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Avatar universal

do car seats "expire"??

So, I am on a budget with this baby, money is tight right now!  No one has offered to throw me a shower, but I am getting plenty of hand me downs from friends and family. My one friend offered me her old travel system with bases and everything. Really well kept, but it is 7 years old. My other friend tells me that I can't use this car seat because they expire after 5 years and it isn't as safe now??  We're talking a top of the line car seat here, if I have to buy one it will not be as nice, not even close!  They only used it for one child and kept it in storage until now.  It still looks brand new!  How true is it that I can not use it??
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the info!  I promise not to duct tape the baby to the roof!  Lol of course I want to get the best for my baby. I was unaware that carseats expire, even after having a baby six years ago!  I honestly would never have considered a used car seat had I not first seen how nice it was!  I am aware that I will have to buy one, as when my friend checked, the seat expired this past February.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Buying a used car seat is very iffy... Even if it's not expired you don't know if it has been taken care of properly or if it was in an accident.
If you can't afford it perhaps DSS can help provide you with one. Good luck its something you definitely want to be sure is safe.
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Avatar universal
Our car seat was purchased in 2011 and it has an expiration sticker that says 2018 so I'd say check for the sticker :-)
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Avatar universal
Our car seat has a 7 yr lifespan it shows it on the front of the actual car seat not the base u may have to check around or look up serial number or like someone said take it to fire station or police department n they can help my mom got us a spare car seat at a garage sale I knew it was very old didnt even have a expired date an tried to give it to goodwill they wouldnt accept it cuz they expire and get recalled all the time. Stroller crib everything is fine secondhand but u dont want a car seat that will bust completely apart in an accident and u never know when that will be so splurge on just the one thing and a crib mattress after that everything else its no big deal
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8216878 tn?1403882912
If it's from someone you know then Google it to make surr its still safe. I am accepting a used travel system from a friend. It's Eddie Bauer and way nicer than what I could buy. But I wouldn't get obe from thrift store unless I had to bv you won't know if it's been in a wreck.
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Avatar universal
I had a feeling that it was too good to be true. I haven't picked it up yet, but when she showed me it still looked brand new!  She even saved rhe paperwork for it!
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Avatar universal
No. No. Not Goodwill. They should never ever sell anything like that anyway and you have absolutely no way of knowing if a used seat is safe. Seats that have been in even very minor car accidents (or thrown or dropped or handled improperly as can happen if checked as cargo on an airplane for example) are subjected to compression forces that make them less able to protect a child in any accidents in the future. Just looking at a seat you can't tell if it's been damaged. The expiration date matters. Safety regulations change all the time, and even safe materials wear out over time. I totally understand that it can be tough preparing for a baby on a tight budget. But your baby's safety is worth it - buy a new carseat.
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Avatar universal
They expire because over time the plastic breaks down. It may appear sturdy and safe but this breakdown could really decrease your child's safety in an accident.

Check with wic,  and sale groups online. If you get a hand me down or purchase a used seat make sure you verify it has never been in any sort of accident,  not even a fender bender, because that makes them unsafe too. I know most towns have resources for pregnant people other than wic, that will help you get the things you need. I would never use an expired car seat.
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Avatar universal
Just like everyone is saying on here they do expire the date will be on the carseat some where either the back or the bottom. I could be weird about things. I fear if I were to use a expired carseat and go into a car accident and something happened to my baby I fear that they will look at the car seat and the date and say oh its expired this could have turned out different if it wasn't expired. Like I said I could be crazy lol but it gives them something to go off. Good luck.
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8894496 tn?1400933529
If you are on a budget i would go to good will to check some out.
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8894496 tn?1400933529
Yes they expire. There should be a tag on it telling the date it expires. But it is five years.
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Avatar universal
I know they do expire, but I don't know how long from the manufacture date.  You might have to look it up online somewhere.  Good luck.
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Avatar universal
Idk where you are....but here in VA all you have to do is sit in a class at the wic office and you can get a free car seat.
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Avatar universal
I know penny pinching ***** and having to be on the budget. But when it comes to your child's safety you should want to make sure he/she gets the best. I would borrow money if needed or come up with something to make sure I get a good and new car seat. I think if its been in the accident once its not good any more either. We got a real nice stroller and a car seat from babies r us for 300$ and it was one of the more expensive ones. If you register in there they give you 10 percent off. Please please please try to get a new one for baby's sake and safety. Good luck hun.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Honestly?  It depends where you're from. Check out the local laws. Technically she's right. To be honest I  would check it out by serial number and model number to make sure there were no recalls and if not I would use it. As long as it was secure.  

My son has a 17yr old stroller (my cousin's) and sleeps in a 27yr old crib (mine and my brother's) at my mom's and he's fine.  He's never had an injury.  
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Avatar universal
I would take it to the hospital/police station or fire department to have them give you the ok on it first. Travel gear can get up in price I would check first
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7400888 tn?1401574739
You can have a professional provide a check on the car seat to see if it is safe
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Avatar universal
Yes they do expire
Helpful - 0

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