Car Seat Expiration Dates

Maizey06

Anyone have good articles or research they could share about  the justification of car seat expiration dates?

My brother and SIL are due with their first baby in April and my brother feels they are made up by the manufacturers to make more money.  He said he is not going to comply by it because it is stupid.  He is a really smart guy and money is not an issue so I do not understand why he will not follow these guidelines.

CoUnTryBB1

I don't have a link to any article but I do know that it has something to do with the strength of the plastic that they are made from and that wearing out over time.  The straps especially will get worn just from use even if they don't look it.  I look at it like this . . . I spend a decent amount of money to maintain my car, services, tires and things like that spending an extra $100 to $200 so that my LO can be as safe as possible is totally worth it.   My friend used an expired one the entire time with her LO and it burned me up so bad everytime I saw here.   I actually mentioned this to her several times and she wasn't offended just said it was her choice.   I just wouldn't want to save a few bucks on a carseat and then be in an accident and feel guilty after the fact.  

Maizey06

I tried explaining about the plastic and straps worn down but that did not do any good coming from me.  UGH, it is so frustrating since like you said spending $100-$200 to make sure your baby is safe is worth it. It even makes me more upset considering my brother makes a lot of money, he can easily afford a new car seat rather than use the infant seat that was given to them by a family member.

CoUnTryBB1

Yeah, my friend didn't make a ton of money but she was given two free carseats and she used the one that was expired because she said it was lighter . . .. errrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

sdlaura

DH and I had a bit of a debate about it when his coworker offered him her used convertible seat, which was near expiration.  I said no way, and he was fine with that, but he did find some research supporting the fact that car seat expiration dates are really pretty arbitrary.  So unfortunately that wouldn't support your case   What we read said that it's more important to replace seats because of safety advances rather than plastic breaking down. 

jessalynn521

I do know that at least at our hospital you couldn't take a baby home in an expired car seat or a recalled one. They looked up the model number before discharging you and identified the expiration date.

sosoph

Well, I do really think that carseats function perfectly well long past the expiration date and that it's a CYA move on the company's part. It is true that plastics eventually degrade and they can't guarantee that the parts were used as intended, and so on ... I wouldn't have my kids in an expired one but I really doubt it's as bad as it sounds. I've never heard a story about a kid getting hurt in an expired car seat, just about getting hurt without one.

BatDaughter4Eva

The hospital i delivered at wouldn't haveet me take LO home in an expired seat. Personally, I'd rather have a new seat. Ten years ago car seat safety was much different.