Thanks for tips in last car seat post, my local recycling place would not take mine. I called a local women's shelter, and they do take seats. They were actually in need of one right away. Just thought people may want to know. I get it that they are supposed to be brand new for everyone, but I also know not everyone can afford them, and that the "brand new seat for every baby " mandate could be a tad bit of a marketing scam. So to make this a question.. Does anyone think ALL newish car seats should be put into landfills, and that recycling them should be so difficult? Do you believe they don't last long safety wise with solid plastic and beefy straps? Should we all replace our seat belts every 2 years if straps are so weak? Is it really impossible to have car seats inspected for flaws? Couldn't a new one be accidentally flawed? Have there been any studies showing that babies die in wrecks because they used second hand seats? Were second hand seats ever allowed? Just curious. I grew up in the 70's and never had a car seat as a kid. Now I own 4 car seats, and I don't want to dump them. Who thinks we need to start offering car seat recycle and inspection sites for anyone with some $s to start a company?
I would rather use a gently used car seat than NONE!
It's just pandering to fear and pocketbook, I think.
Actually, it's not true that NEW carseats have to be purchased. They simply need to be unexpired, never been recalled, and have never previously been in a wreck. That's how children's consignment shops can sell them. I never would have thought of contacting a woman's shelter about a carseat. Thanks for the tip!!
When buying a used one, you don't really know if it's been in an accident or not. Also, they have a 5 year life because apparently the ozone depletes the strength of the plastic. That said, I just sold a Graco infant seat (used by both of my sons) on Craigslist last week that expires December 2012. I think that as long as it is not "expired" and you buy from someone you trust, it shouldn't be a big deal.
IMO a used car seat is better than no car seat. We passed ours along to a friend with a new baby and tight finances when my daughter outgrew it. And why wouldn't we? It was perfectly fine for her , why would it not be fine for the next child a day later.
I think it is less of a marketing ploy and more of a "cover our butts" thing, where they don't want to be sued if a kid got hurt due to material failure.
I would say that the rate of kids getting hurt from improper use of car seats is probably MUCH higher than car seats failing sue to material fatigue.
I've given 1 to a battered women's shelter, 1 to CPS (they were picking up 2 kids under the age of 3 for a 4 hour drive with no car seat "Look, our funding was cut and we don't have them." So my neighbor and I both dug into our garages real quick and got 2 seats that would fit the kids), both in great condition... and recycled 2 that I wouldn't let any child ride in.
I wouldn't use a dry, cracked, 1975 carseat, but a gently used car seat from the last 5 years sounds perfectly safe to me.
There are carseat recycling drives in my area. They tend to be run by groups that give supplies to needy families. They collect lots of carseats and inspect them all for safety. The ones that are safe/unexpired go to families who need them. The ones that are unsafe/expired go somewhere to be disassembled and recycled. I have no idea where they go.
I don't know about other car seat companies, but Britax sells replacement straps. My husband is a former law enforcement officer, is a performance driving instructor, we own a race car rental company, and he races. Racing harnesses, fire suits, and helmets all have expiration dates because materials break down after being exposed to sweat, laundering, sun and uv exposures etc. I would bet the same applies to the materials in a car seat.
I personally have used new car seats for each of my children, but that's just a personal preference, more to do with cleanliness than anything else. Accidents (of the diaper variety) happen, and not everyone is as meticulous about cleaning things as I am.
That being said, I think any carseat that still meets safety standards and hasn't been compromised by a car wreck SHOULD be reused. I have sold four carseats, used, in my life...I sold them cheap, people who needed one cheap bought them, and I don't feel like I've set someone up to die.
I kind've agree that it seems a bit scamish...so many things are...anything to "spur" the economy.
I wish there was a way to recycle car seats but considering how much plastic gets consumed and tossed and not recycled in the average household each day, it doesn't probably amount to much in terms of the big picture. I do believe that plastic wears out and straps get spilled on and peed on and puked on. Safety stickers wear off and instruction manuals get lost. And to be honest, most car seats aren't looking too great after 6 years of constant use and should be retired. Safety features improve and safety standards become more stringent. But I think there is nothing wrong with passing on a gently used un-expired car seat to a friend or someone in need. In fact, I think it is the right thing to do. No sense in tossing it or letting it sit around the house when it could be in use.
But I do believe we should take the manufacturer's expiration dates seriously. I am sure there is a little bit of leeway but I would hate to find out the hard way that I went past the "breaking point." There is a great video with a Britax seat that illustrates the importance of paying attention to expirations. Britax is considered a top of the line brand and having owned some of their seats myself, I can honestly say that they have a heavier duty feel to them than some of my other less expensive seats. But the only thing "wrong" with the seat in the video is that it is past its expiration. Pretty scary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvCRz7BRAM0
I don't think a new car seat for each child is necessary but here is the problem with used carseats...the person using a secondhand carseat does not KNOW if that carseat has ever been in a car accident. Once they have been in an accident, their structural integrity may have been compromised...better safe than sorry.
So, I would say that unless you are using a used carseat from your own older child, relative or friend, it is best to get a new one. For people in need of onebut can not afford one, I understand why they might want a used carseat (and someone donating may sound great) but I would rather skimp on something else and buy new so I knew for sure the carseat was safe for my child.
I love this site for carseat tips! You can also find The Car Seat Lady on Facebook. She is a pediatrician but also a huge car seat safety advocate!
Well, we sold our Britax Roundabout on Craigslist. It had never been in an accident and hadn't expired. We didn't allow our child to eat/drink sticky stuff in it, so there were no stains and it looked perfect.
All of our car-seats were used for the next baby in line, I still use the car seat my grandson who is 12 used.
What a bad grandma I must be.
I've always heard they can last for five years and can be passed along that long. Once they are five years old they are too old. I think it has to do with the life of the materials.
I know that I am really late on this question but I just wanted to tell you that If you put it out in front of your home on a card board box and write a sign that says FREE someone might pick it up and be able to use it.
