used car seats...

jaysgirljulie

Really, how bad is it to use used car seats? I've found one on cragislist that comes with two bases for $20. It's 1.5 years old, looks new in the pic. This is a great deal and I'm all about deals but I don't want to put my child in any risk because of it. Should I or shouldn't I?

Anna&Matt

Personally I think the carseat is the one thing you should buy new - you don't know if they have been in an accident or anything. But if you do buy used I think you can get them inspected somewhere to make sure they're still structurally safe (maybe fire station or police dept, I forget where exactly).

BabyLove987

Look at the expiration date on the car seat to help you decide.  If it doesn't have one call the manufacturer with the model and serial number and they will tell you the date.

I probably would use a used one from someone I know, but no from someone that I didn't.  You never know if the seat has been in an acident already, which would make it unsafe.

Mere7706

I'm lurking here but I've heard and read that car seats are the one thing not to get used.  You have no idea if anything happened to them prior to you getting them.  Personally, I'd forget the deal and go with certain safety. I completely understand wanting that deal though!

BabyLove987

Anna&Matt:

Personally I think the carseat is the one thing you should buy new - you don't know if they have been in an accident or anything. But if you do buy used I think you can get them inspected somewhere to make sure they're still structurally safe (maybe fire station or police dept, I forget where exactly).

Police departments will check to see if it is installed in the car correctly, but I don't think they actually check the structural integrity of the seat.

TalulaSue

Baby Bargains says Cribs and Carseats shouldn't be used.  I probably wouldn't do it, as the pp said you don't know if it's been in an accident

ABColeslaw

I've toyed with the idea of taking my sister's infant seat, but I wouldn't buy a used seat from someone I didn't know.  I know my sister hasn't been in an accident with it and I know how well they took care of it.  I love bargains too, but this is just one place where the bargain isn't worth it. 

Heather R

Under no circumstances would I use a used carseat.  They say it's 1.5 years old, but do you trust them?  Furthermore, that doesn't count its time since date of manufacture, only since they bought or used it.  And you don't know its accident history-- you're supposed to replace a carseat after an accident- again, do you trust them?  It's the one thing I would spend the big money on. 

Mrs.Hubbard

I wouldn't buy it because you would have no way of knowing if it had been in an accident or damaged in some other way.

naflmj

I think it and a mattress are the only things I would not buy used. I would take one from a friend since I could know it hadn't been in an accident but otherwise there is no way of knowing.

Bianca42

I have a cousin who totalled her car with her infant in it and didn't feel the need to replace the carseat.  I wouldn't trust that a stranger was definitely telling the truth.