SO, after checking all the safety recalls and such our car seat from #1 is still A-okay, we only used it for like 3 months anyway before we got the one she has now... SO the only problem is that it's pink and black. The black is that kind of material that looks like it's scotch guarded, it's hard to explain but it's tough, stain resistant, you know. We can't afford to buy a new infant carrier for our baby (coming any day now) to only buy him an all-in-one in a few months (they have the big ones that now go from reverse to front facing, infant- 7 years so we're doing that pretty soon.. We washed the cover and its a very distinct PINK, and we're having a boy.. Can I dye it? The pink part is that micro-fiber fake suede stuff (super soft and would take color pretty well) and the black is like the kind that's almost scotch guarded (only way I can explain it.. it's almost shiny so I know it won't take the dye)... I was thinking dyeing it red would be a safe thing to try, what do you ladies think?? I planned on getting the organic RIT dye stuff so I'm not worried about it effecting the baby, just I don't want to trash a perfectly functioning car seat just for the sake of not having my little man sitting in pink all the time. SO to dye or not to dye? And any pointers if you have done something like this... I seriously haven't dyed anything since high school!
The key to the problem is that I can't afford to pay $60+ dollars for a custom one like they sell on etsy and ebay, much less just buying a new one from Graco otherwise I would have already fixed the problem (If I could afford the custom covers then I could just buy a new seat, they're like $70) I figured I could dye it and make the best of a situation. The material that I want to take the color is micro fiber cotton so I know it will dye and I know that the rest won't..
How about one of these instead: http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?ref=auto&q=car+se...
My only concern would be that the suede (or other material) would not take the dye and it would rub off on everything, including baby's skin, which although might not be toxic, still annoying.
Honestly, I get that you would like to avoid the pink car seat with the boy, but I think you should just do it. It will be easier and no chance of screwing it up b/c I think dying it is too risky! People won't notice too much and besides, my daughter always got called a boy even though she was head to toe pink, so people don't pay attention.
Another option would be to look for a winter type cover for the carseat. Since your baby will be born soon you'll get a lot of use out of it! I would look on Craig's list or even in second hand stores. I had a JJ Cole winter cover that goes over the seat. I got it used for like $20 so all winter no one even saw the real color of the car seat b/c I could put her in and take her out through the cover.
you may not like my answer, but the color will not matter to the baby or make him girly, plus it's for a short time until you can afford a different car seat. The people who know you and love you will understand if you have to use that car seat and yes there will be joking, but roll along with it. I know it would be very hard to see your son in a pink car seat, but that is just what it has to be for now and maybe dying it would work. Remember you will also have to live with how the dye job works, good or bad. and blessings on you and your baby
Probably a bad idea to try to dye it. Anything you do like that will void the manufacturer's warranty. Most carseat covers are supposed to be hand-washed and line-dried. I don't think that would work with the dying process. Why not just use the pink one and make sure to have blue/boy blankets with it. You can throw a blue blanket over the top of the canopy if you're concerned about people seeing the pink. You're probably only going to use it for around 6 months anyway. (I bought a girly cover for our Britax carseat directly from Britax for only about $40.) Heck, you can buy a brand new cosco scenera from Target for $35-40. It's not an infant carrier, but I think you can put infants in it.
If you really don't want to use the pink, maybe you can borrow a seat from a friend who doesn't need it for a few months?
Hmmm. Microfiber is synthetic. Not cotton. Synthetics do not take dye. I know it's soft and fluffy but I very much doubt that it would take the dye. Look up microfiber on the Internet and see if you can find a customer service number to call.
Also, everything I've dyed has bled color onto other fabrics when wet.
It should have a tag on the materials in it. Read those carefully. If it is polyester you will need different dyes.
The dye M. look like it takes and then rub off on the baby.
I personally would not risk it. I would rather sharpie the thing than try dyeing it.
I don't see why you couldn't dye it.. just try to figure out if the fabric will take to dye (maybe you could spot test some dye on a hidden part of the carseat. If red won't work, maybe black?
-Good Luck!
-M.
If it were me...I'd try the website and see if they sell replacement covers...but...if not...can't hurt to try and dye it....Good luck.
