Expiration on Carseats

FarmingBride

I am using my carseats, bases, and stroller for my second child that I used for my first child.

I have been reading in my baby books they say 5 years is the max on how long you should use and keep your carseats.  I am hitting that max window on the infant carseat and 3 bases that I have.  Is that what people typically do after they hit that max of 5 years?  Go out and buy all new items then?  I just realized I was reaching the end of the 5 yrs and we are going to be flying with the children in 3 weeks.  Does airports look at your expiration dates on your seats?  The 5 year max ended on the carseat on Dec 12, 2013....so I am 1/2 yr over on that max.  My 3 bases I have the 5 yr max ranges from Dec. 12, 2013 to March 30, 2014....so I am just out of the 5 year window here and wondering what I should be doing.  I am trying to decide if I need to be hurrying up and doing something since I just realized this.  My luck would be I would show up at the airport with a slightly out of date car seat and they wouldn't let us fly with the seat.  Someone had once told me that if you get into a car accident and after they investigate and look into it and if the kids were in their carseats and the seat was expired your auto insurance would not cover.  Is there any truth to that?  Just wondering about those questions.  I'm assuming I should bite the bullet and buy a new infant car seat and bases as my 2nd child is on the tiny side and will need to remain in an infant car seat for a while yet...not like she will be getting out of it next month or anything.  She is 1 year old at 17lbs.  I currently have a Snugride 32 that she is in that is obviously 5 years old this last Dec.  I was planning on going to the Snugride 35 to finish her out in the infant seat. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

nanabanana06

You could always get her a convertible car seat. You know, they do RF. It's suggested to rear face until 2+ anyways. The angle on a rear facing convertible would be much more comfortable for a toddler anyways.

JENandJEH

If the seat and bases are expired, you need to stop using them (dispose of them by cutting the straps and if you need to take some aggression out, take a sledgehammer to the bases) and get a new seat.  Like PP mentioned, I would get a convertible seat that can rear face and then forward face.  The manufacturer set those expiration dates based on their research and how long they believe that the plastic will hold up and perform as it is supposed to.  There is no way of knowing if the seat will perform correctly after the expiration date...sure, it would probably be ok but it's one of those things you really don't want to take a chance on.  Here is a link from Car Seats for the Littles about expired seats: https://csftl.org/expired-seats/

If you want another infant seat, I would go with something cheap since you'll need a convertible most likely before she's ready to turn forward facing.  The Comfy Carry Elite is about $60 and is a good infant seat that fits kids well.  A convertible like the Chicco Nextfit or Graco MySize/Headwise/Size4Me would work well for you or even an Evenflo Sureride would make a good, lightweight travel seat.  

ASmallWonder

There is no 5 year max across the board.  All brands have their own expiration limits for their seats and they range from 5-10 years.  What seats do you have and what are the manufacture dates on each piece?

FarmingBride

I did some digging into my brand of seats and I never thought to look at their companies website.  I have looked at all the model item# tags/stickers and have evaluated when they were manufactured (carseat and and 3 bases).  Then I just went by what my Baby 411 book said.....or was it Baby Bargains book.  One of them said to not use a seat after it was 5 years old.  So that was what I was going off of.  After looking at Graco website, like previous poster said, they're are good until 6 years.  I have until Dec. 2014 with my existing carseat....not Dec. 2013.  That makes me feel so much better.  I felt so bad that I had her in an expired carseat....guess I didn't and we are good until Dec of this year...then we'll have to do something.  Never had to deal with expired carseats and were to go to find all that information out as this is only our second child and everything was obviously new with the first.  Thank you everyone for your comments and thoughts!  I definitely want my children to be the safest possible! 

jnnfrrose6

@FarmingBride‌ Since it turns out you've got until the end of the year, keep an eye out for buy back programs. Babies R Us does them occasionally where you can bring in your old car seat and get a discount on a new one. At that point I agree with PP about getting a convertible that can be RF or FF and last for awhile on your remaining needs.

dufferoo

I don't think anything magical happens at exactly 5 years that will turn the carseats into death machines, but it's probably not a bad idea to replace seats at some point around that time. I would not run out and buy new seats just for your flight if they are only 5.5 years old. The airlines will not check. They don't even care whether your kid is in a carseat or not!

ASmallWonder

@ClaryPax just to clarify - states do not have any say in expiration dates.  No ones claims seats are death traps on the expiration date but they are tested with certain criteria and we have to trust that the company has decided, with good reason, that the material can't be counted on after that date.  It's like eating expired food - you just don't do it.  Also, most states have a proper use clause that means you have to use your restraint per the manufacturer's instructions.  I know it doesn't apply to the OP's issue about the plane (or at all since she found out they're not expired lol) but that means if you were to use an expired seat in a car, beyond risking your child's safety, you are actually breaking the law.

FarmingBride

jnnfrrose6 Thank you very much for the information.  I had no idea that there was such a thing as a Buy Back Program!  Great information.  I really appreciate it.  I appreciate everyone's input on the legality of expired car seats.  I also ask cuz my daycare provider had a very old car seat around that she was wanting to put my older son in for running errands with him.  I was not really for that and went ahead and bought a new one for her to put my son in.  It was quite old, just questioned it myself and didn't feel safe with my son in it.  I have never flown with small children before and didn't know if since I bought a seat on the plane for both my children if they held them and their seats to higher standards vs just a "lap-child" since they have to be in a carseat.  I just hated to get to the airport and then find out that they inspect seat and it was just out of date and we have to turn around or find a new seat quick before flight...just didn't want that stress!  But sounds like they won't inspect it, and even better...I have figured out my carseat is not expired!