Thrift Store Car Seat

MBush4 · October 2012

I have a SIL who is a serial thrift shopper. It's amazing some of the stuff she is able to find for mere dollars. This afternoon she came to visit with a car seat she found from a thrift store. It's obvious it's been used, but otherwise it looks like it's in good condition. I checked online and it hasn't been recalled, but it's missing its base as well as the... my pregnant brain is drawing short and all I'm thinking to call it is the hood or cover- you know, the part that can be pushed down at the head or expanded to provide shade. (Curse you pregnancy vocab!) I checked what I could find and besides obvious concerns I have, the manufacture date is June 2008. Since I'm not due until the end of February, should I just scrap it and say thanks but no thanks? I'm leaning towards it, but DH, loving but cheap as he is, wants to keep it so it's one less expense to worry about.

MBush4 · October 2012

That's was my thought as well. I'd rather get something new. I mean, I know they both mean well, but... Yeah... Thanks for confirming my feelings.

penguingrrl · October 2012

No you cannot use a thrift store carseat. In fact, around here thrift stores can't legally sell used carseats at all ever. Just because it "looks fine" doesn't mean it hasn't been in an accident that would compromise its safety. Unless a seat comes from a known and trusted person (best friend, family member) you have to buy new*. Here is a list of things people do to seats that leave them very unsafe:

1) Use after an accident. Even if it looks fine there may be microscopic cracks that would lead to failure in a future accident

2) Washing the harness with harsh cleansers (nothing stronger than dawn may be used) or submerging the harness straps in water. Both can cause the straps to deteriorate and not function properly in an accident. Many people (and carseat rental companies) don't know this and will use bleach and other things following vomit or potty training accidents and that seriously compromises the safety of the seat. If it's so bad you can't get the smell out you need to request a replacement harness from the manufacturer.

3) Checking or gate checking on a plane. This presents the same issue as an accident where microscopic cracks can form from having heavy luggage fall off the top of a pile onto a carseat. You won't see that there is an issue but it absolutely can and will cause failure in an accident.

*edited because after posting I realized I put the word "used" where I meant to write "new"

MouseInLux · October 2012

Don't use it but if you have space save it and use it at the next BRU trade in event

MainelyFoolish · October 2012

MouseInLux:
Don't use it but if you have space save it and use it at the next BRU trade in event

I was going to suggest this as well. During the trade-in events (the next one will probably be in February or March, I think) you can trade in a used item and get 25% off a new item, and it doesn't have to be from the same category. So you could trade in the old car seat and get 25% off a stroller or playyard...or a convertible car seat for when your LO outgrows the infant seat.

If you do decide to throw away the seat, cut the straps so no one else takes it out of the trash and tries to use it.

jobiann · October 2012

I didn't think thrift stores could sell them. I wouldnt gamble with it...it's your child's safety, not a fashion choice.

Klikina · October 2012

Ditto PP's. I'm totally thrifty as well and all for getting the best bargains. But a carseat is the #1 thing you do NOT want to skimp money on. There are plenty of affordable carseats that you can buy brand new. If you have a BuyBuyBaby near you, you can use a 20% coupon on a Graco Snugride, which is one of the highest rated seats available (and it would come with the base and sunshade.)

And I didn't see this mentioned, but since I assume you know that car seats have a 5 year max use, you would need to replace the car seat after only 4 months of use anyway.

If DH is seriously against getting a brand new car seat just because of price, you might take him to talk to a police officer or firefighter about car seat safety. Again, this is the most important purchase you will buy for your baby - recycle this used seat and get a new one.

penguingrrl · October 2012

Klikina:
Ditto PP's. I'm totally thrifty as well and all for getting the best bargains. But a carseat is the #1 thing you do NOT want to skimp money on. There are plenty of affordable carseats that you can buy brand new. If you have a BuyBuyBaby near you, you can use a 20% coupon on a Graco Snugride, which is one of the highest rated seats available (and it would come with the base and sunshade.)

And I didn't see this mentioned, but since I assume you know that car seats have a 5 year max use, you would need to replace the car seat after only 4 months of use anyway.

If DH is seriously against getting a brand new car seat just because of price, you might take him to talk to a police officer or firefighter about car seat safety. Again, this is the most important purchase you will buy for your baby - recycle this used seat and get a new one.

That's not entirely true. Carseats do have expiration dates but it's usually longer than 5 years. All graco seats expire 12/31 of the 6th year after manufacture. My snugride was manufactured 5/2007 and will expire 12/31/13. You need to check the manufacturer's instructions with each seat to find the expiration date since it can vary by brand or even model.

g8trkim · October 2012

Absolutely don't use it! You don't know where it's been... crashes, etc. Plus even if the expiration date it 2008 (which you don't really know) that means it expires next year when you're due. A thrift store should not even be selling car seats. I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to do that.

Klikina · October 2012

penguingrrl:
Klikina:
Ditto PP's. I'm totally thrifty as well and all for getting the best bargains. But a carseat is the #1 thing you do NOT want to skimp money on. There are plenty of affordable carseats that you can buy brand new. If you have a BuyBuyBaby near you, you can use a 20% coupon on a Graco Snugride, which is one of the highest rated seats available (and it would come with the base and sunshade.)

And I didn't see this mentioned, but since I assume you know that car seats have a 5 year max use, you would need to replace the car seat after only 4 months of use anyway.

If DH is seriously against getting a brand new car seat just because of price, you might take him to talk to a police officer or firefighter about car seat safety. Again, this is the most important purchase you will buy for your baby - recycle this used seat and get a new one.
That's not entirely true. Carseats do have expiration dates but it's usually longer than 5 years. All graco seats expire 12/31 of the 6th year after manufacture. My snugride was manufactured 5/2007 and will expire 12/31/13. You need to check the manufacturer's instructions with each seat to find the expiration date since it can vary by brand or even model.

Thanks for the clarification. I've always heard 5 years.

penguingrrl · October 2012

Klikina:
penguingrrl:
Klikina:
Ditto PP's. I'm totally thrifty as well and all for getting the best bargains. But a carseat is the #1 thing you do NOT want to skimp money on. There are plenty of affordable carseats that you can buy brand new. If you have a BuyBuyBaby near you, you can use a 20% coupon on a Graco Snugride, which is one of the highest rated seats available (and it would come with the base and sunshade.)

And I didn't see this mentioned, but since I assume you know that car seats have a 5 year max use, you would need to replace the car seat after only 4 months of use anyway.

If DH is seriously against getting a brand new car seat just because of price, you might take him to talk to a police officer or firefighter about car seat safety. Again, this is the most important purchase you will buy for your baby - recycle this used seat and get a new one.
That's not entirely true. Carseats do have expiration dates but it's usually longer than 5 years. All graco seats expire 12/31 of the 6th year after manufacture. My snugride was manufactured 5/2007 and will expire 12/31/13. You need to check the manufacturer's instructions with each seat to find the expiration date since it can vary by brand or even model.

Thanks for the clarification. I've always heard 5 years.

No problem. 20 years ago 5 years was standard, but manufacturers have spent a lot of time and money researching better polymers to extend the life a bit and it would be a shame to see someone throw out a perfectly good seat a year (or longer... some seats have 9-10 year lives now) because they thought it was expired and it wasn't!

LittleApple · October 2012

No way! Same goes for garage sales and Craigs List. Not worth it.

SuperCuteBenz · October 2012

penguingrrl:
Klikina:
penguingrrl:
Klikina:
Ditto PP's. I'm totally thrifty as well and all for getting the best bargains. But a carseat is the #1 thing you do NOT want to skimp money on. There are plenty of affordable carseats that you can buy brand new. If you have a BuyBuyBaby near you, you can use a 20% coupon on a Graco Snugride, which is one of the highest rated seats available (and it would come with the base and sunshade.)

And I didn't see this mentioned, but since I assume you know that car seats have a 5 year max use, you would need to replace the car seat after only 4 months of use anyway.

If DH is seriously against getting a brand new car seat just because of price, you might take him to talk to a police officer or firefighter about car seat safety. Again, this is the most important purchase you will buy for your baby - recycle this used seat and get a new one.
That's not entirely true. Carseats do have expiration dates but it's usually longer than 5 years. All graco seats expire 12/31 of the 6th year after manufacture. My snugride was manufactured 5/2007 and will expire 12/31/13. You need to check the manufacturer's instructions with each seat to find the expiration date since it can vary by brand or even model.

Thanks for the clarification. I've always heard 5 years.
No problem. 20 years ago 5 years was standard, but manufacturers have spent a lot of time and money researching better polymers to extend the life a bit and it would be a shame to see someone throw out a perfectly good seat a year (or longer... some seats have 9-10 year lives now) because they thought it was expired and it wasn't!

FWIW, I believe the Snugrides manufactured after Aug 2011 have a 7 year expiration date. It is no longer December of that year either. I just bought an SR30, and it was manufactured in November 2011, and expires in November of 2018.

naybird · October 2012

The car seat is the one place you do not want to be cheap. It's made to save your child's life in case of an accident. You don't know this car seat's history and it could have been in an accident. Cut the straps and trash it!!

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