Would you buy used?

Emerald27 · June 2014

When we had DS, we only owned one car. Now that we have 2 cars, we'll need a second base for the infant seat. The bases alone sell for about $85, and DH mentioned looking for one on Craigslist or used somewhere...

This freaks me out a little. How do you know that the seat base advertised in excellent condition and no accidents was, in fact, not in any accidents? Or dropped? Or something? Am I being totally paranoid here thinking that we should get a brand new one? DH thinks it's NBD.

Tell me if I'm being crazy and should look for a used one or if I should insist we bite the bullet and purchase a new one.

Littledeer84 · June 2014

I wouldn't buy a base used, especially if it was from someone I didn't know.

lisamahrt · June 2014

I would not buy a used base. We did not buy a base for the second car. If you are not sure if you will use it in the second car that often, my suggestion is wait until the baby gets here or put it on your registry. We had no issue with just using the seat belt to secure her in. But not everyone feels comfortable with that.

MrMrsandBaby · June 2014

Seat belts alone are just as secure as long as you do it right, they are just more of a PITA because you have to do it every time. The base is optional. I agree to put it on the registry and also, hold off until you know you will need it...worst case is you have to move the base from one car to the other - there are ways.

That being said, I don't think I would have an issue buying a used one if i was able to take the seat and test it first. Make sure it was a good fit, tight latch nothing was broken, etc. My bases got pretty beat up with our first but I plan on reusing them.

trisharenee0316 · June 2014

I wouldn't get any car seat or bases used unless they were from someone I know and deeply trusted. I think even then, I'd hesitate.

persephonerose · June 2014

I would not buy one used. Can you ask around and see if anyone you know/trust has one?

Emerald27 · June 2014

persephonerose said:
I would not buy one used. Can you ask around and see if anyone you know/trust has one?

That's not a bad idea. Honestly, $85 is not a big deal...DH just wants to save where we can.

I've used the carseat without a base before, but I really don't feel like it's as secure. I know that I was doing it right, though.

All I needed was a bunch of people to say DH was ridiculous for suggesting buying this used.

I win.

Justabean3 · June 2014

Cosco sells a cheap base that fits most carseats. We have it and it works great

bennikki · June 2014

When DS was on the way, my BIL's twins had just outgrown their bucket car seats. They handed them down to us. They were less than a year old, and we knew they were never in an accident. We thought it would be great to have the extra base because we own several vehicles (I have an SUV and DH owns a tree service, so he has 2 different trucks he drives on a regular basis along with a car he uses to bid projects). We honestly never used the second base. If one of us had to pick up DS who didn't have the base, we'd just leave the base attached to the bucket seat wherever we were leaving DS (daycare/grandparents/cousins). I don't find attaching and removing car seats to be that bothersome of a task, so it was just easier to take the whole works out if DS was going to be picked up by someone other than me.

DaniGrace89 · June 2014

I wouldn't.

I'm all for used things, but when it comes to safety devices, I would buy new for peace of mind.

Justabean3 · June 2014

I have seen them cheaper than this

https://m.toysrus.com/skava/static/product.html?type=TRU_product_us&url=/product/index.jsp?productId=3398422&domain=http://www.toysrus.com

It the notes it says fits "all designer..."

We use it with our graco and our safety first

Leysin97 · June 2014

I don't know what brand you need but buy buy baby has them and you can sign up for their e-mail offer and they will email you a 20% off coupon. Also they accept the bed bath beyond coupons too. If you have one in town it's better to buy at the store so you don't have to pay shipping,

Edit: this ended up being cheaper than amazon for the britax one for us.

Maggie6424 · June 2014

Agreed. I would only get a used base IF it were from someone I know very well. You just never know how it was treated before you got it. They could've left it outside in direct sun for an extended period of time.

bumpuser10309732 · June 2014

MrMrsandBaby said:

Seat belts alone are just as secure as long as you do it right, they are just more of a PITA because you have to do it every time. The base is optional. I agree to put it on the registry and also, hold off until you know you will need it...worst case is you have to move the base from one car to the other - there are ways.

That being said, I don't think I would have an issue buying a used one if i was able to take the seat and test it first. Make sure it was a good fit, tight latch nothing was broken, etc. My bases got pretty beat up with our first but I plan on reusing them.

So in your opinion was it dumb of me to tell my MIL that she needs her own car seat base? MIL will have her 50% of the time. I guess my thought process was if I make her get the base at least I know LO will be properly secured in her vehicle. Was this incorrect thinking? I'm a FTM so I have no idea and just wanted some input on the matter.

Justabean3 · June 2014

They are equally safe with the belt IF used correctly

ohioloveyou · June 2014

Carseats/bases should never be bought used in my opinion. There's just no way to know and too much dumb out there.

chicitygirl7 · June 2014

I wouldn't buy a used base or carseat. I'm also not a fan of buying used cribs and things like that either. My thought is that if there's a safety risk associated with something, I'd rather buy new for the sake of peace of mind.

atraveller · June 2014

I'm a FTM too and agree with PPs that I wouldn't buy a used base. I'm getting a used base and car seat but its from my closest friend and I know how much she used it and how it was used and she even did double checks on expiration and recalls before even offering it to me.

If I end up needing another base for our other car or for my MIL or the nanny, then I'll buy new.

One note, re: BuyBuyBaby - you can use Bed Bath and Beyond coupons there but they must be non-expired. Apparently BuyBuyBaby's system recognized the expiration where as BB&B doesn't, so you can only use non-expired coupons.

ss265 · June 2014

MrsBabe614 said:

MrMrsandBaby said:

Seat belts alone are just as secure as long as you do it right, they are just more of a PITA because you have to do it every time. The base is optional. I agree to put it on the registry and also, hold off until you know you will need it...worst case is you have to move the base from one car to the other - there are ways.

That being said, I don't think I would have an issue buying a used one if i was able to take the seat and test it first. Make sure it was a good fit, tight latch nothing was broken, etc. My bases got pretty beat up with our first but I plan on reusing them.

So in your opinion was it dumb of me to tell my MIL that she needs her own car seat base? MIL will have her 50% of the time. I guess my thought process was if I make her get the base at least I know LO will be properly secured in her vehicle. Was this incorrect thinking? I'm a FTM so I have no idea and just wanted some input on the matter.

@MrsBabe614, I think your MIL should get her own car seat base. Depending on the seat, it's usually much easier to click the seat into the base than to uninstall/reinstall it every single time. The other option would be to treat the infant seat like a convertible and leave it installed in her car and take the baby in and out but you will likely need the infant seat for your own cars right?

Car seats are not properly installed 80% of the time and I wouldn't personally trust my ILs to install it correctly every single time.

ss265 · June 2014

And ditto PP about not buying a used base. See if you can a deal online and get BRU or BBB to price match it. I found a deal for a Chicco base for $45 at Walmart, brought the printout to BRU and they price matched it.

bumpuser10309732 · June 2014

ss265 said:

MrsBabe614 said:

MrMrsandBaby said:

Seat belts alone are just as secure as long as you do it right, they are just more of a PITA because you have to do it every time. The base is optional. I agree to put it on the registry and also, hold off until you know you will need it...worst case is you have to move the base from one car to the other - there are ways.

That being said, I don't think I would have an issue buying a used one if i was able to take the seat and test it first. Make sure it was a good fit, tight latch nothing was broken, etc. My bases got pretty beat up with our first but I plan on reusing them.

So in your opinion was it dumb of me to tell my MIL that she needs her own car seat base? MIL will have her 50% of the time. I guess my thought process was if I make her get the base at least I know LO will be properly secured in her vehicle. Was this incorrect thinking? I'm a FTM so I have no idea and just wanted some input on the matter.

@MrsBabe614, I think your MIL should get her own car seat base. Depending on the seat, it's usually much easier to click the seat into the base than to uninstall/reinstall it every single time. The other option would be to treat the infant seat like a convertible and leave it installed in her car and take the baby in and out but you will likely need the infant seat for your own cars right?
Car seats are not properly installed 80% of the time and I wouldn't personally trust my ILs to install it correctly every single time.

This was my train of thought on the matter too. I just wanted to see if I was over thinking. Yeah we have a base for both of our vehicles, but MIL is going to be our childcare when I go back to work. We got the Chicco Key fit and I told her I didn't want her buy a used car seat and she needed to just purchase the base to go with DD's seat. So thank you! I feel better about it.

TinyTRex321 · June 2014

I would not buy one used I unless it was from a trusted friend or family member. You eventually will probably want a convertible seat in your husband's car so you could go ahead and just buy that for the baby to use instead of buying both.

mer313131 · June 2014

I wouldn't buy a used car seat or base or a used crib. That being said, I accepted a car seat/2 bases from a very good friend of mine who I know takes excellent care of her stuff and has not been in an accident. Pretty much anything else I would buy used.

smlapuz · June 2014

I would never buy a used car seat or base. It freaks me out.

lotsobabies · June 2014

I wouldn't buy a used car seat or base.Too risky. Plus they do expire, and you could get an old one not tested to current standards.

savicke2009 · June 2014

Definitely buy new..

I wouldn't have bought a second one except I found it in a clearance aisle at target for 11.76

HappyCianci · June 2014

I'm a huge proponent of buying baby stuff second-hand, but I wouldn't buy a used car seat (or base.) There are lots of other items to buy second-hand to make up that cash.

Waterlilly11 · June 2014

Nope. Sorry some things you can't cheap out on. Car seats (including bases) are deffinatly something I would put money into. Try looking online for codes/coupons that can help with a discount.

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