Used Car Seat - King of Prussia,PA

I am with Tripletmom04. Sell them in a yard sale. And, yes, I would buy a used one after I clean it really really good.

I have sold every car seat I've ever had (and that's plenty.) I've gotten anywhere from 10-25 dollars for them, apiece.

Here's the flip side, and it seems odd...I would never buy a used car seat, because "you just don't know." BUT I don't feel guilty about selling them, because I DO know they are clean and accident free, and there are a lot of people who simply can't afford a car seat and will gladly take a used one over a ticket. I have seen people literally bring their two years olds to a garage sale with NO car seat, NO seat belt...and then buy the car seat. Well, THANK GOD. I guess I'd rather see them in a used car seat than standing up in the car.

(Also...expiration dates on car seats are absurd. From one day to the next, the seat does not suddenly become defective.)

There are expiration dates on the seats...look at the bottom.
Cut the straps & put at the curb.
Storage can mean heat and heat compromises plastics.

I took all the padding, straps, etc., off and took ours to the recycling center. Good Will and places like that aren't allowed to take them any more. I know it feels wasteful but better safe than sorry.

Good luck!!

Take it to trade in at the Babies R Us trade-in event, or cut the straps and Freecycle it for someone else to do the same.

They should have an expiration date on them somewhere. If they are expired, just throw them away (that's what we do).

From the Internet (reasons car seats expire):

Technology - Car seats today are being made with more durable material and are being crash-tested at higher levels. Many car seats today have longer expiration dates (for example, some current models have a 10-year life, as opposed to 5-year that some older car seats have) due to advances made in technology.

Wear and Tear - You many not want to think about this, but it’s true. Bases can develop fractures. The belts on the LATCH system can become elastic over time and might not be able to get as tight of a fit as they once were (and remember, we want the tightness because we don’t want the seat to move too much from side to side). See our post for 5 Things to Do to Check Your Infant or Toddler Car Seat, including the inch test.

Safety Standards - Advances in technology lead to updated Safety Standards. Think about this: in 2002, not all car seats yet had the LATCH system; and today car seats are being made with stronger LATCHes all the time, to hold a heavier baby. This is important since it’s now recommended to keep children rear-facing longer. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends: “All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Seat until they are 2 years of age, or until they reach the highest weight and height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer.”

Before you get rid of them, check with the manufacturer to verify the expiration date. It can vary anywhere between 5-8 years.

You have to throw them out once they expire they are no longer good. The plastics break down

After years of being exposed to extreme hot/cold in the car, the plastic degrades. Cut the straps, remove the cover, break the shell if you can. If not, write "Unsafe, do not use" on the plastic shell so that people don't garbage pick. Alternately, there may be a Safe Kids or similar in your area that can take it for destroyal/recycling.

These expiration dates makes a person wonder. I understand about plastics breaking down and all but for such a short amount of time? Makes you wonder if the manufacturer puts the dates of expiration on in order to get you to buy more of their products. With anything, you should always inspect the car seats and straps. Like one woman said, better to have an older car seat than nothing at all because most car seats are going to be just fine. I say, sell it and just let the buyer know all the info on it, just like you would a crib or highchair or anything else. I don't know why manufacturers aren't concerned about highchairs that are made of plastic and many kids use highchairs like a romper room. Just sell the car seats letting the owner know all the info and what manufacturers opinions are, and let them decide. Many can't afford today's expensive but mandatory car seats. This is why many put their kids in boosters long before they should because who wants to spend more money on larger car seats even though larger car seats are far safer than using a booster.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

I have only had one new car seat. Every other one has come from a garage sale. But now that I know more I don't think I would buy them. I think that if you call the number on the label they'll tell you if they are any good.

S.:

There are car seat recycling centers.

I would not purchase a used car seat - technology changes, the weather degrades the plastic...the white line you see in the side of the plastic is degradation.

There is a program out called - Child Safety Seat Recycling Project, organized by SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A and TMC Horizon Inc., they are based out of California - call them and find out where a local place is recycling car seats ###-###-####.

Good luck!

If you do not want to throw them out (straps cut, take off the covers - some like the Britax are worth money, even if the seat is too old), ask your local child seat people if they have need for seats for educational use only.

ETA: If you are getting rid of the seat because it is no longer good for your own child to use, do not sell it. That suggestion is unconscionable in my mind. If the OP won't use them for her own kids, why suggest that she sell them?

http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/119962/why_car_seats_expi...

I would also not personally buy from a yard sale. I passed my unexpired infant seat to my sister for her son because family to family I could stand behind it's safety and would use it myself if I had another child. Relatives bought my sister a travel system from a yard sale. The woman said it was never in an accident. When we looked up the model online, we found that the seat was involved in a recall. So they wasted their money on a seat nobody could use even though the lady claimed nothing was wrong with it. She may not have known. This is also why you should register your seats so you can be contacted in case of a recall.

Ditch them after you get rid of straps etc.