Do you trash carseats exactly when they expire?

REOM

Or use it as a general guideline?

One of our Britax seats expires in Nov. I originally thought DD#1 would be ready for a booster by then, and DD#2 would get her Marathon, but now I don't think so. 

So what's less safe...a small 4.5 y/o in a booster or in an expired seat?

ghm

Yes, you do!

What is small exactly? A child is much safer in a seat that's not expired, but depending on size it might be more ideal to get a new harness-booster seat. The technical answer, though, is that she would be far safer in a booster that fits her than in a harness that's expired.

REOM

She's 34lbs now, and needs to be 4 and 40lbs in NJ for a booster. I highly doubt she will be 40lbs by Nov, so really the Booster isn't an option.

REOM

And just like I don't think that 1 is the 'magical' age for milk drinking, I use ground beef past the expiration and soy milk too.

I'm hard pressed to believe that my carseat will be any safer on Oct 31 than it will be on Nov 1.

mom2one

I would...but I am fanatic about my DD's safety (and was with my boys too).

veloelle

I trashed our extra Britax that my parents used. It absolutely killed them as they waste little and are frugal (obviously I buy the seats). And really, I'm on the fence about expirations; a huge part of me thinks it's a huge loadofshit and the carseat manuf lobbied for those rules. A mom at DC still has her oldest in a 3 point w/ the bar that goes up & down, so it's probably 7 - 9 years old. The ONLY reason I got rid of the Britax is that God forbid we were in an accident, I never want my liability questioned. If it was up to DH and my parents, we'd still have it. Considering we have SIX carseats for 3 cars, I get pissy when talking expiration.

ghm

I'd use milk past expiration (if it lasted that long in this house!). But this is a very touchy issue. Would it be fine 1 day past expiration. Yes. A month? Yes. A year? Most likely so. But the fact is that the expiration date is there for a reason. There are some videos that show what happens to a child in an expired carseat--not good. Of course, it isn't 1 day past, but still...

It's just not really worth it IMO. 

Hooray2005

My DH and I go around and around on this topic - he called Britax just to double check on the expiration dates for our Roundabouts (and in fact they did differ a bit on what we originally thought, so it was a good call to make - they didn't expire as early as I thought they did).

That said, If DD is only 34 lbs, she's realistically at least a full year, if not 2-3 years away from meeting that 40lb mark - I'd consider getting something like the Britax Frontier that will last you for years (whether using it with DD#1 or #2, since their expiration dates are 7? years... lord, I can't remember now).

luckyluvr

This might not be the popular opinion, but why don't you use it until January/February when BRU has their trade-in? I'm pretty sure the plastic won't degenerate between Nov.1 and Feb.

Cbidt's girl

What exactly happens to the carseat on its expiration date?

shouldbworkin

luckyluvr:

This might not be the popular opinion, but why don't you use it until January/February when BRU has their trade-in? I'm pretty sure the plastic won't degenerate between Nov.1 and Feb.

 I think they do it in the fall too.  so, I would buy a new one then.  i'm annoyed that one of mine expires in Nov too (even though DS has outgrown it).  You'd think that something that costs $300 and has a 65 lbs weight limit would last a little longer! I'm going to feel physically sick when I put that thing on the curb.

ghm

If you use a $300 carseat for 4 years, that's less than $7/month. Worth it to replace it when they say to.

BTW, when your seat is expired and you're getting rid of it, make sure you cut the straps out and take a sledgehammer to it so no one else uses it. 

SuperCuteBenz

ghm:

If you use a $300 carseat for 4 years, that's less than $7/month. Worth it to replace it when they say to.

BTW, when your seat is expired and you're getting rid of it, make sure you cut the straps out and take a sledgehammer to it so no one else uses it. 

This. I actually saw someone dig a car seat out of the trash at our old place.

We have a place that recycles them here, so I just drop the seats off.

shopgirl78

No.  I gave my 2005 & 2007 infant carseats to Goodwill at the beginning of the year.  

Around here, I am sure there are people who would have to go without because in some areas the poor are really poor.  I think its safer to use an expired carseat (and I don't buy that they "expire" either- I too think its a gimmick) as opposed to nothing or something much, much older (which is very common).  I figure if Goodwill didn't want it, they'd get rid of it appropriately.  I wouldn't use an expired carseat either due to liability but I can afford a new one.  

DS1's Marathon expires in October 2012.  He will be 5, so weather he is 40lbs or not.  He will get a booster then.   

*Lu-Lu*

shopgirl78:

No.  I gave my 2005 & 2007 infant carseats to Goodwill at the beginning of the year.  

Around here, I am sure there are people who would have to go without because in some areas the poor are really poor.  I think its safer to use an expired carseat (and I don't buy that they "expire" either- I too think its a gimmick) as opposed to nothing or something much, much older (which is very common).  I figure if Goodwill didn't want it, they'd get rid of it appropriately.  I wouldn't use an expired carseat either due to liability but I can afford a new one.  

DS1's Marathon expires in October 2012.  He will be 5, so weather he is 40lbs or not.  He will get a booster then.   

*whether 

I'm guessing you mean a 5 pt harness.  I can't imagine putting a child in a seat in which he isn't ready for yet, because his current seat has expired.  

 

shopgirl78

Nope.  He will go to a booster; he is 34/35 lbs now (according to the dentist- his last appt), I think in one year, he will be close enough to 40lbs @ age 5.  This is of course, assuming he is mature enough for one...(Texas doesn't have a law on the weight of a booster--just boostered until age 8 or 4'9). 

(whoops, spelling was never my strong subject).  

SuperCuteBenz

Interesting.

Goodwill will not take car seats at all here. Nor will a few baby consignment shops. I have seen them at consignment sales, but not at any actual stores. Too big of a liability.

I do buy that they expire. It is the the actual dating that I question. Ex: All graco seats expire in December of the 6th year (talking infant/convertible), and Britax Classic seats expire in 6 years but to the month of manufacture. So, why wouldn't my Britax be good til the end of the year as well?

 

Mominator

SuperCuteBenz:

Interesting.

Goodwill will not take car seats at all here. Nor will a few baby consignment shops. I have seen them at consignment sales, but not at any actual stores. Too big of a liability.

I do buy that they expire. It is the the actual dating that I question. Ex: All graco seats expire in December of the 6th year (talking infant/convertible), and Britax Classic seats expire in 6 years but to the month of manufacture. So, why wouldn't my Britax be good til the end of the year as well?

 

I can get on board with this logic, but some of the other responses here make me twitchy. I don't understand how you can not "buy" the idea of carseats expiring. Of course they do. Fact, plastic degrades over time. This is not something that car seat manufacturers made up, it is a scientific fact. Of course it isn't exactly the day after the seat expires, they are making their best guess. Could it last another year? Sure. Another 2 years? Possibly, but why risk it, kwim?

veloelle

Mominator:

SuperCuteBenz:

Interesting.

Goodwill will not take car seats at all here. Nor will a few baby consignment shops. I have seen them at consignment sales, but not at any actual stores. Too big of a liability.

I do buy that they expire. It is the the actual dating that I question. Ex: All graco seats expire in December of the 6th year (talking infant/convertible), and Britax Classic seats expire in 6 years but to the month of manufacture. So, why wouldn't my Britax be good til the end of the year as well?

 

I can get on board with this logic, but some of the other responses here make me twitchy. I don't understand how you can not "buy" the idea of carseats expiring. Of course they do. Fact, plastic degrades over time. This is not something that car seat manufacturers made up, it is a scientific fact. Of course it isn't exactly the day after the seat expires, they are making their best guess. Could it last another year? Sure. Another 2 years? Possibly, but why risk it, kwim?

Honestly,I'm not trying to be snarky, why don't cars expire? My DH drives an '89 Volvo that was built to last. Seriously it is the cockroach of cars, I've tried killing it, trust me. Is he safer driving an '89 Volvo or a brand new bottom basement cheap compact? Nothing else automotive related expires, nothing. No internal parts, no plastic bumpers, no interior pieces. Of course moving parts wear out, but safety-related plastic (i.e. crash resistant bumpers, etc) do not. Why do car seats? Plastic is plastic, and you can make last. Any automotive experts on? I'm fine w/ it if there is a reason besides plastic degrading. I can't get behind them not being able to make a car seat made to last out of plastic that doesn't degrade in 5 years.

ghm

A car isn't made entirely of plastic.

Anyway, I really don't get why people get upset about this. It's just not worth it to risk it IMO.

Mominator

veloelle:

Mominator:

SuperCuteBenz:

Honestly,I'm not trying to be snarky, why don't cars expire? My DH drives an '89 Volvo that was built to last. Seriously it is the cockroach of cars, I've tried killing it, trust me. Is he safer driving an '89 Volvo or a brand new bottom basement cheap compact? Nothing else automotive related expires, nothing. No internal parts, no plastic bumpers, no interior pieces. Of course moving parts wear out, but safety-related plastic (i.e. crash resistant bumpers, etc) do not. Why do car seats? Plastic is plastic, and you can make last. Any automotive experts on? I'm fine w/ it if there is a reason besides plastic degrading. I can't get behind them not being able to make a car seat made to last out of plastic that doesn't degrade in 5 years.

No snark here either, but cars aren't made entirely of plastic, they have a metal frame that if you were in an accident would conceivably absorb some of the shock of the impact. I just feel, that as a parent, I have a responsbility to do everything that I can to keep my children safe, and if that means buying a new carseat after 6 years because the plastic shell of mine could have possibly degraded, then so be it. Honestly, it's a small price to pay imho.

Halo79RN

*Lu-Lu*:

shopgirl78:

No.  I gave my 2005 & 2007 infant carseats to Goodwill at the beginning of the year.  

Around here, I am sure there are people who would have to go without because in some areas the poor are really poor.  I think its safer to use an expired carseat (and I don't buy that they "expire" either- I too think its a gimmick) as opposed to nothing or something much, much older (which is very common).  I figure if Goodwill didn't want it, they'd get rid of it appropriately.  I wouldn't use an expired carseat either due to liability but I can afford a new one.  

DS1's Marathon expires in October 2012.  He will be 5, so weather he is 40lbs or not.  He will get a booster then.   

*whether 

I'm guessing you mean a 5 pt harness.  I can't imagine putting a child in a seat in which he isn't ready for yet, because his current seat has expired.  

 

ummm, how do you know he's not ready for the seat?  some boosters do say for children 35lb+ and if the child is over 35lb and is tall enough and mature enough, the booster will be safe and the child will be "ready."  

 

Halo79RN

I have a small 5y/o.  she's getting longer though and her seat is near expiration (I think this year too).  she was 32lb at her 4yr appt, 36lb at her 5yr appt.  on the home scale now she's between 36 and 37lb...  she's been asking for a booster seat for 6 months.  we're tossing around making the switch before kindie starts this fall.  she's very mature for her age. a good listener.  I think she's ready.  her brother?  I may leave him in a 5pt until he turns 18.  my word, wild child. ; )  

SuperCuteBenz

veloelle:

Mominator:

SuperCuteBenz:

Interesting.

Goodwill will not take car seats at all here. Nor will a few baby consignment shops. I have seen them at consignment sales, but not at any actual stores. Too big of a liability.

I do buy that they expire. It is the the actual dating that I question. Ex: All graco seats expire in December of the 6th year (talking infant/convertible), and Britax Classic seats expire in 6 years but to the month of manufacture. So, why wouldn't my Britax be good til the end of the year as well?

 

I can get on board with this logic, but some of the other responses here make me twitchy. I don't understand how you can not "buy" the idea of carseats expiring. Of course they do. Fact, plastic degrades over time. This is not something that car seat manufacturers made up, it is a scientific fact. Of course it isn't exactly the day after the seat expires, they are making their best guess. Could it last another year? Sure. Another 2 years? Possibly, but why risk it, kwim?

Honestly,I'm not trying to be snarky, why don't cars expire? My DH drives an '89 Volvo that was built to last. Seriously it is the cockroach of cars, I've tried killing it, trust me. Is he safer driving an '89 Volvo or a brand new bottom basement cheap compact? Nothing else automotive related expires, nothing. No internal parts, no plastic bumpers, no interior pieces. Of course moving parts wear out, but safety-related plastic (i.e. crash resistant bumpers, etc) do not. Why do car seats? Plastic is plastic, and you can make last. Any automotive experts on? I'm fine w/ it if there is a reason besides plastic degrading. I can't get behind them not being able to make a car seat made to last out of plastic that doesn't degrade in 5 years.

It also has to do with safety standards changing. An example being going from a 3 point harness to a 5 point harness. A lot of things can change in 6 years.