Used Car Seat?

lawjjg522 · November 2012

Hey ladies!

We had our shower this weekend and it was a blast to see so many friends and family. We and baby girl are so blessed to have such great family and friends! The one thing we didn't get we were hoping for was our stroller/car seat combo. I was planning on buying it with the gift cards we received.

After the shower my Brother In Law said that we could have his since his kids are done with them. The car seat/stroller have been through 2 kids. They were purchased 5 years ago in January. I've heard car seats 'expire' after 6 years. We politely told him that we'd look into it and make sure it was still up to code etc. He said it is still.. Honestly, I'm a little hesitant since it's been through 2 kids and being 5 years old.

I appreciate the gesture, and don't want to offend him, But also want to make sure I'm doing whats safest for baby girl. What would you do? Am I being a paranoid FTM?

jquirke9881 · November 2012

I think if you have the gift cards or other means to buy a new one then do it.

emolee84 · November 2012

The expiration date varies by brand and it would be from the date it was made, not the date it was purchased. So really they could expire within a few months.
I'd just get a new one, it wouldn't be worth the risk to me

ShellShockedMama · November 2012

Car seat expiration is unique to the seat and has it listed on the seat itself. Some are 5 years, some 6 and I think maybe a few 7's?

In any event, car seats are things I buy new. Period. No discussion. Unless it's my own used car seat. Ill be using my sons old car seat, made in 2010 and expires in 2015

lawjjg522 · November 2012

That's what my gut was telling me, Thanks for confirming it ladies.

JessAnnJ · November 2012

I agree with other posters. I know it is awkward to tell people you don't want what they are offering. Maybe you can tell him that you really had your heart set on the one you registered for that way you avoid the awkwardness of explaining that you don't think to safe to use his. Just a suggestion. We changed our mind on taking a bassinet from my sister in law because the nurse at our baby essentials class freaked me out about needing one with ventilation on the sides and I found that conversation really uncomfortable.

choppinbroccoli22 · November 2012

Get a new car seat.

Ours is really nice, and less than 2 years old. My H had to take it into the garage the other day to take off the cover and tighten the strap tensioner screw which had almost backed totally out of its place-- I noticed it when we were driving, and I looked back and said OMG, pull over! The belts had become very loose.

Little parts and things do have a lifespan, and you wouldn't know it by looking at the condition of the fabric.

6fsn · November 2012

I will take most anything hand me down or I will just do without. Carseats are the big exception. The safety of my child is far more important than $90 for an infant seat or $200 for a convertible.

SingleMom31 · November 2012

I had that same situation with a coworker. She offered to sell me their convertable car seats, and within her description included that she had bought them from another coworker (who's children are now 12 and 10) and that the fabric was a little beat up because they had been through 4 kids. In the back of my head, I was mortified that anyone was still using a 12 year old carseat and I checked on the Britax website which said all seats of that particular model would now be expired. It was pretty awkward to say no (I sort of felt like I was saying that her stuff wasn't good enough), but our LO's safety comes first.

mama2many · November 2012

We just ditched all of our own car seats and are buying new for this baby, as well as our 2 & 4 yo. I'd get new ones unless it had only been through one baby, like last year.

ForeverEverAfter · November 2012

5 years is kinda pushing it, but check the expiry. Infant seats aren't used for that long, so if there's a year left its worth considering. I would never buy a used car seat from a yard sale, but I think within the family is different because you know that it hasn't been in any accident.

rmaxim · November 2012

Agree with others about springing for the new car seat. Something you might look into if the expense is too much is assistance programs in your area. IIRC in Washington DC you can get a free infant car seat (I had a coworker do this a few years ago - not sure if that has changed). I would imagine that is not the only place where that is an option.

OR you could return some other stuff from your registry that's easier to compromise, and get a carseat with that credit.

SingleMom31 · November 2012

Just a thought (I'm bored today at work) - Maybe take the stroller and then just get a new car seat? It would be less expensive than buying a whole new travel system.

Fionnadean1017 · November 2012

Living in Canada presents a whole new set of guidelines for car seats! You can't give away or sell a used car seat that was manufactured before January 2012. It may sound like a money gimmick for companies, but in reality, the plastic components of a baby seat can start to degrade and get brittle with time. You don't want to find this out the hard way...in a motor vehicle accident. Give them an excuse, but don't neglect your child's safety just to avoid offending!

Want a personalized experience?

Used Car Seat?

Re: Used Car Seat?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards