Baby-not-included

01/03/2018

So intresting.

30/10/2017

this is so interesting had to share it

09/10/2017

Correct Information on Baby Positioners.

Baby Products Association’s position regarding sleep positioners

The BPA believes it is important for parents and carers to have a clear understanding of the issues surrounding product safety, the responsibilities of our members in producing safe products as well as those of parents in their correct operation. Our aim is to build that awareness to ensure the safety of children.

Sleep positioners and baby nests are being incorrectly grouped together and are in fact quite different. Typically sleep positioners position a baby in a restrictive way whereas nests provide a non-restrictive sleep surface/area. Whilst there is currently no safety standard specific to sleep positioners or baby nests, these products have evolved over the past 4-5 years and are soft, open fibre filled and made from air permeable materials such as 3D mesh and bamboo. Our members, despite there being no specific requirement, tend to test to BS EN ISO 9237 – Textiles - Determination of the permeability of fabrics to air or BS 4578 Specification and methods of test for hardness of, and for airflow through, infants pillows and to our knowledge, there have been no deaths in the UK or Europe attributed to the use of these products.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a White Paper - Unsafe Sleep Settings: Hazards Associated with the Infant Sleep Environment and Unsafe Practices Used by Caregivers: A CPSC Staff Perspective. CPSC staff is aware of nine deaths in the US associated with inclined positioning devices (six deaths) and flat mat positioning products (three deaths). These deaths occurred between the period of 1st January 1997 and 20th August 2009. One fatality was associated with what seemed to be a positioning wedge equipped with a restraint and intended for an infant with acid reflux. Of the eight remaining deaths it appears that in four of these the infants were placed on their sides, two were placed on their stomachs within the product, and in two the position was not reported. The additional 3 deaths referred to in the latest report are believed to have occurred between August 2009 and December 2010 but no further details regarding the circumstances are known. This is the information being referred to in the latest media reports.

The correct installation of these products as well as air permeability is considered of paramount importance and all reputable manufacturers supply information with the product to this effect. It is important that consumers read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use at all times and failure to follow these instructions cannot be used to infer that the product is unsafe.

The Baby Products Association has a neutral position to the use of sleep positioners and baby nests in the UK. It is our opinion that they can provide a limited protective function and are considered safe when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Ends

24/04/2017

Did you know about safety on stairs gates,

A gate at the top of the stairs is an important safety measure, but how many of you know that you should never use a pressure-fitted gate in this location?

A pressure- fitted gate has a bar across the floor.
A bar across the floor is a trip hazard!

This actually happened. A women was carrying her twins downstairs when she tripped. She managed to keep hold of one baby but the other went tumbling down the stairs - and sustained serious head injuries. For several days he was in intensive care, and it was touch and go as to whether he would survive. To add insult to injury, the police became involved as she was suspected of child abuse! She was forbidden from seeing her sick baby without supervision and was prevented from even touching him! The other twin was taken from her and placed in care. The story does have a happy ending thank goodness, but it could so easily have been otherwise.

Trip hazards are serious things. :-

In many stores, safety products are relegated to some corner at the back, waiting to be found. How many parents know about baby proofing their home. How many parents know the difference between the various types of safety products eta. Keeping your child safe is your concern getting it right can save a lot of heartbreak and tears.

07/03/2017

Confused at new backless booster seat 'ban' or children carseats, you are not alone, please read on.

Ahead of new child booster seat laws introduced on Wednesday 1st March, Freedom of Information data requested by motoring experts Confused.com reveals there were 4,646 incidents of UK drivers not adhering to child seatbelt laws in 2015, with a total of 19,358 offences recorded between 2013 and 2015..

Worryingly, new research reveals two thirds (66%) of parents do not understand the current car booster seat regulations. Furthermore, over half (56%) are unaware of new booster seat regulations coming into force next year, and of those who are aware 87% do not understand the changes.

As the current UK law stands, all children travelling in a vehicle must use the correct car seat for their height, age and weight until they are either 12 years old or 135cm tall – whichever comes first. Children weighing as little as 15kg (2st 4lbs) are permitted to travel in backless booster seats – for reference, on average, a child of this weight is about the age of a three year-old toddler. Under the new rules, backless booster seats - also known as booster cushions - will only be approved for use for children taller than 125cm and weighing more than 22kg (3st 6.5lbs). To make it even more complicated, backless booster seats bought before the law changes can still be used after the regulation change as it will only apply to new products appearing on the market.

The research commissioned by Confused.com into parents’ knowledge and attitudes towards booster seats and seat belts reveals over a third (34%) of parents admit to occasionally not using a booster seat for their child. Excuses from parents include not transferring the booster seat when switching to another car (33%), believing their child did not need one (26%) and believing it was not needed as they were just making a short trip (25%). Even for parents who use a booster seat, the law can be contentious, as debates are raging on social media over what is considered to be safe. Whereas nearly half (46%) believe booster seats with backs are safer, one in six (16%) believe backless booster seats offer the same level of protection. Research also suggested a cynical, 30% of parents believe increased booster regulations are a result of lobbying by profit driven car seat manufacturers.

Confused.com’s motoring editor, Amanda Stretton, says: “The current regulations are understandably hard to understand and the new changes may make it even trickier for parents to keep their children safe. The fact that car seats bought before the law change will still be acceptable to use sends mixed messages. The Government needs to simplify the messaging around backless car seat use so there is no misunderstanding over what is and is not safe.

“Parents must also be aware of the potential cost consequences of having an accident with their child in the car. Nearly half (44%) do not replace their child’s car seat after a crash. However, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS REPLACE A CHILD'S CARSEAT / BOOSTER SEAT AFTER AN ACCIDENT, even if there is no obvious damage, but there may be a hair line fracture which cannot be seen by the naked eye. which may weakened the unit and will therefore be unable to provide the same level of protection should a second collision occur. Regulatory approved car seats can cost in the region of £80 to £350. If parents are caught travelling with their child in the car without the correct carseat / booster for their age, height and weight, they could face a £100 fine.

Tanya Robinson, Child Safety Centre Manager at TRL, added: “There is a large amount of uncertainty among parents and carers about the latest changes to child restraint regulations. Whilst this latest change will affect the types of child restraint available in future, there is not going to be a ban on “boosters”. What it means is that new booster cushions approved and coming to market after the upcoming change to Regulation 44 will only be suitable for children over 22kg and 125cm height. However, TRL recommend, where possible, to use a high back booster seat."

So be aware use the the correct seat for your child age and size.
A correctly fitted seat is always better than a expensive highly recomended seat incorrectly fitted.

Just a note: only about 1/3 of cars on the road can fit an I size unit. Carseats are not universal fitting, so check the car instructions on what carseats can be fitted into your car before buying the seat

16/01/2017

There are a shortage of great nursery lights around. Pasito A Pasito are working to correct this with their range of light shades.
They come with ceiling rose, light bulb, lamp shade, and soft teddy in a wicker basket.
Should look fantastic hanging from the ceiling of your baby's room.

21/12/2016

Happy Christmas 🎄 to you all and a New Year hope it's more joyful than this year. Have a great safe time.

22/11/2016

You have more likely seen the papers and new about baby's left in carseats. The carseat is designed for use in a crash, the carrycot is the best place for a baby to sleep in when being push around, If you need to use the carseat for more than 30 mints for under 1 months old then stop every 30 minutes left them up and give them a hug, you both deserve a hug, for babies over 1 month this can be extended to 1 - 1 1/2 hours max depending on the age of the child.
When you are sitting (and it is the same for a baby in a 0 or 0+ carseat) you are pushing your diaphragm into the space your lungs etc like to expand into. with an adult this leads to tiredness as you are not getting a full amount of oxygen. With a Baby it not only leads to lack of oxygen but also hinders the development of the heart and lungs.
So Hug your baby and let it sleep in a carrycot when you walk around shops etc. Keep the carseat in the car, so it is safe when driving.

Please note - Always tilt the carseat so that the baby's or child's head is on the carseat never on its chest.

22/11/2016

Don't Gamble with your child's Safety
Don’t gamble with your child’s safety
Second-hand can cost lives
Having a new baby can be expensive and whilst new parents can save money by purchasing some second-hand goods or using hand-downs from family and friends, there are some products which we recommend you always purchsase new if possible. Even if you know the history of a product (ie, passed down from an older sibling) safety features and mechanisms can deteriorate with wear-and-tear and could cause serious injury or even death.
www.thebpa.eu
CAR SEATS & CHILD RESTRAINTS
• Damage to the seat may not be visible and could cause the product to fail
in the event of an accident.
• Interior foam may have deteriorated and no longer provide adequate
protection.
• Buckles could be worn and damaged and may fail in the event of an accident,
causing the child to be thrown from the seat.
• Harnesses and stitching may be damaged or have
deteriorated causing them to fail in the event of an
accident.
• Instructions may be missing for
correct fitting.
• The seat may not be suitable
for your vehicle
and may not fit correctly.
• The seat may not comply
conform to the latest safety
standards (either R44.03
or R129 i-Size)
‘Why shouldn’t I buy second-hand?’
PRAMS, PUSHCHAIRS & BUGGIES
• Stiffness when folded could indicate a distorted frame.
• Locking devices may be faulty resulting in equipment folding and injuring
the child. Also, new products have two separate locking devices to stop
equipment accidentally folding.
• Brakes become less effective and may not
meet current safety standards.
• Check that they conform to BS 7409:1996 and/or
BS EN 1888
STAIR GATES & BARRIERS
• It is essential that this fits securely into the opening of your doorway or
staircase. If it doesn’t it will offer your child no protection whatsoever.
• You may not get a copy of the instructions - these are essential for the
correct fitting of the item.
• If a second-hand product does not come with all of its fittings, it is likely
that you will be unable to fit the product correctly in the first place.
• Check that the item conforms to legal safety standard BS EN 1930.
Second-hand baby products sold through local advertising, car boot sales and internet auction sites have been found to be dangerous!
COTS
• Manufacturers ensure that all new products are supplied with the correct
fittings so that they can be assembled correctly. If a second-hand cot has
damaged or mising components, cracked or split wood, it could become
insecure and dangerous.
• New products are made of the finest quality materials, with paint free
from harmful chemicals. If the cot has been repainted, it could contain
lead or other substances that may be harmful to your baby.
• Second-hand cots may have wider spacing between the bars, posing a
real threat of entrapment or strangulation.
• Check that your cot conforms to the legal safety standard - BS EN 716.
MATTRESSES
• For reasons of hygiene, it is always wise to buy a new mattress for each
baby. Recent research suggests that there is a link between Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS or ‘cot death’) and secondhand mattresses. An old
mattress might contain mould, bacteria and dust mites, which could be
linked to SIDS.
• If a second-hand mattress is too small it could result in your child being
suffocated in the gap between the mattress and the cot which should be
no more than 4cm (1.5 inches).
• Check that the mattress conforms to the legal safety standard - BS 1877.
HIGHCHAIRS
• It is vital that a highchair is stable, has a fully functioning harness system and undamaged tray.
• If legs or feet are damaged then the highchair can topple over.
• If there are fittings missing or damage on either the highchair or harness then serious injury can occur.
• New highchairs have additional safety features that minimize the hazards of entrapment or strangulation in the folding mechanism or cross members. These are unlikely to be present in second-hand highchairs.
• Second-hand high chairs and trays are likely to harbour bacteria from previous use. New high chairs are made from the finest non-toxic, easy to clean materials.
• Ensure that your high chair conforms to the legal safety standard BS EN 14988.
At a glance - what to look out for:
INSTRUCTIONS - are they missing? Instruction leaflets contain vital information about the product’s use or maintenance. Without them you could place your child in danger.
SAFETY STANDARDS - The product may not comply with the appropriate British or European Safety Standard. Many second-hand goods will not meet any standard, never mind the latest one!
DAMAGE - Some products wear out surprisingly quickly when used frequently. It’s not easy to see if a part has worn beyond its safe limits or is in imminent danger of failing altogether. You will have no way of knowing if the product has been abused in the past.

The Baby Products Association (BPA) was established in 1945. It was set up with the objectives of promoting the baby and nursery products sector in both the UK and Europe. Today we play an active role in the development of product standards and provide an umbrella of support and specialist services…

22/11/2016

Cosy n Safe - Merlin Group 0+ /1 360 degree carseat
Has won dadnetwork GOLD