Car seat expirations

hawkins79 · February 2016

We are having our second child after a battle with secondary infertility. My daughter will be 6 when the new baby arrives. I kept all of her gear but her car seats (my car, husband's car, mom's car) have "expired". I want to buy new ones but my husband and MIL say there's nothing wrong with the ones we currently have. My MIL has 6 grandchildren and she bought a used seat awhile back which is surely expired. Does this matter? My daughter used her infant seat until she was 2 I think. They literally have the same exact one (chicco key fit 30) at babies r us. What to do?

RedMar · February 2016

We received a high quality Britax one from a relative only to find out it was almost expired. We clipped the straps and threw it away. It wasn't worth the risk to me. Although you have the same one that's @ BRU, safety standards could've changed and straps and buckles could be enhanced. Also you have to consider the wear and tear the original seat experienced. Car seats, IMO, aren't something to cheap out on.

BRU is doing a car seat exchange until the 29th. Bring in your old one and get 25% off the new seat.

PSUBecky23 · February 2016

I don't mess around with used car seats when you don't know the history of whether it's been in an accident.

PSUBecky23 · February 2016

And a good explanation on expiration: https://csftl.org/expired-seats/

RedMar · February 2016

@PSUBecky23 oh man I forgot about that overhead shield on car seats. Think about how many of us had those as toddlers!

618mom22boys · February 2016

Yes expiration dates certainly do matter! And I would never ever buy a used car seat from someone I did not know. You never know if it was in an accident or if they cleaned it properly. I am big on car seat safety! My 5 year old is still in a 5pt harness and will be for a while, he has a Diono and they have great weight limits.

CoffeeBeanFiend91 · February 2016

Don't use expired seats. They have expiration dates for a reason. It's not worth your child's saftey.

lovelylauren86 · February 2016

Also a crazy car seat lady!! I love you guys

PSUBecky23 · February 2016

Rear facing for lyfe!

AmMcc12 · February 2016

the expiration date is there because car seats are only guaranteed safe until that time. Why risk your child in an expired seat!!!

KimmySchmidt · February 2016

Round those seats up and turn them into BRU coupons.

Double check those expiration dates though. Some seats expire after 5-6 years, but some are good for 10.

0SeaMonkey0 · February 2016

Besides safety, look into the legalities of it. I believe that in some places there can be legal or insurance implications if you get in an accident and the car seat is expired.

irishblessings916 · February 2016

Following this! I held onto my son's car seats for that "just in case" time I'd need another. His infant one was used, but I got it from my (then) close friend and know that it had been used properly and was never in an accident. But now I'm wondering if it's still "in date". Same with his Cisco seat I got after he out grew his infant seat. He's 4 now so most likely both are expired.

Question: The infant seat came with a jogging stroller, as a bundle, same brand and all. Should I trade that in with the seats?

0SeaMonkey0 · February 2016

irishblessings916 said:

Following this! I held onto my son's car seats for that "just in case" time I'd need another. His infant one was used, but I got it from my (then) close friend and know that it had been used properly and was never in an accident. But now I'm wondering if it's still "in date". Same with his Cisco seat I got after he out grew his infant seat. He's 4 now so most likely both are expired.

Question: The infant seat came with a jogging stroller, as a bundle, same brand and all. Should I trade that in with the seats?

I don't see why you should have to give up the stroller. They aren't expected to withstand impact like a car seat is. Hopefully if you buy the same brand car seat they will still be compatible. If not most strollers have a universal car seat attachment you can purchase for relatively cheap.

homebird · February 2016

I would never use an expired car seat or buy a used/expired car seat. No way is that worth the risk to me. Yes, most of them may be fine, but I don't want my kid to be in the one that isn't. There's a reason expiration dates exist on things like that.

homebird · February 2016

And no offense to your MIL, but when we were kids they used cribs that could chop fingers off and questionable car seats, haha. Safety standards change!

vampirina · February 2016

Definitely don't use expired car seats! Plastic doesn't age well and can become very brittle with time. This means that an expired car seat could easily crack and fail if impacted.

With used car seats, you have no idea if it's been in an accident before or if it's somehow been compromised.

If my parents really wanted a car seat that badly, I would demand they purchase a NEW one. If I wanted them to have one, I'd purchase it myself! It's just not worth the risk.

msmossie · February 2016

@homebird Exactly! My MIL saved the metal crib she used in the 80s and offered to give it to us with DS #1. She seemed surprised when I said no. I explained that safety standards had changed over time, and she countered that it worked fine for her. She was a little offended, but who saves a crappy 30 year old crib?

AnnaS930 · February 2016

Agreed with all above - car seat expirations have to do with plastic and styrofoam degradation. We are lucky enough that our infant seat (that my sister's now 4 year olds used) is good until December 2017. We used the seat for our son as well and know that it has not had any damage. I will still be taking the pads off to make sure I don't see any early cracking/breakdown.

jhems776 · February 2016

FTM here, I had no idea car seats expire.... So glad to have this board.

Ampip2270 · February 2016

I agree with everything said here. But here is another way to look at it... Would you eat food that's expired and might cause you to have explosive diarrhea or projectile vomiting even though it might "look" safe to eat still?

Same concept with car seats... It might still look OK, but after years of sun on those nylon straps they begin to deteriorate. The fittings on the clips become stretched & worn.

You just never know, and when it comes to baby's safety - better safe than sorry.

Want a personalized experience?

Car seat expirations

Re: Car seat expirations

Choose Another Board

Search Boards