All4Mum FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions ....

Q What is the best pram to buy??

A This has to be the most common question I am asked. I’m afraid there is no one answer. The most important factors to take into consideration are these, your physical size, your lifestyle and the size of your car boot (if the pram is to go into the boot of a car). The purchase of the pram is usually the most time consuming, frustrating and stress-full purchase of your entire nursery. If you are after some more general hints, check out my booklet, but if it’s a specific pram you want to know the name of, consider contacting me for an obligation free discussion on how an All4Mum consultant can help you. When you consider that most people will purchase three or four prams, investing in a consultant and getting it right the first time is an extremely cost and time efficient way of shopping.

A This is a question very similar to the previous one, with a very similar answer. In my opinion, there is no one best and safest child restraint. Your choice of child restraint should be determined primarily by the type of car you are planning to fit the restraint into. Again you could check out my booklet or contact me for a quote on a consultation. Whichever restraint you choose to use, it is vital that it is installed correctly. Research conducted in May 2004 at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, concluded that the fitting of a restraint into a vehicle was very important in reducing injury in a side impact collision.

A Second hand products certainly have a place in the baby goods industry, whether you choose to use them because of financial constraints or sentimental reasons or you simply don’t know how to say ‘no’ to well meaning family and friends. Whether they are safe to use or not will depend on the individual product you are considering using. I would certainly be hesitant to recommend the use of second hand child restraints and cots without you knowing the full history of the product. These two products fall under mandatory Safety Standards which are constantly being updated as our ideas of what is safe changes.
I would certainly never recommend the use of second hand walkers manufactured prior to 2002 as that design has been proven to be far too dangerous. For up to date information on safety features to look for when choosing and using nursery products, you could attend one of our Safety Workshops. For most other things however, it will simply be a matter of checking the product over thoroughly before you agree to use it. Check that it’s clean and that buckles and clips work properly. Some things, no matter how cheap, are just not worth risking the safety of your baby.

A I don’t recommend the use of any specific products to protect against SIDS, as don’t SIDS and Kids. What I do recommend though, is that you contact SIDS and Kids if you are worried about SIDS and your baby.

A Yes, I usually visit Sydney and Melbourne twice a year each for conferences etc. I am certainly happy to see clients during these visits.

A You’ve probably never heard of a nursery consultant before because it is a new industry. A few years ago, no-one had heard of a wedding consultant but now they are considered an essential resource to a busy bride-to-be. The principle is basically the same. You can run around town, month after month, visiting as many baby shops as you physically can, all the while hoping that you are making the correct choices, or you can hire one of our consultants and save yourself time and money, secure in the knowledge that you will have received the most up to date and pertinent information to your specific needs.

A Nothing is ever free. You know when you shop in Kmart or Big W that the products may be cheaper, but it’s basically self-serve. There is no-one there to help you. So some people shop in baby shops because there is a level of help and advice there, even though they know the products may be a little bit more expensive. The help and advice you receive comes from a sales assistant, whose primary job is to sell you those products. When you hire a consultant you aren’t buying products. You are buying empowerment - personal, one on one advice which you can take with you to the baby shop of your choice to make informed decisions about the products you wish to purchase. Our consultants attend conferences and trade fairs. Our consultants research the internet and the shops. We are interested in advising you on which products will best suit you, your lifestyle and your wallet.

A Goods can be purchased off the web site using cheque, money order or credit card. Contact us, we’re happy to call you back to discuss the correct use of all of our products.