Can child car seats be donated?

[WOT?*]

How to donate a used car seat (ehow.com):  www.ehow.com/how_5059282_donate-car-seat.html

1 Avoid charity organizations. No reputable charity is allowed to accept donated car seats because they may have been in accidents or been recalled.

2 Check out your car seat. If your seat has even been in a minor accident, do not try to donate it. The materials may have been weakened, rendering it not safe.

3 Make sure your seat is still usable. Check to make sure that the date on the bottom (usually on the label on the underside of the seat) has not passed. Then write down the exact name and date of the seat and check the safety recall list to make sure that your seat is not on it.

4 Contact friends and relatives. Since charitable organizations cannot accept used car seats, you can ask friends and family if they or anyone they know needs a car seat.

5 Send it to parenting class. Call your local birthing center to see if they can use your car seat in their parent education classes.


From a charitable organization (westside baby) that does take used carseats, this is their criteria: www.westsidebaby.org/how-to-give/donate-carseats

We are not currently able to purchase new carseats for distribution. We rely heavily on redistributing used carseats but we must make sure the following conditions are met:
1.The carseats must be less than 6 years old. Manufacture dates are located under your carseat usually on a sticker that includes a model number and date.
2.Whenever possible, please visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov to quickly review whether your seat has been recalled. You may be surprised. Many issues can be addressed by ordering a part (usually free of charge from the manufacturer). This individual effort on your part allows us to move items through safely and quickly.
3.Please attach a note with your name and contact information including the following statement: "This carseat has not been involved in a vehicle accident."
4.Although we love to receive clean items, please DO NOT wash straps in harsh chemicals like bleach.

WHY ALL THIS FUSS? Carseats are made of mostly plastic and it decomposes over time due to fluctuations in car temperatures, use and rough handling. As it breaks down, the integrity of the seat is compromised. In some cases, it can actually do more harm than not being in a safety seat at all. Bleaching the straps impacts the webbing as it easily frays, allowing children to come out of the seat in a crash. Recall issues are surprising and sometimes frustrating but WestSide Baby must follow those guidelines, your effort helps us tremendously.

[EmilieMadison]

Nope, most places are unable to accept them even if you tell them it's never been used. They also expire, so depending on how long it was on the shelf at the store and then in your garage, it may be very near the end of it's usable life anyway.

[sonrisa]

Post it on freecycle or put up a flyer at the local low cost maternity clinic. Organizations might not take it but individual people might.

[walterismydog]

craigslist for free?

also, i had no idea these things expired. i have so much to learn if i ever want to be a parent.

[juliagoulia]

Look to see if there are any domestic violence/ women's shelters near you; that's where my old infant seat went.