car seat question--the evenflo discovery 5

princess1686

Hi everyone,

I was gifted with an evenflo discovery 5 carseat yesterday. My hubby is thrilled that we got a "free carseat", but I'm afraid to use it because I don't really know if it's safe. It's previously owned, it's an older model carseat and no longer sold anywhere (as far as I can tell), and it's super difficult to install and adjust. My baby's due date isn't for another month, and I'm trying to figure out if it's even worth it to try to make it work with this seat, or if we should just go buy a new, higher quality car seat (I intend to write a very nice thank you note to the gifter in any event). Thoughts? Have any of you ever used the evenflo discovery 5? Did it work? Did you like it? Was it safe? Thanks so much.

Avion22

Do you know the expiration date?  

I wouldn't use a carseat if I didn't know the history, or couldn't tell if it was expired or not.  Car seats don't have to be expensive. They all meet minimum safety requirements.  The Cosco Scenara (from Wal-Mart) is an inexpensive option that a lot of people use.   

princess1686

I don't know the history (and can't), but I do know the expiration date--12/31/15. Technically, it's good for another year and a half. I just still don't trust it. Gut feeling. Am I being unreasonable?

redhead610

Not unreasonable at all. If you do not know the history, you should not use it. It could have been in a minor accident and not show damage on the outside, but could have tiny cracks in the plastic, which can compromise the safety in an accident.

You can find a fantastic new seat for less than $150. You can save the old seat for the buy back program at BRU (once or twice a year), where you give them the seat and you get a 25% off coupon.

ASmallWonder

Nevermind $150 - if money is an issue you can get the Cosco Comfy Carry Elite for about $80 (infant seat) or a Cosco Scenera (convertible) for $40.  A used seat is never ok unless it's from someone you can trust with your child's life.  You can't know if it was involved in a crash or mistreated in any way including having the harness washed (a big no no and potentially very dangerous).