Or are they? Turns out that car seats, much like Tylenol, milk, and other parenting mainstays, have expiration dates. How can a piece of plastic, metal, and fabric expire? Car seat expiration dates exist for three main reasons: changes in technology, the advancement of safety innovations, and changes in regulation, says Laura Dunn, an expert in child passenger safety at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For example, recent years have seen new innovations in side impact protection that older seats lack. Parents can find the expiration date on a sticker found on the side of the seat, on its plastic shell. In fact, Duchossois goes so far as to suggest that parents cut the straps of an expired car seat and dispose of it in a dark plastic bag so that nobody takes it out of the garbage and uses it.
If a car seat expires when a kid only has a few months left using it, parents may be tempted to buy a secondhand one or take an old seat from someone they know. I do not install them, but have my daughter do those honors. It is better for both of our peace of mind. The fact that there are not clear cut regulations is a strong indication that an expired seat that has been cared for and not in an accident, is perfectly fine to use when installed correctly.
Chalk this one up to planned obsolescence and our litigious society! Thank you, Amie, for replying to the critique. So I appreciate your effort in engaging in the comment section and responding to doubts and critiques that way.
I am a firm believer that one of the biggest failures involving car seats is the failure to install the base correctly. My plan was to have them installed in each vehicle by a professional.
There would be no need to shuffle them from car to car, just double-check. My grandson had other plans and was born 3 months early at just over a lb. After 21 months in the hospital, he was over the weight limit, so we purchased a different seat. I pulled the 3 original seats out of the boxes and they were expiring. Super frustrating, as they had never been exposed to extreme heat or cold…. That is frustrating. And surprising that they were still available for sale on the shelf apparently so far into their 6-year expiration period.
Just planned obsolescence. Make more money and fill up landfills. Only an idiot would dream up this. Time for this to go away. How is the plastic used in car seats different from the plastic used in the cars themselves?
Very good question. Why not have an inspection, at appropriate locations; to extend the expiration date based on the inspection. The car seat manufacturers and safety organizations say that you cannot always see damage in the plastic upon just a visual inspection. This is also the reason many manufacturers require car seats be replaced after any type of crash. What about all the plastic and belts involved there, why would a car seat be any different??
Generally speaking the manufacturers are not worried about the webbing degrading over time. Most seat belt safety locking components are made of metal so there is also not a concern about degradation over time with those. She barely used it due to the fact that she lives in the city and does not use her car or go out much so she really didnt need it. She told us she used the carseat a handful of times and kept the seat and stroller stored in her home hoping someone close to her would have a baby that she could hand it down to.
I can tell the carseat is barely used and the stroller looks and feels very gently used. I am wary of using this for my baby due to the expiration date, but I would also hate to throw this away as it has gotten such little use and we really cannot afford a brand new travel system. If you could please give me your opinon on whether or not I should use this I would greatly appreciate it!
Thank you. Hi Nicole, I would have to recommend against it because it is expired. Your email address will not be published. SAFE By completing this form you are signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time.
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Free Shipping Available. Price Match Promise. Book Your Appointment. Why Do Car Seats Expire? February 05, Here are some of the most important: 1. The standards for child passenger safety are constantly changing Today, technology is moving faster than ever. Read more: Laws and regulations on car seats in Singapore 2. Car seats are only safety-tested for a certain period of time Just like the header says, models are only safety-tested for a typical car seat lifespan.
An old seat may have been a recall This is a minor one, but an older seat may have been part of a car seat recall, and you might not have been informed or you may not have noticed. Where do I find the expiration date? In need of child restraint advice? Grab a consultation session wit h our CPSTs! Shop the story. Leave a comment Name. Join our family. Email address. Sign up.
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