Comments on: Can You Use a Secondhand Car Seat?

By: debt consolidation

debt consolidation — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:45:06 +0000

I never get tired of reading your articles- good things, that i find and you write about them

By: J101

J101 — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:58:23 +0000

I too have been very interested in all the feedback, I am currently investigating the possibility of redesigning a more environmentally friendly car chair that is safer for children by making use of fabrics and manufacturing materials that are not toxic for our children, and equally importantly safer to travel in. I would like to know if anyone has specific points that I can help problem solve in the design process.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:38:28 +0000

Hello, all. I read with interest all of your posts. I am a nationally certified child passenger safety technician whose mission it is to educate about car seat safety. The reason why car seats “expire” is because the plastic is subject to extreme weather conditions and can become brittle over time so that the harness will not be able to do its job in a crash, nor will the plastic shell be able to absorb the impact of the crash forces. While it is OK to pass on a seat to a friend if you have not had a crash, be aware of the expiration date which is either molded in to the seat on the bottom, or else on a label on the side or bottom. Count on it being good for 5-6 years from that manufacturing date. An important part of what I do involves education; it is not enough to hand an indigent family a car seat, we do so but then educate them on how to use it properly as it varies with the child’s age, weight, height, and even type of vehicle. There are indeed car seats for those who cannot afford them. Please help get the word out about used seats being unsafe when in a thrift store/consignment sale situation. I have seen many that made me cringe, knowing how potentially dangerous they were if that child were to be subjected to a crash while riding in it.

By: rebecca

rebecca — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:52:49 +0000

Great point, Ti. I have a friend who works in a shelter, and she was surprised to hear that some baby guides say to never, ever accept a used crib (or car seat, or whatever). Where she works, ALL of their cribs are used because they are donated. I obviously don’t believe that all used items are dangerous (or that all new ones are not!). It seems like a shame to throw baby gear away after one baby has used it, especially considering all the people who may not be able to afford something new.

By: ti

ti — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:22:13 +0000

Just wanted to say that I work with very poor parents and sometimes the only way they are going to get a car seat at all is to get one used. its not always about choosing where to put the money — i.e. get new clothes or not. These are parents that have the child in a cloth diaper and blanket until it hits 10 pounds because that is what they can afford. For things like that, it would be nice if there were better options, and fewer people passing judgement. My clients have to chose between eating and buying a carseat, not between the $75 one and the $35 one. For the latest client they had been saving up for her entire pregnancy in order to be able to afford to buy diapers!

By: rebecca

rebecca — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:06:55 +0000

Thank you so much, Diana! I can’t tell you how relieved I am that someone is recycling car seats. Seriously, I put a little too much time into worrying about this. . . .

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:51:06 +0000

If you Google “return car seats for recycling” you will get some links to where you can send your car seat to be recycled. Here is one web site:

http://www.carseatprogram.com/car-seat-recycling-program.html

When you are done with it, or it’s in an accident, this is one option!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:45:16 +0000

I too have recently heard three years. Prior to that I had heard five. It seems like the recommendations are always changing!

By: rebecca

rebecca — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:19:33 +0000

Heather, I never said I wanted to buy a used car seat to save money; my issue has always been about buying something made of eleven pounds plastic that has an expiration date of just five years. As I wrote here, I ended up getting a new seat, but my "green idea" is to pass the seat on to other babies. We never got in a crash while using the car seat, so I feel good about this. Jennifer, I haven't heard that three year rule! This ShopSmart issue just came out--it's March 2009--and as you can see (above), it is saying six years. I think my car seat, which my cousin's baby is using now, should be able to work for a couple more babies yet!

By: Jillian

Jillian — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:28:32 +0000

We purchased an infant travel system that included the carseat new, my fiance really put a lot of time picking out the right stroller system for us. He wouldn’t dare put our new baby in a used car seat. I on the other hand was all for a craigslist purchase. So we have the new one but after a few months we were given a hand me down seat from my cousin and we put that in our other car that isn’t driven so much.