Advice on Used Toddler Car Seat

I always passed my car seats on via a local mom's club. People were always happy to get a free car seat for a second car. However, if the seller was a 60 year old man with no kids I might be suspicious.

Hi W.,

You can get the Cosco Scenera convertable car seat at WalMart for $49.50. It is not only cost effective, but very confortable!! I got one for my son and was amazed how much cusion it has. It works from birth to toddler 40 lbs. There is a daisy one for little girls:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8054494
and a plain one for little boys:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8054497

I went to the store and bought mine, but you can also order online. When getting a used one on craigslist, I'd be careful. You don't know if the one you are buying has had more than one owner, has it been in any accidents? Has it been recalled? There are just too many questions that can not be honestly answered by a complete stranger, it's always better to be safe than sorry. =)

If he has the money I would buy new, just because you don't know about the true condition of the Craigslist one. You also need to check the manufacturing date if you buy used, because they are only good for so many years. Toddler seats are pretty reasonable new.

I would buy a used Britax before I'd buy a new anything else. In general, the people who have seats to sell are moms with little kids, too. They're going to be honest. One of my kids is in a secondhand Britax Wizard, with a couple more years to go before it expires, the other is in a new Britax Diplomat, but only because I caught a stellar deal at the flea market. I had been shopping for another secondhand seat for him. Take the seat cover off, and make sure all the foam is there and in good shape. Why Britax? They're the safest, and the most comfortable, and the easiest to use.

They often have them at Big Lots for reasonable prices.

Unless you know and trust the people you're buying from, don't buy used. Any accident at all, you're advised to buy a new carseat. My friend discovered that her insurance policy covered the cost of replacing her carseats when she was in an accident. The kids weren't in the car but they insurer didn't care, they replaced them anyway saying they were not longer reliable.

My kids are 4 years apart and I was advised by my health insurance to replace my carseats rather than reuse them. They even started me off by buying the infant carrier one for me.

I'd buy new unless you know where the seat is coming from. If you know the person selling the car seat, then they'd be honest with you about the car seat not being in an accident. Also, car seats can have an "expiration" to them. You obviously don't want you child in a car seat that is 8 years old! I don't remember when the car seats should be replaced due to age. I should check into that, too! : ) Safety first!

I have always been told not to purchase used ones, just in case. If you can buy a new one, I would go that route instead.

Don't go used unless you know where it comes from. As you have already seen in previous postings, new ones can be purchased at a reasonable price.

Unless I was fully aware of the history, I would not purchase a used car seat, especially from a total stranger. I would not have an issue using one given to me from a highly reliable friend/family member.
The Cosco Scenera is a cost-effective and very reliable secondary car seat under $60.

i second the cosco scenera. at 50 bucks it's a bargain. both the grandparents have one for my kid.

personally, I wouldn't get a secondhand seat - you don't know if it's been in an accident or if the harness straps were machine washed (which can affect the integrity of the straps), etc.
What is your son's torso height (seated distance from bottom to shoulder), age, and weight, and your budget range? When you shop for seats, you might want to bring along a tape measure to compare the top harness slot height settings, as many seats are outgrown by *height* before weight.

Car seats are designed to absorb a certian amount of impact over the life of the seat, hence the expiration date. The date is only good for normal wear and tear, not if it was in an accident. Even a mild fender bender takes away some of a seat's ability to fully absorb impact in the case of a bigger accident. I am not suggesting you need to buy a new seat after a mild bump from another car, but just think about how many times we have had to slam on the brakes or otherwise bounce the car around. Do not buy used whether or not it has an X on it (police are not always called) or whether or not it's a Britax.You want the seat to be able to absorb as much impact as possible so that your BABY doesn't.

As Judge Marilyn Milian on People's Court says, "The cheap come out expensive". I would just buy a new one for the peace of mind. Our children our are most sacred gifts so why cheat them by being cheap or trying to save a buck. I battle this within myself everyday on making economic decisions because I'm a tightwad. What if your FIL got in an accident and that seat you bought on CL busted and your child was seriously injured. You would probably never forgive yourself. I say if he is willling to buy one, by all means let him.

you will not regret new

Dear W.,
I would give your father-in-law some options as mentioned on here as far as picking one out for himself.
(With your input, of course), but the type of car he has might be a consideration as well. For instance, my husband brought home a beautiful car seat but didn't think about the fact that the car had leather seats and the way the bottom was designed just wasn't going to work.
It's worth the cost of a new one, in my opinion. If it costs about $50, it will pay for itself in the long run. But again, I would let your father-in-law be part of picking one out.

He should buy a new one. You don't know what has happened in the other car seat.

Hi W.. When a car seat has been in an accident the officer assisting will put a huge "X" on the back of it. Also I noticed that just recently the manufacturer actually puts a date that the car seat is good until. I'm glad to see moms taking this subject serious... just recently a friend of mine actually purchased a used car seat as her secondary seat that had no belts in it and she just puts a seat belt over her son...AHHH!!!! It's illegal and extremely dangerous!!!! Good luck in finding a good one!

Always buy new car seats.

Hi W.
your safest bet is to Always when possible buy new don't for get this is your sons life he depending on you to make the right decisions on every thing for him right now.
God Bless
Danielle Mom of 4