Expired Carseat ?

[nikolita]

I have a chicco keyfit that will expire this month.  What should I do with it?  Trash?  Which honestly, seems so, so sad!

[bex1973]

We bought an expired car seat from someone we trusted. H is a firefighter & paramedic so he checked it thoroughly and it was fine. Many local police/fire stations will check a seat out.

[nikolita]

Oh Jillian, thats a good idea. I'm all set for carseats, but my sister just had a baby. I'll save it for her when she's ready for the convertible.

There needs to be a carseat recycle center!

Thanks!!

[papie]

You can ask EmilieMadison, she is an expert.

We have one that will expire in november and are planning on trashing it at the end of the summer. Something about the padding not absorbing shock as well as it gets older? It effing sucks, but I figure they expire for a reason.

[papie]

Jul 1, 2013 15:18:45 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

We bought an expired car seat from someone we trusted. H is a firefighter & paramedic so he checked it thoroughly and it was fine. Many local police/fire stations will check a seat out.

I can't believe they actually SOLD it to you.  ^o)  It isn't exactly worth anything once expired...

[muffin0]

Jul 1, 2013 15:18:45 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

We bought an expired car seat from someone we trusted. H is a firefighter & paramedic so he checked it thoroughly and it was fine. Many local police/fire stations will check a seat out.

No. 

[Deleted]

Jul 1, 2013 15:18:45 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

We bought an expired car seat from someone we trusted. H is a firefighter & paramedic so he checked it thoroughly and it was fine. Many local police/fire stations will check a seat out.

What was the process he used to check it? I always assumed that it was a situation where you can't SEE that it's worn down or something and to assume that the expiration date was for that reason...so you know when it needs trashed even if you can't see why.

[bex1973]

Jul 2, 2013 14:40:21 GMT -5 @otterama said:

Jul 1, 2013 15:18:45 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

We bought an expired car seat from someone we trusted. H is a firefighter & paramedic so he checked it thoroughly and it was fine. Many local police/fire stations will check a seat out.

What was the process he used to check it? I always assumed that it was a situation where you can't SEE that it's worn down or something and to assume that the expiration date was for that reason...so you know when it needs trashed even if you can't see why.

He checked it all over looking for any stress marks, cracks, scratchs, etc. When he called the company to get a new level indicator (I think that's what that thing is called) they also made suggestions on places to look for wear. 

[jbean]

Why dont you save the cover (fabric) at least, you could sell that or give it away without worrying about any expiration there!

[Deleted]

Are all expired car seats a no go, or only ones that have been sitting in a car forever? We used DS's infant bucket for 6 months and its just been sitting in our basement for 4 years, set to expire in November. I was hoping I could use it when we have another LO, but I know we can't. Seems wasteful to toss it, hoping I can find a way to recycle.

[nikolita]

I don't think hospital will even let you leave with an expired carseat. I would assume that is everywhere.

Also I don't think goodwill will take them. I love the idea of 'trading them in' that Jillian suggested above. I think I will explore that route (for my sister, because if I never have to buy a carseat again it will be too soon!) and if I can't, to the dump it goes.

We were in an accident too, it was terrifying. The kids did not move an inch!

[snickers]

If nothing else, I am sure you could find a little girl who would love to pay dolls with it. I would have been in Heaven if I had one for my dolls when I was a kid!

[sweetpea27]

My DH is also a firefighter/EMT and he sai not to use an expired one at all and his department will or install or check one that is expired because they are unsafe.

[redheadk]

Jul 1, 2013 15:18:45 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

We bought an expired car seat from someone we trusted. H is a firefighter & paramedic so he checked it thoroughly and it was fine. Many local police/fire stations will check a seat out.

You PAID for an expired seat? Um, wow. 

[Deleted]

Jul 2, 2013 15:45:42 GMT -5 @missuskeekers said:

Where I am from if you are in an accident with an expired seat and your child is injured it impacts how the claim is handled.

  This.  Some insurance companies will deny coverage of any medical claims if the infant was in an expired car seat when the accident occurred.

[softspot]

For the love.

[EmilieMadison]

I just saw the page for this thread
Trash it. Cut the straps, remove the cover, then throw it in a dumpster.
Would you (general "you") feed your child expired food? Give them expired medication? Let them ride a carnival ride that had expired parts? Hopefully not! Carseats have expiry dates for a reason- after time, they're not as safe. The plastics break down and become brittle and weak. YOU CANNOT SEE THIS. In a crash, the entire harness could actually rip through the weakened plastic.

[Booze Raccoon]

I can't believe anyone would pay for an expired seat. That's not a risk I'm willing to take. Hell, I wouldn't even buy used baby items!

[jena]

I really hope you meant you bought a used seat from someone you trusted, not that it is really expired.

If it is expired.... Have you ever had plastic lawn chairs or kids toys outside? They don't last forever. They fade then they get brittle and crack. Now imagine that a seat that is just starting to get brittle is in an accident and under stress. But you can't see it yet, so it still looks fine. Do you want it to fall apart when your child needs it most?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

[MrsAggie]

Jul 2, 2013 15:16:54 GMT -5 nikolita said:

I don't think hospital will even let you leave with an expired car seat.

Also I don't think goodwill will take them.

This and this! Do not use an expired car seat!! It's not "wasteful" to throw away a potentially deadly car seat. I do agree that it would be nice if they could recycle the material but don't give it to your sister. You will never forgive yourself if something happens to her baby in an accident and those expiration dates are there for a reason.

[MrsAggie]

Furthermore, car seats are one of a couple items you should never buy used. They're only crashed tested and considered safe for ONE accident. Theres no way of telling if a Craigslist car seat has been in an accident. This is about safety, y'all.

This is more of a PSA than at the OP.

[crazycakes]

I'm pretty sure OP meant that she would give it to her sister to trade in for a discount on a convertible seat at Toys R Us or whatever when that time comes. Not that she would give it to her to use.

[mudslide]

I'm really wtf at a few people in this thread.

[nikolita]

Just to clarify... I was not going to give it to my sister to use, but to trade in - if that is even possible in BFE where we live. Otherwise, its getting cut and going to the dump.

[winnied]

Random, non-parent statement: I had no idea car seats ever expired. Is this a new thing? I mentioned it to my mom and apparently this wasn't a thing when I was a kid?

[papie]

Jul 8, 2013 15:24:54 GMT -5 winnied said:

Random, non-parent statement: I had no idea car seats ever expired. Is this a new thing? I mentioned it to my mom and apparently this wasn't a thing when I was a kid?

I have no idea, but they have a date on them. 

Back when I was a kid, we didn't even HAVE CARSEATS.  :-P