Hi there mommas,
Just wondering when you should get a new infant car seat. My first son is 5 and we used a new one with him and then used it also with his little brother. I am due soon and not sure if I can still use the same car seat or is it time for a new one. The car seat was never in an accident and is in good condition. I'm just not sure what the regulations are. Thanks!
my automotive engineer husband.. says cars last longer than 6 years and so do kid car seats.. you do not throw a car away after 6 years why would you throw a seat away.
I would take a look at the seat if it looks ok.. no broken parts.. straps still in good shape I would use it..
Look at the date on the seat to see when it expires. The date of manufacture may be different than the date of purchase. Most manufacturers have information on their websites about how long you can use the seat. Further, in the last 5 years there may have been modifications to the seat so that it is safer or carries to a higher weight limit. Most seats expire in 6 years, so if the date of manufacture doesn't put the seat at older than that, it's probably fine.
There are some that believe it's a big scam, but I do not. If a budget is a concern, there are a ton of seats out there in different price ranges to replace yours with. You can also skip the bucket seat entirely as most convertible RF/FF seats can safely hold a 5lb baby with a newborn insert.
You can also contact your local car seat inspection station for advice: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm
ETA: I watched Amanda's video and also found this related one that I thought was really informative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC5ifQ6ho1U&NR=1&f...
My understanding of the expiration date, is that it gets very hot in cars, and the plastic will begin to break down eventually. The expiration date is assuming that the carseat has been in the super-heated temperatures of the car, and is dated six years from the time of manufacture. Ever leave the kids' toys outside, and they get brittle at the end of the summer? Yeah. Car seats are made of sturdier plastic, but the car gets hotter, too. Thus, the expiration date.
Personally, I think it can be fudged a bit, but I certainly wouldn't ignore it. If, for instance, the seat spent about a year in the garage (NOT the attic - it gets just as hot there, as it does in the car!), not being used, then you can probably use it for 7 years, instead of 6.
However, check this link, for video of a ten-year-old Britax carseat. The straps broke free in the safety test. (spoiler alert: it's a TEST DUMMY)
There is NO government conspiracy on car seats and car seat safety is NOT made up by CEO's who just want to sell more seats to pay for their lavish lifestyles.
Kids safety is no joke. Plastics break down over time, so do the fibers in the straps .It's a fact, not some elaborate ruse.
Plastics may last a looooong time in landfills, but that doesn't mean they are in their original condition and safe to use. Even plastic water bottles (disposables such as Dasani or Aquafina) aren't safe to use for long term refilling.
K., you may be okay to use your infant seat, but to be sure, check out the expiration date and if it's past, buy a new one. When you are done with it, you can bless someone else with a nearly new seat. :)
Most infant carseats have a 5-year life. They may look new and be accident-free, but there are other reasons they expire -- safety standards change, and the testing changes. A newer seat will give you more up-to-date safety. The other reason I was told by a carseat tech is that over time the plastic can weaken without us noticing. Think day after day in the summer heat. That plastic may give out on impact. I'd get a new seat! We had the same problem with our 3rd, he was born 5 years after our first. A friend gave us a wonderful carseat that she only used for 1 year. (But please only take a used careseat from someone you know and trust.)
A note to the moms who think it's a conspiracy . . . take a chance with your own baby but not with mine.
Your seat will have an expiration date or a manufacture date on it. Check the seat and or the manual. I think seats typically expire after six years.
Yes, check the date. It will be one the side or underneath somewhere. If it's still good then I yes, I would still use it!
Get a new one. Heat and cold have an effect on plastic. Treat the new baby to a new seat.
Check the expiration date on the carseat. Most carseats expire after 6 years. I would go ahead and get a new infant carseat for your upcoming arrival. Your other one has gone through two kids already----you don't want to stress it too much. I would do it for peace of mind and safety reasons of course.
With my last baby we had a friend who had just purchased a new seat so we were able to borrow it from her. I do remember throwing away our older carseats thinking this is such a waste they look perfectly fine but they were 7 years old and the recommendation is to get new ones after 5 years. I agree that they might be okay to use longer but if you can afford a newer one or borrow a newer one is it worth the risk of something breaking in a crucial moment.
Legally you are not going to get ticketed if the seat is older but it is a safety recommendation.
