Baby Trend Double Snap and Go Car Seat Compatibility

David Sacks / Getty Images

Thrifty parents often ask whether it's OK to purchase a used auto seat from a garage sale or an online sale or borrow one from a friend or family member. While a used automobile seat might salvage money, it could besides compromise condom. Most often, you are better off buying a new seat. If you're considering a used car seat, confirm these important details.

Historic period and Expiration

Do not buy a used car seat unless you can verify the age of the seat. There should be a manufacturer's label on the back or bottom of the seat that gives the manufacture date and/or specific expiration date.

All machine seats and boosters have expiration dates. Sometimes they are found on the aforementioned sticker that has the date of manufacture. Other times yous need to read the instruction manual to see how many years later on the date of industry the seat expires.

The typical lifespan of a car seat or booster seat is vi to ten years. But for every seat, yous need to check the expiration date for that particular seat. Don't presume that because it's less than half dozen years old, it'southward not expired.

If you're non sure well-nigh the expiration date, cheque the instruction manual or phone call the manufacturer. By law, the date of manufacture and the manufacturer's contact information must be on one of the seat labels. If these labels are missing from the auto seat, information technology's best not to use information technology, as the labels also give of import model information that would alert you to potential recalls (always check if a seat is nether recall).

How long a automobile seat was in storage or the temperature of the storage location does not affect the expiration engagement. And so fifty-fifty if it was never used, if a seat is by its expiration engagement, it may not be prophylactic and you should avert information technology.

Original Parts and Transmission

Determine whether used car seats all the same have all of the original parts needed for rubber and proper function, as it's common for some parts to exist lost over time. For example, a harness on a combination seat may have been removed when the child outgrew it and was afterwards replaced without a pocket-size piece that affects the function of the harness in a crash.

Along with original required parts, make sure that you accept a copy of the instruction manual, which is a must for ensuring correct installation. Well-nigh every manufacturer's website has PDFs of instruction manuals available for free download.

Crash History

You must likewise larn the crash history of the seat (i.e., whether it was ever involved in an blow). This is important because car seat manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Prophylactic Administration (NHTSA) have replacement criteria for whether or non the car seat is still safe to use after a crash.

Some auto seat manufacturers say to replace the car seat after whatsoever crash, menstruation. NHTSA and other manufacturers base the decision on things similar whether or not there were injuries, whether the vehicle airbags deployed, or how shut the indicate of impact was to the auto seat.

It's oftentimes difficult to gather those details from strangers when buying a used car seat. Even car seats involved in adequately serious crashes may non prove outward signs of damage, but that doesn't mean they're still condom to use.

Appearance

While some car seats that are not expired and have not been in a crash can wait horribly dirty and worn out, the contrary tin can also be true. Some very former machine seats may still look new, especially if they spent a lot of time on the store shelf or packed away somewhere earlier utilize.

Car seats that have been involved in a crash may not announced damaged. No one tin visually inspect a machine seat for y'all or certify that it's safe to employ if the history is unknown or it has been in a crash. So you can't rely on appearance to know if a motorcar seat due south safe.

Trusting the Seller

Buying a used motorcar seat means y'all are relying on the seller to give you accurate information. Can you lot trust a stranger on eBay to tell you whether or non that motorcar seat was in a crash? Do you know the person at the k sale well enough to know that they are automobile-seat savvy and have maintained the auto seat according to the manufacturer'south instructions?

When you lot trust a stranger to give yous that kind of information, you are essentially trusting them with your child'southward life, and then it's important to brand that choice wisely. That's why it is usually better to budget for a new car seat and cut costs elsewhere if need be.

Used Car Seat Checklist

If y'all have a trusted friend or family fellow member who is willing to give y'all a used automobile seat, that may be a prophylactic choice if you tin verify:

• Age of seat
• Expiration appointment
• Labels and manuals
• Original parts
• Crash history

A Word From Verywell

If you cannot verify all of the things mentioned here, the machine seat is considered dangerous for use, fifty-fifty if it appears to be in practiced condition. Crashes tin cause stress and structural weakness that isn't visible from the outside, and older auto seats can be weakened by many seasons of estrus and cold in the motorcar. Unless a used car seat is coming from a shut friend or family member and meets the in a higher place criteria, the all-time choice is to buy a new automobile seat for your baby.

Thanks for your feedback!

Give thanks you lot, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

At that place was an error. Please attempt again.

riveraentreirs.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/used-car-seats-safe-for-baby-293713

Share this post