for more than 30 years You can take advantage of our expertise when preparing for the arrival of your baby As your child grows and develops you can also trust VeiligheidNL to provide you with a wealth of information on safe playing sleeping bathing bicycling playing sports and much more After all you want your child to develop in a safe loving and secure environment Have a look at www veiligheid nl kinderen This brochure is part 1 of the Growing Up Safely series The other 4 brochures in this series that you will receive from the Kraamzorg post natal care service or the consultatiebureau health centre are e Sleep Tight 0 2 years e Good2. Start 0 6 months e Playful Exploring 6 12 months e Fun on the Go 1 4 years contents co wa DMD oO A 10 11 12 bassinet cot cot mattress travel cot bedding hot water bottle sling and baby carrier pram car seat 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 bicycling with baby bicycle trailer carrier cycle changing table bouncy seat playpen highchair more information Ak bassinet A bassinet is intended for children up to the age of around 6 months A bassinet is smaller than a cot so that it fits more easily next to your own bed or in the living room Incidentally it is not necessary to use a bassinet you can also have your baby sleep in a cot from day one buying tips The bassinet should be at least 27 5 cm deep e e The bassinet should have a maximum ength of 90 cm The bottom of the bassinet should let air pass through it The bottom should be flat and sturdy usage tips and fit snugly against the sides of the bassinet There should not be any holes cutouts or trim where a small hand or e Make sure that your child cannot reach foot can get trapped the canopy and remove it once your child becomes more active e e Place the bassinet on a flat surface Air should be able to pass through the sides of the bassinet The openings e Do not let other children near the should be no more than 6 5 cm wide bassinet unattended or long e Switch to a child s bed once y
3. a closed jacket Make sure your child is placed in the carrier securely The baby carrier is in the right position if you can kiss your child on his head Do not carry your child in a sling or carrier when cooking in the car on a motorcycle on a bicycle or when playing sports Important Always hold on to your child when bending forward pram pushchair gt pram There are numerous types of prams and pushchairs from which to choose A pram has a flat bottom and is designed for babies aged 0 to 6 9 months A pushchair or buggy is a pram with a seat It is intended for children who can sit up on their own With a combination pram you use the same frame for both the pram and later on the pushchair Determine which type is most convenient for you There are lightweight and heavier prams in the market Will you be travelling often with your baby by car bus or train Choose a lightweight and easily collapsible pram Will you be doing lots of shopping or lots of walking with the pram Choose a heavier model buying tips e Buy a buggy with good and clearly written user instructions Ask the shop assistant to show you how it works e Try it out in the shop fold it push it turn it cross thresholds with it and adjust the handlebar e Buy a pram with a large bassinet so you can use it for a longer period of time e The pram should be stable and not tip over not even when your child is hanging o
4. force to fold it This way only an adult is able to fold the travel cot e There should not be any sharp objects on the travel cot e There should not be any V shaped openings in the cot Your child could get stuck in these e The mattress should not be too soft or too thin Otherwise your child could get under it usage tips e Always check whether the travel cot is folded out completely Check that all fasteners are secure e e Never place an extra mattress in the ravel cot not even if it is designed for use in a travel cot Your child could get rapped between the mattress and the flexible side of the bed Do not use a travel cot as an everyday cot since the mattress is usually too hin and air cannot pass through the bottom Use a regular cot crib at home with a thick mattress gt bedding Naturally your baby also needs bedding There are different options a baby sleeping bag blanket and sheet or a blanket in a duvet cover t is important that your baby is warm enough But if your baby becomes too warm his can be dangerous That s because it increases the chance of cot death SIDS You can tell whether your child has the right temperature by checking whether his eet and neck feel comfortably warm buying tips e Do not buy a comforter for your baby These are much too warm e Buy a sleeping bag instead Then you will not need a blanket and your baby will never run the risk of getting
5. his face under the blanket Make sure the baby sleeping bag fits snugly The holes for the arms and neck should not be too large If your baby is able to get his head or arms inside the sleeping bag he can suffocate e Do not buy a baby sleeping bag with buttons but with a zipper since buttons can come off easily e The zipper should zip from top to bottom This way your baby will not be able to open the zipper Still want to use a blanket You should be able to tuck the blanket and sheet or duvet cover firmly under the mattress So they need to be wide and long enough for this e Do not buy a blanket that is too thick The thicker the blanket the hotter it is e And do not buy any pillows because these are not safe for your child during the first two years usage tips e Check the temperature in the room where your baby sleeps even if it s your own bedroom in the beginning The best temperature is 16 18 C e Always make sure there is enough fresh air e Make up the bed short as shown in the illustration This way your baby will have his feet close to the end of the bed The sheet and or blanket will then reach his shoulders This way your baby will never end up with his head under the sheet and or blanket Is the bedding too large Fold it under the mattress Folding a blanket double usually makes it too warm for a baby gt hot water bottle A hot water bottle or heat pack is used
6. if a newborn is not yet able to regulate his own temperature It can also be used if your child is ill There are different types of products to choose from e Hot water bottles These are filled with hot water and are made of metal or plastic e Heating bag filled with seeds These are heated up in the microwave e Gel pack The gel maintains the heat These are also heated up in the microwave e Electric water bottles These work on electricity buying tips e Make sure the product comes with instructions in English e Are you buying a hot water bottle Pay attention to 3 things e There should not be any seams e The top of the bottle should have a long screw thread that you need to rotate several times to open or close the bottle e The top should have a rubber seal e An electric water bottle should switch off automatically when it reaches the right temperature e Do not buy a hot water bottle or cover shaped like an animal A hot water bottle is not a toy usage tips e e e Only use the heating product to warm up the bed Your child should not sleep with the hot water bottle or heat pack in the cot It is sometimes necessary to use a heating product in the cot right after your baby is born But this should only be done after consulting an expert Do not use a cherry pit heating pad for reasons of fire hazard Place a cover around the hot water bottle or heat pack Make sure the cover
7. mind at all times spokes An advantage to a three wheeled carrier cycle is that it won t tip over easily It also has a larger box than a two wheeled carrier cycle An advantage to a two wheeled carrier cycle is that it is lighter and easier to ride And it handles curves like a regular bike N ROS S o e TAA x Ps r SEF gt changing table A dresser or changing table is used to wash and dress your child and to store cleaning and washing products It is one of the most frequently used pieces of furniture in a baby room and can often be used for years on end buying tips e Buy a changing table with a raised edge on the side and back This will prevent the changing pad from sliding off e The changing table should not have any sharp edges or corners The changing table is sturdy even when the doors or drawers are open The drawers should have a stop This prevents them from falling out accidentally t is nice if you are able to place your eet under the changing table This lets you get as close as possible to your child Can the top be folded down Make sure it cannot fall down by itself usage tips e Never leave your child unattended on the changing table and always keep a hand on your baby in order to respond immediately to any unexpected movements If you need to do something else place your child in his cot e Use a changing pad with raised edges e Organise every
8. with a flat hand and outstretched arm If it s firm enough you will only be able to press it in slightly e Never buy a mattress with a plastic cover as this can cause your child to suffocate Also a plastic cover is warm and this material does not let fresh clean air pass through it e Do not use a bead filled mattress Your child s head can get buried in it If your child rolls onto his tummy he can suffocate gt travel cot A travel cot is also referred to as a portable crib It can be folded up making it convenient for taking on holiday or when your child is spending the night away from home buying tips e Your child should not be able to climb or fall out of the cot The sides should therefore be at least 55 cm high Measure from the top of the mattress e The fabric on the sides of the travel cot should have holes so that air can pass through These holes should be no larger than 7 mm You can test whether the holes are too large by sticking a regular pencil through them If the pencil is just able to pass through the holes are not too big and your child will not be able to get his fingers stuck in them The fabric should be tightly adhered to the frame If the fabric is too loose both your child and the cot can tip over e e This means that the cot cannot accidentally fold up It is safe if you need The bottom of the travel cot should not sag to press two spots or use considerable
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10. Remove the coat first In the event of a collision a bulky coat will compress making the harness very loose If it s cold place a blanket on top of your child after fastening the harnesses If your baby is very small use a special car seat reducer Do not let your child spend longer than 2 hours a day in an infant car seat or bouncy seat It is important that your child does not get cramped up and is able to move ES E ey ma E L mt bicycling with baby Want to take your baby for a bike ride There are several options e In an infant car seat or baby safety seat securely installed in a bicycle trailer or carrier cycle It is advisable to place the car seat in a rear facing position e In an infant car seat attached to the bicycle using a special frame e Can your child sit from a crawling position without any help Then your child can ride in a bicycle seat tips e It is preferable that the saddle of the bike is not too high This lets you easily put your feet on the ground Make sure the brakes are working properly and do not ride too fast e Make sure the car seat or baby safety seat is secured properly Special mounting sets are available for use in a bicycle trailer carrier cycle Always secure your baby in his seat with the harnesses Keep a close eye on your child Make sure he is comfortable and try to avoid wobbling and jolts e Strong wobbling can often be prevented by
11. adding extra weight to the trailer carrier another child groceries or a bag of sand e Don t take very long trips to start with Important Never ride a bicycle with your baby in a sling Your child is not sufficiently protected in the event of a fall or collision buying tips e It should be possible to mount the seat on the handlebar post or steering stem Seats that are mounted on the handlebar itself are not suitable for aluminium handlebars e Make sure that the brake and gear cables do not get tangled The bicycle seat can prevent the handlebar from rotating completely meaning it will not be possible to make a very sharp turn e Test out the seat with your child in it ake sure his feet cannot get caught between the spokes and or little hands or feet do not get stuck while steering usage tips Go on short rides to start with Choose a route that has as few potholes bumps and speed bumps as possible Even though your child isn t pedalling along with you a bike ride is very exhausting for a small child If your child starts crying it s time to take a break or to stop For more buying and usage tips for bicycle seats see www veiligheid nl fietszitje gt bicycle trailer A bicycle trailer is a two wheeled cart that is pulled along by a bicycle One or two children can sit in a bicycle trailer buying tips e Buy a bicycle trailer with a sturdy plastic bottom e Buy a bicycle tra
12. afety standard applies the seat must be appropriate for your child s weight Choose the seat that lets your child travel in a rear facing position for as long as possible This is the safest position e Check to make sure the seat fits in your car An i Size seat requires an i Size ready seat in the car and an ISOFIX seat requires ISOFIX attachment points e Age is often used as the standard when buying a seat but keep in mind that children of the same age can have different weights and heights e Bring your car when buying a car seat and check to make sure the seat can be installed correctly in the front and back seat of the car Have the shop assistant show you how to install it e It is preferable not to buy a used car seat The car in which the seat was used may have been involved in an accident making the car seat no longer safe ake sure the car seat is fastened securely Check the user manual to make sure the seat is installed correctly ot sure Ask an expert for advice such as from the shop where you purchased the car seat f possible always install the car seat on the back seat of the car eed to use the front seat Always make sure the air bag is switched off when your child is travelling in a rear facing car seat infant car seat or i Size Is your child facing forward Slide the passenger seat as far back as possible Fasten the safety belt tightly Is your child wearing a thick coat
13. age tips e Do not place the cot too close to a heater or radiator Do not place the cot too close to an open window or curtains either Blind and curtain cords are also dangerous e Do not put any pillows or stuffed animals in the cot And do not use a bumper against the walls of the cot e Never strap your child into a bed Your child may roll over and suffocate e Adjust the bottom of the bed to the middle position once your child can roll over e Adjust the bottom of the bed to the lowest position once your child can sit up gt cot mattress Young children spend many hours in their cot each day That is why it is important to buy a high quality safe mattress buying tips The mattress should be firm so that your child cannot lift the mattress himself Your child should not be able to get under the mattress either The mattress should be flat without any umps or dips Do you already have a cot but no mattress Measure the inside of the cot carefully first to make sure the mattress fits snugly in the bed It should be easy to place it in the cot without any gaps between the mattress and cot Otherwise your child could get trapped between the mattress and the side of the bed ee a a et hl he he a hed he ht hh eee e The mattress should not be too soft or your child s face could get buried in it causing your child to suffocate To check whether the mattress is too soft press on it
14. hould be between 4 5 and 6 5 cm With a playpen with netting the holes in the netting should be no larger than 7 mm e Do you have a foldable playpen Check to make sure the playpen cannot accidentally fold with your child in it usage tips e Do not place the playpen close to a heater plant open window or curtains This is dangerous for your child e Do not tie toys to the playpen using string or rope e Is your child able to sit Place the bottom of the playpen in the lowest position e Do not put too many toys in the playpen Your child can stack them to climb out of the playpen e Do you have a playpen with netting Check the netting regularly Is it torn or has it come loose If so stop using the playpen because it is no longer safe gt highchair If your child is able to sit up on his own use a highchair A highchair lets your child sit at a table and eat with the family buying tips e The highchair should be sturdy and stable Push against all sides of the chair The chair should not tip over e The highchair should have a safety harness The belt should at least have a crotch and hip strap and preferably also shoulder straps This well prevent your child from climbing or sliding out of the seat Is there no safety harness in the highchair Buy a separate harness The user manual will provide instructions on how to attach the harness to the highchair Make sure that a folding highchair has ext
15. iler that is highly visible good rear light reflective strips on the side bright colours and a flag e Make sure the bicycle trailer can be attached to the bike in two ways using a coupling and a safety clip e The bicycle trailer spokes should be out of reach of little fingers usage tips e Keep in mind that a bicycle with a bicycle trailer behind it is heavier and wider than a regular bike You will be unable to brake as quickly and will need more room on the road e Take wide turns You are much longer with a bicycle trailer behind you e Before starting off always make sure that the trailer is attached to your bike securely e Always secure your child with the harness belt e Attach a mirror to your handlebars This way you can see both the bicycle trailer and your child while riding carrier cycle A carrier cycle is a two or three wheeled bicycle with a box attached on the front One to four children can sit in the box Bee seule Miata chic nieve eneng room to sit Always strap them in Take a test ride with the carrier cycle without children in it but with extra Buy a carrier cycle that is highly visible weight in the box such as a large sack with a bright colour good lighting and of potatoes or gardening soil reflectors on the sides A carrier cycle is wider longer and Make sure the wheels are protected so heavier than a regular bike Keep this that little fingers can t get stuck in the in
16. is fastened securely Always check to make sure no water is leaking from the hot water bottle Never place an electric hot water bottle in your child s cot if it is still plugged into the socket 10 gt sling and baby carrier You can carry your baby in a sling or baby carrier There are various types from which to choose Some slings need to be tied completely yourself With a Little practice you will discover all kinds of ways you can carry your child in it Other slings are pre shaped and you simply place your child in it With a baby carrier your child is carried in an upright position baby carrier buying tips e e Make sure your child has enough support for his back and head A young child cannot keep his head upright for very long It is advisable not to buy a sling or baby carrier in which your baby is carried horizontally Because of the shape of the carrier it covers part of your baby s face and your child lies with his back curved making it more difficult to breathe The sling or baby carrier should be made of soft fabric There should not be any sharp corners or edges Try on the different models in the shop preferably with your baby in it so that you can feel whether the sling or baby carrier is comfortable for you and your child usage tips Always fasten the sling or baby carrier securely Make sure your child can breathe freely at all times Never carry your child under
17. our child The bassinet bedding should fit tightly can roll over on his own and securely Important your child can suffocate if soft padded bedding or pillows are in the bassinet e The bassinet should not have any sharp edges or points Is the bassinet made of wicker or rattan Examine it closely The bottom of the bassinet should be sturdy The bassinet should not move if an older child pulls on it e gt cot You child can sleep in a cot from birth Prefer to have your baby sleep in a bassinet first No problem But children grow quickly and become more and more active so it is advisable to switch to a cot once your baby is between 3 and 6 months old buying tips e The cot should be between 90 and 140 cm long e The sides of the cot should allow air to pass through Many cots have bars for this purpose The distance between the bars should be between 4 5 and 6 5 cm The bars should run vertically to the bottom of the cot e You should be able to raise or lower the bottom of the cot Is the cot in the lowest position Then the distance between the top of the mattress and the top of the cot should be 55 cm or more Is the cot in the highest position Then this distance should be 20 cm or more e The cot should not have any sharp edges There should be no splinters or protruding screws e There should be no buttons or other objects on the top of the cot Your child can get stuck on these us
18. ra safety features It should not be able to fold accidentally usage tips e Always secure your child with the harness belt This well prevent your child from standing in the seat or climbing out of it e Is the highchair still a little too big for your child Use a seat reducer This will provide your child with enough support e Never leave your child alone in the highchair not even when secured in the harness belt e Make sure your child cannot push his feet against the table This could cause both your child and the highchair to fall over backwards 21 22 more information For all info on Growing Up Safely visit www veiligheid nl both now and in the future as your child grows and develops You can also download the Growing Up Safely app for a quick check as to whether your home is ready for you to bring home your baby This brochure is part 1 of the Growing Up Safely series Afterwards you will receive the following 4 brochures from the Kraamzorg post natal care service or consultatiebureau health centre sleep safely 0 6 months _ safe start veiligheid nl Sleep Tight Good Start 0 2 years 0 6 months safe exploring 6 12 months 3 veiligheid nl veiligheid nl Playful Exploring Fun on the Go 6 12 months 1 4 years VeiligheidNL This publication was prepared with the greatest possible care VeiligheidNL assumes no liability for any inaccuracies Amsterdam February 2
19. table No problem But only place the seat on a high surface if you are right next to it e Always secure your child with the harness belt This well prevent your child from falling out of the seat e Do not let your child spend more than 2 hours a day in the bouncy seat or a car seat It is important that your child gets enough movement e Want to use the adjustment button Never do this when your child is in the bouncy seat gt playpen There are two different types of playpens one with bars and one with netting A box with bars is better for your child A box with bars offers 3 advantages e Your child can lean against the bars e Your child can use the bars to learn to stand e Your child has a good overview of the room from the playpen The advantage of a box with netting is that it is lightweight making it easy to take with you A disadvantage is that your child cannot pull himself up using the netting Also your child cannot see the room easily because the holes in the netting need to be small for safety reasons maximum of 7 mm as with a travel cot buying tips e The playpen should be sturdy and not have any sharp edges e Does the playpen have an adjustable bottom Check to make sure it is still stable and sturdy with the bottom in the highest position e Check whether the gap between the bottom and side is no larger than 0 5 cm e With a playpen with bars the distance between the bars s
20. thing practically Keep products you use often within easy reach Lay out everything you will need beforehand e Do not place the changing table too close to a heater or radiator Blind and curtain cords are also dangerous 5 point harness belt gt bouncy seat A bouncy seat is your child s first chair Your child can sit lie play and look around while in a bouncy seat Your child can be placed in a bouncy seat after only a few weeks from birth You can use a bouncy seat until your child is 6 to 9 months old or weighs 9 kilos When your child is in his bouncy seat you have your hands free yet are still close to your child buying tips The bouncy seat should be sturdy and stable The frame of the bouncy seat should be wider than the seat itself e e The seat should have an anti skid base This keeps the seat stable on slippery floors The bouncy seat should not slide around if your child is very active in it e The bouncy seat should have a restraint belt The bouncy seat should provide your child with enough support This means your child can lean back against the seat with his entire body e The seat should have a properly functioning adjustment button that lets you adjust the back Test out the button in the shop The back should not move unless you are using the adjustment button usage tips e Place the bouncy seat on the ground Want to feed your child at the
21. ver the edge or another child is pulling on the pram e The brake should lock two or more wheels You should be able to easily apply the brakes on the pram e Make sure the pushchair seat can recline preferably including lie flat When your child gets tired he can nap in comfort e Buy a pushchair with a 5 point harness usage tips e Apply the brakes before placing your child in the buggy e Always secure the harness immediately after placing your child in the pushchair e Never leave your child unattended in the buggy Stay close by e Do not hang a heavy bag from the handlebar Use a basket under the buggy instead e Prevent little fingers from getting trapped Do not fold or unfold the pushchair if your child is standing right next to it gt car seat Travelling by car with your child According to the law this may only be done using an approved car seat There are different types available rear facing infant car seats child car seats and booster seats Want to know which seat is most suitable for your child Follow the selection guide at www veiligheid nl autostoeltjes buying tips e Always buy an approved car seat An approved car seat bears a label of approval This label is found on the back of the seat The sticker is usually orange and states ECE R44 or i Size e With the new i Size car seats the seat must be appropriate for your child s height e With car seats to which the ECE s
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