August 15th “What a Woman Wants” Seminar, Little Theatre,

Lower Hutt. Tickets will be $25. This is an

entertaining evening presented by Lisa O’Neill, stylist
and speaker.
October Baby gear expo at the Horticultural Hall

Baby Gear Sale

th
Our twice annual Baby Gear Sale is coming up again on the 28 of May.
We need help with:
 Donations of baked goods for the café stall. Contact
Chaucey@paradise.net.nz to offer your goodies and a committee
member will pick them up from you the evening before.
Plunket Lower Hutt Branch  Bookings for tables. Contact rj.kj@xtra.co.nz .
May 2011 Newsletter  Customers to shop on the day!

Together the best start for every child. Plunket Appeal

Ma te mahi ngatahi, e puawai ai a tatou tamariki nd
The Plunket Appeal was postponed this year as a result of the Feb 22
Christchurch earthquake. When we can reschedule we’ll put out a call
Upcoming events again for helpers.

Plunket Education in Schools

th
May 4 Start of 6 week “Your Growing Baby” Pepe course @
th The co-ordinator at Plunket Education in Schools is always on the look-out
Now May 11 Waterloo
for more parent volunteers. Parents and children visit High School classes
May 5
th
“Plunkettes” Music Group starts again for term 2. and answer questions from the students about parenting. The time
Waterloo Rooms. commitment can be as low as a couple of hours, with no further
commitment required.
May 28th Baby gear expo at the Horticultural Hall Contact Kirsten Humphrey at Kirstenandsteve@xtra.co.nz PH: (04) 5267 602
or 0274 518821 to find out more about this easy way to help out future
parents and caregivers.
nd This term has dates set already for Hutt Valley High School and Sacred
June 22 “An Evening with Simon Holst” Little Theatre, Lower
Hutt. Doors open at 7.00pm. An Area-wide Heart College, so please get in touch ASAP to offer your time.
fundraiser for building work in Porirua. Ticket
purchase information will be available soon on the
branch Facebook page.
 Hutt Valley Plunket Car Seat Rental Scheme
Community Health Building, Hutt Hospital.
Telephone 04 566 9004
(Cash or cheque only)
Opening hours
Monday 10am – 1pm
Tuesday afternoons 12 noon – 3pm
Wednesday 10am – 1pm
Thursday nights 5.30 – 7.30pm
Friday 10am – 2pm

New child car seat safety recommendations will

reduce serious injuries
One of the world’s leading authorities on child health and safety, The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has issued new recommendations
on child car seat safety.
The AAP has refined the recommended time infants and toddlers should,
where possible, remain rear-facing from at least 12 months of age to 2
years of age. Sue Campbell, Plunket’s National Child Safety Advisor says
that Plunket supports the recommendation and resources will be updated
accordingly.
“This is a very positive development. The evidence tells us that children
under age two are 75 per cent safer rear facing than forward facing.
“Rear facing is when a child's car seat is placed into the car facing the back
window. If an accident occurs the child's body moves into the back of the
seat shell and the head, neck and spine are supported. During an impact
the rear facing child slides up the back of the seat, and back down. Forces
are reduced around the neck and spine and the force of the impact is
evenly distributed across the car seat and the child,” Sue says.
“Rear-facing until 2 years of age is not a legal requirement, it is a
recommendation based on best practice, which is that all infants and
toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are 2 years old or
have outgrown the restraint.
“The safest place for all car seats is in the back seat, so that they are away
from airbags that are in car dashboards. It’s important that parents and
caregivers remember to buckle children in every time they are riding in the
car, no matter how short the journey. (article from plunket.org.nz)
  Safety
Lower Hutt Plunket Awards  Introducing Solids
 Post Natal Depression
We are awarding a certificate to our first recipient of the Lower Hutt Plunket  and more..
awards. We received the most nominations for “Pop Pop Soda Pop”, as
the best baby gear store in Lower Hutt. Check out their website at Courses are 6 weeks long.
http://www.poppopsodapop.co.nz/ or visit their store at 113 Kings Crescent.
Next course is: Waterloo Plunket Rooms, starting Weds 11th May 10am-
Is there another business or local activity that needs recognition and noon
publicity? Email your nominations to Chaucey@paradise.net.nz with
“plunket nomination” in the subject line. To book phone 460-4660

Maungaraki/Normandale
Maungaraki Music - at the Maungaraki Baptist Church, Dowse Drive,
Plunkettes Toddler Music Sessions
Maungaraki 9.30 - 10.30am during term time. Half hour music session
followed by morning tea. So come along and have a shaking, clapping and
A toddler music and dance session jumping time to great music, old and new. Donation $2/child and $3 family.
Hosted by Waterloo/Naenae Plunket
Maungaraki/Normandale Plunket coffee morning - we will be running a
Waterloo Plunket rooms at Trafalgar casual drop in at the Maungaraki Baptist Church for all new mums with new
Square. babies. This will replace the Plunket in the neighbourhood (PIN) groups. It
9:15 for 9:30 start. Morning tea follows at will be an opportunity to meet others mums who live locally and share the
10am joy/challenges of being a parent. Siblings are welcome. These will start on
th
Every Thursday during term 1 (5 May Feb onwards). Friday March 4th at 10am and run weekly. Look forward to seeing you
No booking needed, Gold Coin donation there. Any queries to plunketmaungaraki@yahoo.co.nz

Pepe Courses
_______________________________________________________
“Your Growing Baby” Family Centre
Parenting 6 weeks to 1 year
Through facilitated discussion this course aims to empower parents to Right here in Lower Hutt, tucked away in Brasell Street, a couple of blocks
understand what is occurring for their infant as well as to build their own away from the Waterloo Plunket rooms is the wonderful Plunket Family
confidence as positive parents. It focuses on parenting from 6 weeks to 1 Centre.
year. Topics include The Family Centre is a great place to visit to get a bit of advice.
 coping with change As a new mum I personally found the nurses to be so helpful and
 Who is there to help reassuring when I was having difficulty with latching my baby on for breast-
 Sleeping feeding and when he was very slow to gain weight.
 Teething They also have a reputation for giving good guidance on baby sleeping
 Positive Parenting issues.
 Parental wellbeing Ring ahead (560-1905) to let them know to expect you.
 Crying Plunket Family Centre, 53 Brasell Street, Fairfield.
New Petone Rooms

The new rooms at Kirks Avenue in Petone were officially opened on a wet
th
April 15 . Check out “Petone Plunket” on Facebook to have a look at the
photos.

Milk Band Bracelet Fundraiser.

STRUGGLING WITH BABY

BRAIN? You need a Milk‐Band
Breastfeeding Bracelet!
Lower Hutt Plunket is selling Milk-
Band Breastfeeding bracelets for only $10 each.

These specially designed silicone bracelets allow you to identify the

correct breast for feeding all on one wrist. Sliders around the side measure
the time or the duration of the last feed.

Unlimited uses – keep track of foetal movements, naptime, medications or

glasses of water you drink each day. This is a practical and affordable
baby present.

To order contact: Kirsten at lowerhuttplunket@hotmail.com

Would your play group like a private tour round the toy library? Contact Jo
Clendon jo@clendon.org .
 Committee contacts
Maungaraki/Normandale subbranch
Vizzy Kids Vests – New fundraiser item for sale. Petone subbranch
Stokes Valley subbranch
Waterloo/Naenae subbranch
Toy Library subbranch
Lower Hutt Branch
plunketmaungaraki@yahoo.co.nz
Kiri – 021 1437802
stokesvalleyplunket@gmail.com
abeille@actrix.co.nz
lhtoylibrary@gmail.com
lowerhuttplunket@hotmail.com

Clinic contacts
Belmont/Kelson 569 6246
Eastbourne 562 8743
Hutt Family Centre 560 1905
Kaiawhina 560 1905
Maungaraki/Normandale 568 5252
Moera 566 2868
Naenae 567 0584
Petone 568 5252
Stokes Valley 563 8784
Taita/Pomare 567 0573
Wainuiomata 564 8556
Waterloo 566 2868
The “VizzyVest” range of high visibility vests come in 6 fun different designs
– Shark, Dinosaur, Superhero, Butterfly, Ballerina, and Flower.
Car Seat Rental Scheme 566 9004

PLUNKETLINE 0800 933 922
Parents and motorists can locate kids in an instant - Perfect for busy parks
& playgrounds, bike riding, walking to playgroup/school, indoor play gyms,
kids concerts & events, rural properties, camping & travelling, skiing, at the
beach or any outdoor activities
This newsletter is compiled by Chaucey Ellis on behalf of Lower Hutt
Plunket Branch for families in the Lower Hutt Area. To be added or
All Vizzy Vests™ are labelled with an identification tag and come with their removed from the mailing list please contact chaucey@paradise.net.nz.
own carry bag
For information on advertising in the newsletter please contact
Light weight , breathable, easy care100% polyester fabric chaucey@paradise.net.nz.

One size fits 18 months to 8 years.

The cost is $29.95 each. Available from your committee or straight from
lowerhuttplunket@hotmail.com