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guidewww.consumer.org.nz

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO SETTING UP

FOR A NEW BABY

abon board

packed full of practical buying & safety tips

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My children are the most precious things in the world to me and keeping them safe is my number one priority. That’s why Consumer was a life-saver when I started my family.

When I was pregnant for the first time I would pore over baby lists, pick the brains of friends that already had kids, and endlessly discuss which stroller/cot/baby monitor to buy. We probably spent more time deciding on our stroller than we did deciding on our house!

These many buying decisions are made more difficult by the overwhelming amount of information available. Most of it’s from baby-product retailers – so it isn’t independent and they always try and upsell you to the latest baby must-have.

Consumer’s independent testing of baby products makes the job easier. Consumer never accepts free goods for testing and doesn’t accept commercial donations or sponsorship. Importantly, safety is its number one focus – testing often finds kids’ products that don’t meet safety standards or are just plain dangerous. There’s no way for a new parent to know this without Consumer’s important testing.

Baby on Board is packed with buying advice, safety tips and information about all the baby products Consumer tests. And find out which appliances make my life easier while I’m juggling cooking, cleaning and changing nappies!

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welcome to the amazing world of parenthood!

Belinda Castles, Consumer writer and mother to Charlie (5) and Sophia (3).

setting up at home

Baby on Board: a new parent's guide

5 change tables

6 baby monitors

7 safety gates

8 highchairs

out & about11 child car seats

14 strollers

17 portable cots

little helpers19 hand-held blenders

20 rice cookers

21 slow cookers

22 hand-held vacuum cleaners

23 espresso machines

BABY ON BOARD: A NEW PARENT'S GUIDE

24 buying second-hand

25 life insurance

With a newborn you may be changing more than 10 nappies a day. Although it’s not a must-have (you can use the floor or a bed), a makes the job easier – it keeps things tidy and organised with storage for nappies, wipes and a change of clothes. A change table at the right height will also be better for your back than using a bed.

There are three main types of change table: wooden tables with shelves or drawers, portable folding tables with a metal frame and fabric body and tables that include a baby bath under the change surface.

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Setting up your baby’s room is one of the fun parts of being pregnant – but you don’t want to take out a second mortgage to do it. Of course, you want to make sure you’re buying products that are safe and easy to use. That’s where we come in. We’ve done a lot of the legwork for you by comparing products and giving heaps of tips on what to look for when

buying nursery products. The most serious risks from children’s furniture are falls, strangulation if clothing is caught or their head is trapped, and choking on small parts that may come loose. Not to mention getting fingers or limbs trapped in small gaps and cuts from sharp edges. We assess all these things when we’re checking the safety of baby products.

Up to standard?Wherever possible we test to mandatory standards. And when the standard is only voluntary we’ll test to it anyway. But sometimes there’s no standard at all, such as with change tables. So we came up with a test of our own, based on how they're used.

change tables

Our main safety concern is whether a baby could roll or slide off the table – a change table should have raised sides at least 100mm high. We also check that there aren’t any sharp edges, or potential traps for fingers and limbs.

safety tips:Z Try to keep one hand on your baby at all times. Never leave your baby unattended on a change table – even just to grab something across the room.

Z Watch out when other children (especially toddlers) are around – you don’t want them trying to climb on to the table.

Z Make sure the change table is free from small objects that your baby could choke on.

Z Check from time to time that screws and fastenings are securely tightened. They may loosen with use.


SAFETYGATES

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more online To find out which change tables are “worth considering” and which ones not to buy, visit

buying tip: The height of the change

surface should suit your height, so you won’t have to bend or reach too far when changing

nappies. Check the height in the shop – pretend you’re

changing a baby on it.

CHANGETABLES

BABYMONITORS

HIGHCHAIRS

setting upat home

HOW WE TEST

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A can give you peace of mind. They’re also useful if you’re outside with other children and you want to know if your baby has woken up.

Baby monitors are one-way intercom systems that transmit using radio waves. They have a

transmitter (baby unit) that’s placed near the baby and a receiver (parent unit) that you keep nearby. Some simply transmit the noises your baby makes but others have bells and whistles, such as video monitoring, a room temperature monitor or a movement sensor.

We assess each monitor’s performance on sound range (how well it transmits through indoor walls), sensitivity and sound quality, and the range, sensitivity and picture quality of video monitors (if they have them). We also check for interference from a microwave or digital cordless phone and whether the monitor causes interference in a TV or digital cordless phone.

safety tip:A baby monitor

doesn’t substitute for normal care and supervision. Silence might be bliss but it

can also be an alert to check your child.

You can’t always have eyes at the back of your head so a

or barrier is an easy way to keep your toddler out of dangerous areas like the kitchen or bathroom – and off the stairs.

A barrier can’t be opened – you’ll need to step over them every time you want to get past. Gates are more convenient and safer, particularly if you’re carrying a child. However, if you have older children you need to think about whether you can rely on them to always close the gate.

Our safety tests have found there are some models to stay away from. Some had gaps between the vertical bars that could trap your child’s head or limbs; knobs that could snag a child’s clothing and cause strangulation; or holes that could trap a child’s finger.

We look for a range of potential hazards – gaps that might trap a child’s finger, legs, arm or head; sharp edges or points; footholds that help a child climb over the gate; and detachable small parts that could cause a choking hazard. We also test the strength of the gate and its attachment to the doorway.

more online Which safety gates passed all our safety tests? Visit

more online We tested the performance and ease of use of 15 baby monitors. To find out which models will give you the best peace of mind visit

BABY ON BOARD: A NEW PARENT'S GUIDE BABY ON BOARD: A NEW PARENT'S GUIDE

baby monitors safety gates

HOW WE TEST HOW WE TEST

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Some would receive top marks for their stylish good looks, but safety is more important than style. The most common form of injury involving highchairs is when a child falls after trying to stand up or climb out. Other serious injuries include having their fingers, toes or other small limbs pinched or crushed. For these reasons a highchair should be sturdy, with a stable base, include a five-point harness, and have no sharp edges or exposed gaps and traps for little fingers.

brakes If the chair has wheels there should be brakes on at least the rear wheels.

Along with safety, we look at how easy the highchairs are to assemble, fold and unfold and, importantly, how easy they are to clean. We mess them up – much like a small child would – with a mix of Weet-Bix and milk, spaghetti and tomato sauce and baby food.

What to look for when buying second-hand:

baseA wide base to stop the chair tipping.

safety harnessA five-point safety harness (shoulder straps as well as waist straps and a crotch strap) to stop your child climbing out.

edges or gaps No sharp edges, or open tubes or gaps where fingers could get caught.

trayA tray that can be secured – so your child can't remove it.

seat backThere should be no splits in the chair's seat or back - your child could pick out or choke on pieces of foam padding.

more online For a checklist on what to look for when you’re buying a highchair visit


highchairs

HOW WE TEST

safety tip:

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You won’t be able to take your new addition home from the hospital unless you have a suitable to put them in. There’s plenty of information to take on board. What type of seat do you need? Does your car have the features to fit a child car seat? How do you fit the seat and secure your child properly?

All children under 7 must be in an approved child car seat when they’re travelling in a car or van. The law also says you should correctly secure your child in an approved child car seat if one is available from their 7th until their 8th birthday.

Getting out and about works wonders for the sanity levels – it’s amazing what a brisk walk around the block can do to help a crying

baby fall asleep, not to mention the benefits it has for the parent!

Child car seats sold in New Zealand must meet one of three standards. Each standard tests to a different set of minimum requirements, but some significantly exceed the minimum requirements of these standards and provide better protection for your child.

AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND STANDARD AS/NZS1754

EUROPEAN STANDARD ECE R44.04The number in the circle varies depending on the European country where the seat's manufactured.

US STANDARD FMVSS213Seats that meet this standard carry the New Zealand 'S" mark.

up tostandard?

What does the law say?

STROLLERS

PORTABLECOTS

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CHILD CAR

SEATSP11

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child car seats

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When choosing a car seat, don’t use the child’s age as a guide. What matters more are weight, height and stage of development. A child is safest in a suitable-sized car seat until it reaches the upper weight or height limit for that seat. Don’t be tempted to move up into the next size until absolutely necessary.

babies: From birth until they’re about 2, babies need to lie facing the rear and at a 45-degree angle. This provides the best protection for a fragile spine and neck in a crash. A capsule is small, convenient and comes with a carrying handle (great when your baby is asleep in the car and you need to move them). Capsules suit children from birth to about 10-13kg. Some clip on to stroller wheels or come with a detachable base that remains secured in the car.A convertible rear/forward-facing seat

Child Restraint Technicians

Plunket Car Seat Scheme

SafeKids New Zealand

safety tips: Never use a backless

booster seat. It can rotate in a side-impact crash and it offers no protection to the child’s head or torso.

Both Plunket and the American Academy of Paediatrics recommend children should be in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible – at least until they’ve outgrown their seat and preferably until two years of age (about 13kg).

You can mount a mirror next to the rear-view mirror and on the capsule so you can see your child without

turning around.

with integral harness is another option. It suits children from birth to 18kg and can be placed rear-facing for a baby or forward-facing for a toddler so you get more use out of it. But they can be more inconvenient with a new baby – you can’t put the seat in a shopping trolley like you can with a capsule.

toddlers: A forward-facing seat is for when the child has outgrown the rear-facing seat. It suits children from 9-18kg. A convertible forward-facing/booster seat is another option for toddlers. You convert it by removing the integral harness and using the seat with an adult safety belt.

older children: A booster seat suits children from 15-36kg (up to about 11 years). It raises the child so that the car’s diagonal safety belt fits properly across their shoulder.

more online We’ve selected the best child car seats from three international testing programmes (in Australia, Europe and the US). To check out Consumer’s recommendations visit

buying tips:

Always try the seat in the car before you buy. Not all seats fit all vehicles so if your family has two cars try the seat in both. Retailers may have staff members who are child-restraint technicians – they’ve had training and can advise you on your choice of seat and show you how to install it properly.

Any seat needs to keep pace with your child’s growth – this means you’ll need more than one seat over time.

If you don’t want to buy new seats you can hire them from Plunket, hire companies or a retailer. This is especially a good idea for capsules that you may only use for 6 months to a year.

Don’t buy second-hand. A second-hand seat may have been bought overseas and may not comply with safety standards, it may have been in an accident, the instructions may be missing, or it may simply be too old.

more useful info

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child car seatstypes of restraint

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buying tips:

Talk to friends and take their stroller for a test drive. Ask them which accessories are useful or a waste of money.

Try out the stroller in the store before you buy, preferably with a passenger on board. If more than one adult will be pushing the stroller, height-adjustable handles are handy.

Size and convenience may be an issue. Check that the stroller will fit in your car boot – some three-wheelers take up lots of space.

Three or four wheels?Three-wheelers tend to be wider, longer and heavier than four-wheelers. They’re usually easier to push around, thanks to larger wheels and inflatable tyres. Four-wheelers are more compact and are a better option if you use public transport or are often getting your stroller in and out of your boot.

And then there were two ...

more online For more information on what you need to consider before buying a stroller and test results on 34 single and 9 double strollers visit

In New Zealand, strollers

don’t have to comply with

any safety standard (although

there is a voluntary standard).

We test their safety by looking

for gaps where a child’s head

or limbs could be trapped, and

for sharp edges and points.

We also check their stability,

the safety harness, the locking

mechanisms that stop the

stroller from folding with the

child in it, and the brakes.

To test durability we put

the strollers on a “rolling road

rig” for 64 hours at a speed

of 5km/h. Plus each stroller

is attached to a machine that

continuously simulates the

action of mounting a kerb.

Importantly, we also put

the strollers through their

paces in real life – over rough

terrain, up and down stairs

and through doorways. We

check how easy it is to adjust

the safety harness, recline

the seats, fold and unfold the

stroller, apply the brakes and

lock the front (swivel) wheels.

If you have twins or two children close in age you may want a double stroller. Side-by-side strollers have the two seats next to each other while tandem strollers have one seat behind the other. Side-by-side strollers are great outdoors but not so good in supermarkets or other shops – they can be difficult to fit through doorways or along supermarket aisles. They’re

also bulky to fold up and transport. Tandem strollers are better for shopping because they’re narrower but their extra length can make them harder to steer and trickier to use on steps. Some parents think tandems aren’t so good for children – the kid in the back gets a raw deal!Second seats can be attached to some single strollers, effectively turning them into a tandem stroller.

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A is possibly one of the baby products you’ll use the most – from birth up to a few years old (if your little angel will stay in it). It can also be one of the most expensive purchases (before you buy all the accessories) so you want to get it right.

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strollers

HOW WE TEST

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A is great when you go on holiday and it also makes a useful spare bed for a visiting toddler.

2-in-1 cots have a bassinet that sits higher in the cot. This can be a plus for babies and when your child can’t sit up. 3-in-1 cots come with a change table as well as a bassinet. 4-in-1 cots offer toys and mobiles to keep your little one entertained.

Portable cots sold here don’t have to comply with the major safety

buying tip:

Portable cots can be tricky to put up and take down – just ask any parent that’s been bewildered by one. Ask for a demonstration in-store – and always keep the instructions just in case.

more online For a list of safety and convenience features plus test results on 11 portable cots visit

Travel cots are lighter and more compact than other portable cots – and they’re (usually) easier to set up. Find out why we don’t recommend any of the travel cots in our latest test at

requirements of the portable cots standard. This is a problem because in our last test of portable cots we found five products that had major safety failures. Some of the problems we found included a folding mechanism that could trap an infant’s neck, breathable fabric not in all areas required by the standard, and a mattress that didn’t fit snugly, posing a suffocation risk.

safety tip:Check the mattress fits snugly. Only use a mattress that's specifically designed for the cot and sold with it.

Cots p We don’t test cots – there’s a mandatory standard (AS/NZS 2172:2003) and all cots sold here must comply with it. When you’re buying a cot, make sure the mattress fits snugly and that there are no gaps that would allow your child to become trapped underneath it.

what to look for when buying second-hand

STANDARD COMPLIANCEIf you're buying online and can't check the stroller, ask if it complies with a standard - the most common is AS/NZS 2088:2000.

constructionThe construction of the stroller is

sturdy and stable.

sharp edges No sharp edges, or open tubes or gaps where fingers could

get caught.

fabric & liningsThe fabric and linings

fit snugly and there are no gaps that

could trap your child.

brakesBrakes that work properly and are easy to use. They

should be out of the reach of your child.

locksTwo separate locks to stop the stroller collapsing.

wheelsThe wheels are secure and not

worn out.

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safety harnessA five-point safety harness (shoulder

straps as well as waist straps and a crotch strap) to stop your child climbing out.


strollers portable cots

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little helpersWelcome to the constant juggling act of having children. There’s always something (or someone) on the go, meals to be made, and cleaning to be done. Here’s some “little

helper” appliances to make life easier.

are a must-have for a young family’s kitchen – especially when your baby is starting solids. They can turn fruit and vegies into puree within seconds. They are also great for whipping up a fruit smoothie or pureeing soup without adding to your pile of dishes – you can simply puree the soup in the pot. Plus they’re easy to clean and take up less room in your cupboard than other blenders.

Some of our tested models do more than just blend or puree – some have attachments to chop, grind and process hard foods, or a whisk for whipping cream and eggs.

We’ve tested 10 hand-held blenders. To find out which models blitz the rest, visit

family favourite:

Add 1 banana, a handful of frozen berries, a dollop of natural yoghurt and a generous splash of milk.

Blend and enjoy.

RICE & SLOWCOOKERS

HAND-HELD

VACS

ESPRESSOMACHINES

more online

HAND-HELDBLENDERS

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hand-held blenders

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To check out what to look for when buying a rice cooker visit

more online

When the witching hour approaches it’s sometimes impossible to get a nutritious meal on the table. Enter the – in the morning you can fill the bowl with ingredients, switch it on and leave it to do its thing. At the end of the day the slow cooker’s done the work and dinner is only moments away. Hungry tummies averted!

Multi-cookers offer the advantage of pressure cooking as well – so if you don’t have time in the morning you can still have a slow-cooked meal at express speed.

Slow cookers aren’t just a winter helper either – they’re good in summer because they won’t heat up your kitchen like an oven does.

Juggling meal-times is tricky enough without worrying about rice sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Most cook perfect rice every time and they’re a no-brainer to use. You just put the correct amount of rice and water or stock into the non-stick bowl, place the bowl on the heating element, close the lid, switch it on ... and

forget about it. When the rice has absorbed most of the liquid the cooker switches to a warming function. You can also keep the rice at a safe temperature – great for families who eat at different times.

Most rice cookers do more than just cook rice. Most can steam vegetables, fish and meat and some can make risotto, desserts and soup.

familyfavouriteslow-cooked

shredded beef chilli

CLICK FOR RECIPE

We’ve tested 13 slow cookers ranging in price from $25 to $280. To find our recommended winter warmers visit

more online


rice cookers slow cookers

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Little people make little messes (often!) so a is useful for tidying

up spills – around the highchair, crumbs on the carpet and sand at the doorway – before they end up in your baby’s mouth! They’re also handy for cleaning the car.

All the models in our test are very easy to use, but how well do they clean? We spilled potting mix and sand on carpet, food on a hard floor; embedded pet hair into carpet; and put sand and gravel in a car boot to find out.

Can’t live without cafe-quality coffee? You might want to splash out on an . You’ll be the house of choice for morning teas, of which there will be many as you swap parenting stories and have some much-needed adult company!

The hard bit is what type of machine? You can be a hands-on home barista with a manual or semi-automatic machine, make life easier with an automatic machine, or go for the convenience of the capsule. Thermoblock or boiler? Froth enhancer or cup warmer?

At the end of the day you want a machine that makes great-tasting coffee and our testing found that not all of them do. Even some of the more expensive machines make poor-tasting coffee.

more online We’ve tested 25 espresso machines to suit every budget. To find out what you need to consider and Consumer’s home-barista tips visit

more online Which hand-held vacuum cleaners are tops at cleaning and have the longest running time? Find out at

Handhelds aren’t designed to replace a conventional

vacuum cleaner. You can check out our test of

vacuum cleaners at


hand-held vacs espresso machines

the piccolo1/3 espresso (double shot)

2/3 steamed milk

the macchiato1/2 espresso (double shot)

Spoonful of milk

Two recipes for a 100ml cup or glass:

tip

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We all love a bargain and it’s tempting to buy second-hand products when you’ve downsized to one income. But you need to choose carefully.

Remember safety first when buying kids’ products. Here’s what

to consider:

Z Always ask for the instructions or check they can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. You need to know how to set up the product and use it safely.

Z Many baby products are covered by standards that aim to prevent injury or reduce the risk. Look for a mark that shows the product complies with a

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British (BS), American (ASTM or CFR) or Australian/New Zealand (AS/NZS) standard.

Z If you’re buying online you can’t inspect a product before you buy it. It may have been bought overseas where complying with a standard isn’t required. Or it may be damaged and not meet the requirements of the standard anymore.

Z On Trade Me there is a list of restricted items, such as child’s car seats and cots – sellers must confirm the product complies with an approved standard.

It’s not just kids’ products that you need to be wary of buying second-hand. In some cases your legal protection is limited if something goes wrong.

more online For advice on private sales, buying from a dealer or buying at auction visit:

buyer alertWe strongly advise not buying a second-hand child car seat over the internet. You can't reliably check its age or history and signs of damage or wear may not be visible in a photo

It’s the last thing you want to think about but most people with a family or debt need some life insurance if the unthinkable happens.

At a minimum, should cover your debts, funeral expenses, full repayment of your mortgage (including any early repayment fees) and your family’s immediate living costs. You also need to factor in the amount you need to replace a lost income or pay for a caregiver until your family is no longer dependent on this. Check out Consumer’s life insurance calculator to work out how much life insurance you and your family need.

For this type of life insurance we recommend “term policies”. They pay out the sum insured if you die while the policy is valid. You buy the cover for the period that you need it, which for most people is until their children are independent and their home is mortgage-free.

The good news is you can save hundreds of dollars a year on your life-insurance policies.

Z Shop around and get at least 3 quotes. Premiums can differ by hundreds of dollars. Make sure any pre-existing medical conditions are covered.

Z Check which policy benefits come as standard and which are optional extras. Some term life policies cover mortgage repayment, funeral expenses, trauma or redundancy – but you can often buy these “extras” separately if you need them.

Z If there’s anything you’re unsure about, get your insurance or financial adviser to explain it to you – before you sign.

Z Every few years, review how much cover you need, particularly after major life changes such as having children or children becoming independent.

more online

To find out the best deals on house and contents, car, and travel insurance visit .

Consumer asked 21 companies to provide quotes for two case studies. To find out which companies provided the best deal visit

$tips for buying life insurance

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BABY ON BOARD: A NEW PARENT'S GUIDEBABY ON BOARD: A NEW PARENT'S GUIDE

buying second-hand life insurance

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useful info for new parents

child safety

more info

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