Car seat expiration

niknak1208

Hi ladies. Hope everyone is well this afternoon.    So our carseat was manufactured in 2008.  I think it says it expires 7 years after the manufacture date. I'm trying to get my husband to just buy a new carseat.. mostly because ours is just old and dirty and I just want a new one.  But he keeps telling me that you can still use the seat as long as it hasn't been in a wreck.  Is that true or do you truly need to toss it once it's reached it's expiration date? I supposed I could get a cover for it that would help but I wanted to make sure we were truly doing the correct thing.  

harmonicbabe26

I don't know what brand you have. We have a Graco and their website says this:

"Car Seat Expiration – Did you know your car seat expires? Graco stamps an expiration date into the bottom of each car seat so you know when it is time to replace it. Expiration dates can range anywhere from six to ten years or more depending on the car seat – so it’s important to check your particular seat. Used or expired car seats can be dangerous, especially if you don’t know the car seat’s history. For more information on how to find the age of your car seat, click here."
I'd say the reason is that materials can become weaker overtime, so even if you were not in a wreck, the plastic parts could be really brittle etc hence not safe.

Check yours and see. I don't think car seats are that pricey so if yours seems yucky and that's your only reason for wanting a new one, just get a new one... Just don't donate/sell the old one if it truly is expired

niknak1208

That's what I thought.  It's a Combi.  It doesn't seem weak or anything and it's not broken. It's just the fabric liner that I think is gross. I mean it's been through two kids and it's been cleaned but still.. two kids for a year in the seat.. it gets gross.  I'd rather just replace it but I wanted to have a valid argument back to my husband because he wants to use it.  The expiration date is not there.. it just says that it expires 7 years from the manufacture date which is like May of 2008.  

Samuelismomma

Nope it expires and if in wreck they will check expiration date! So if child is injured insurance might not pay and/ or how officer feels child endangerment:/ buy a new one! They are really pushing this in my state IN...

JilliansMoma

It's cutting it close I would replace it. To me it's a small price to pay but he would never forgive himself if something bad happened because of an old seat.

Sometimes Babies r Us does a 25% off coupon for trading in an old one maybe that will help convince him!

GL!

niknak1208

Thank you Ladies!  That's exactly what I thought and that's exactly what I wanted to hear.  I think my hubby is just being cheap because he's a little worried about a third baby that we weren't expecting. But what's a carseat?  $100-$300.. I mean that's a small price to pay for the safety of your child.  I will be getting a new seat whether he likes it or not.  

2ndGeneration

 My theory is-the inside parts of cars get brittle over the years, like dashboards and plastic parts. And seats are in cars exposed to the same extreme heat and cold. So it stands to reason that they can get weak over time.

 I'd just tell him, dh I gonna put aside a bit of money for a while and just buy a new seat.

Bigboneded

But your 7 years is up May 2015, right? When are you due? Can you get by with this one for infant and buy a new upsize?

supersarah77

Ugh, that's right on the edge. I can see both sides of the argument! They have to make a date but it's not a magical day that suddenly the car seat is unsafe. But PP's point of insurance and legal trouble if you got in an accident is a good one. If it were me I'd err on the side of safety. An infant seat is used for about a year so it's like $5/week. Cut out one latte.

KirstenAlecia

Push for a new one! 

My hubby is super frugal too but i know the car seat is one thing he will spend on. 

niknak1208

My EDC is June 5th 2015 and the carseat expiration is May 2015. I think I need to get a new seat.  I did tell him about the possibility of getting a ticket if you're pulled over or insurance companies not paying if you're in a wreck with an expired seat and he did agree with that.