It's not illegal, I bought a used carseat fron a huge rummage sale that had the sherrif office as security. $30 with two bases. in nebraska

It isn't illegal as far as I know, just not recommended. There could be problems that are not visible if the seat were in an accident or even just too old. Due to the heat and cold extremes many seats are exposed to by being in cars all the time, the plastic can start to break down after about 6 years. Also, many older seats have been recalled for various reasons or simply are not up to current safety standards. That said, if the seat is from someone you know and you can be assured it is fairly new and never been in an accident, I would take it. Lots of the standards are set up for people who may not be of average or above intelligence or for some other reason have impaired judgement. Sometimes those of us with common sense forget that not everyone has it. :)

Hmmm... so, again, I hear about 'plastic fatigue' but does it really happen after only six years? And most car seats I've seen are made out of pretty darn heavy plastic, not just a thin "veneer".

Nearly 3 years ago I was in a car accident - hit a gaurdrail on the interstate during a light rain. I was able to drive away, myself & two kids in carseats were fine, but had extensive damage to the front end. I replaced the carseats even though they looked perfect- who knows what damage or 'weakening' was done to them that I couldn't see with the naked eye? Would you trust those seats? You bend a stick once and it doesn't break; bend it again and it does break because it was weakened by your first attempt. Better safe than sorry. I also destroyed the old seats - I didn't want them ending up in a yard sale or thrift store.

I've never heard that it's illegal to buy or sell a used carseat - only that it's not wise. It's not personal, but the people/organization you try to donate a used seat to can't trust what you or anyone else says about the seats history.

Seeing how my kids plastic toys wear out and break, yes, I do believe that plastic breaks down. And I would have to believe that given how hot it gets in closed up vehicles in the summer, that would have an effect on the speed of it. I doubt the extreme cold winters where I live help either. Someone in a more moderate climate than I could probably assume that their seat would be safe longer than I can. There's that pesky common sense again. :)

The primary reason I've always heard/read about as to why you shouldn't buy used car seats is that they may have been involved in a recall that you don't know about. Also, the plastic and other non-metal parts certainly do age do to exposure to ultraviolet rays and heat. In some parts of the country the inside of a car can routinely reach 140+ degrees F in the summer.

Excessive exposure to UV (the sun) can break down plastics. All kinds of things can be spilled on the plastic and belt webbing that can damage and weaken them - although they clean OFF the belt and leave no visual damage.

Car seats are generally cheap - it's an inexpensive piece of insurance to buy a new one. And basic good liability protection for charities to refuse old ones. If they distribute NEW ones they can basically tell them to sue the manufacturer, distributing used ones makes the issue harder to define who is liable.

Susan replaced two car seats after a minor accident due to a worry that they might not be as effective.

Susan (or anyone else): When was the last time you had your seatbelts replaced? After an accident they could be weakened. Over time they could degrade due to temperature extremes and UV.

Obviously most people don't replace them, as there isn't a need. How often do you hear of a problem from a used or old car seat? Rarely.

It's like mad-cow disease. It's a non-issue. Sure, you deal with it and limit it's impact, but you don't blow it out of proportion. There have only been about 250 people who got a disease linked to mad-cow. You are by *far* more likely to be killed (not just struck) by lightning.

If it's only an issue of liability, then there isn't an issue as long as the person who gets the used car seat acknowledges that fact and also acknowledges it's their responsibility to have the seat inspected.

It's probably just a case of "better to be safe than sorry." You know somebody would sue the charity if something happened. Just the world we live in...

Hate to inform most people of the world here, but automotive seatbelts should be replaced anytime you have had an accident. The material is engineered with a stress absorbing stretch to it. They are not elastic, so once stretched, lose the ability to dissipate the stresses borne in an accident.

If you've had an impact strong enough to leave welts and bruises under the belt, the belts have stretched and should be replaced. As to child's car seats, unless they have styrofoam type shock absorbtion, they are more likely to be reusable after an accident than the belts that restrain them.

The car seats do come with an expiry date. After which the manufacture states that it will not accept any liabilty after that date. (This is the usuall reason for expiriy dates on certain processed foods too!)

So an injury of an infant in a carseat that you gave away with an expired date would result in you being sued. The new owners acknoledgement of the "used" status would only reduce damages.

So you should destroy, sell or give away carseats before the expiry date. Unless you have no assests or income and are therefore lawsuit proof.

whoever said carseats are cheep must have a lot of disposable income. I don't call $150.00 "cheep"

LS: Car seats can be found at Wal-Mart or Target for as low as $40. You can also go on craigslist.com and find ones that people barely used for low prices. Most all counties in the U.S. have hospitals that offer car seats for sale for less than $40. So car seats are, relatively speaking, for the amount of benefit you get, cheap.

Anonymous: not to get off topic, but you should look into a book called Our Cannibals, Ourselves at the chapter about mad cow. Check your premises and assumptions at the door.

To Dave Taylor: the nonprofits won't take them because if the seats are recalled or damaged in a nonvisible manner, they could be held liable for any accident that is caused by the seat's failure. It's the same for resale shops and such. I've both bought and sold car seats through eBay and Craigslist without any problems.

I had a new infant car seat when my daughter was born but I had a neighbor give me the toddler seat and I have been using it ever since reluctantly. I didn't know about the concerns of used carseats but I had worries. I looked at buying a new seat but we are in the city and use public transportation or walk most of the time so I put it out of my mind thinking I was worrying needlessly. Reading this has made me want to buy a new one though. I would rather be safe that sorry.

Has anyone ever heard of an organization who donates used car seats to parents in foreing countries?

Trisha

The inside of a seat is usually just Styrofoam. Like a bicycle helmet, they are designed to crack on impact, to absorb shock. It is possible for a car seat's Styrofoam to get cracked -- with no visible exterior signs -- from a collision as slow as 5 m.p.h.

Additionally, seats are dated, something like seven years. After that date, the seat should be disposed of. I don't know the particulars, but count on it being a safety-related reason.

NEVER buy a car seat used unless you know it was never in any form of collision and trust the word of the seller with your child's life... and that the seat is rated for use through the time period you expect to use it. And that the seat hasn't been recalled.

I'm all for being frugal, but car seats are something best purchased new.

Here is the government's take on when to reuse a child safety seat, recently revised to be a bit more liberal. IMHO, they are too accommodating on the issue, but there ya go. Bottom line, you still are trusting the seller with your child's life.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ChildRestraints/ReUse/RestraintReUse.htm

The most logical thing I have been told is that the carseats are made to withstand wear and tear and collisions of course for a certain period of time. An infant carry carseat is made to withstand about a year's worth of use. So, if Baby 1 uses this carseat for a year and then Baby 2 uses same seat for another year and then you pass it on to Baby 3, that carseat has been in action for 3 years! When it was only designed to withstand wear and tear for 1 year! Same goes for other types of carseats, they are designed to last a specific period of time. They just weren't designed to hold up to unlimited use.

I used to work for a charity that collected donated goods and sold them to Value Village (a used goods and clothing store). All baby paraphanalia (not clothing) and things like car seats, high chairs, cribs was pitched into the dumpster and not sold. Value Village was scared of the liability issues involved.

While wanting my children to be safe, I can't help suspecting that carseat manufacturers are onto a good thing with their "expiry dates" ! What a great way to generate income. Call me cynical.
My current problem with carseats is that, with the addition of baby #3, it's very difficult to comply with carseat legislation. We can't afford to, or even want to replace our station wagon with something even bigger, but fitting an infant seat and two boosters in the back is VERY fiddly. All those seats have such wide bases. Are there any "slimfit" models out there that anyone knows about? Then I WOULD be tempted to spend $$$ on new ones. The baby is currently using the same seat I got for my soon-to-be-six-year-old.

Our local sheriff's department offers safety inspections of car seats to make sure they are up to code and installed correctly. Definately worth looking into.

A couple of years back, I looked into starting a non-profit (charity) for used car seats. Preferrably those whose state law requires they need them prior to bringing home new born infants at the hospitals.

My only suggestion, in 2007, would be to check the major search engines for current research and updates, then your local city/state officials. You always want the safety of your child to supercede the value of a dollar.

-CLS

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO RECYCLE THE OLD OUT DATED CAR SEATS. IF NOT WHY? I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD COME UP OF A WAY TO DO THIS. GRIND THEM OR MELT THEM DOWN AND THE PLASTIC PUT BACK INTO ANOTHER CAR SEAT OR SOMETHING ELSE USEFULL.

The question of legality depends on the state you are in. (if the seat was in an accident...hard to prove)I just came across the California law regarding the "sale of used car seats." Here what it states...
Child Passenger Restraint System: Prohibition Against Resale After Accident

27362.1. (a) No individual may sell or offer for sale a child passenger restraint system that was in use by a child during an accident involving a motor vehicle.

(b) A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).

Added Sec. 2, Ch. 703, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003

First of all Police and Fire department personal don't always know how to install car seats, most are not actually or propery trained. They are not capable of "inspecting" a car seat any more than you are.

""If you've had an impact strong enough to leave welts and bruises under the belt, the belts have stretched and should be replaced. As to child's car seats, unless they have styrofoam type shock absorbtion, they are more likely to be reusable after an accident than the belts that restrain them.""
Whether the seats had styrofoam or not it needs to be replaced due to the strain on the plastic as well as the harness. If you have to replace your seatbelt why not the harness.

$150.00 for a car seat is a good price, even $300.00. You're buying something that lasts six years. An infant seat can be used for the next child, if you have one, and you don't even have to buy an infant seat, you could just buy an convertible seat. $150.00 is too much money for the life of your child? It's funny how people complain it's too much money for car seats yet keep popping out kids. Or buy all sorts of electonics, cigarettes, clothes (in excessive) Have 30-40000 cars, but 150.00 for a car seat is too much???

Mommyto2 please research before you say something, you may have scared a few moms out there. Infants seats are not made to expire after a year. They are made of the same quality plastic as any other car seat. They are made to hold a child up to about a year so the child has a proper fitting car seat. They also have a 6 year expiry date.

On a last note there are some states that recycle old car seats and it is illegal in some states to sell used/expired car seats.

Car seats are not an investment, you don't buy them, then try to make a profit after it's old and expired. Most of you who do try to do that would most likely NOT buy something like that for your own child.

I was in a moderate wreck several years ago with an installed but unused carseat. The damage done was minimal and fairly difficult to see unless you really looked for - just hairline cracks along the beltpath that could only be seen in bright light.

It's hard to just toss something that still seems to have some life left in it - even us carseat "freaks" feel sick doing it sometimes.

The important thing to remember is that until you get in a wreck - it's just a seat. Just because it looks like it would still make a good seat doesn't mean it will still work to restrain a child in a crash. And you don't know until it's too late.

Another aspect of the problem goes beyond looking up the carseat manual online, particularly if you're talking about a charity accepting carseats. It would involve a lot of work and effort to look up each and every carseat that comes in, find the manual, check it for recalls, check for missing parts, and look for damage. I'm sure there are plenty of donated carseats that are still perfectly safe, but most charities don't have the manpower to sort out the sellable seats.

dh works in the sign industry as a vacuum form technician. he works with plastic, all day everyday. he is more of a carseat freak than me makeing sure they get changed and what-not. the one thing that he mentioned was the temperature differences makes the plastic weak. even signs show wear during the summer. they "sag" if it gets too hot, especially if the sign isn't embossed. so in my non-plastic savvy mind, if it can get that hot outside to do that to a sign, what happens to a carseat over the years in the car since it gets so hot in the car.

so what does one do with an old car seat? if you cant sell it, it's too old, or been in an accident.

throw it in the landfill ?

Nice!

The State of California did testing a number of years back on carseats that had been involved in accidents. Many of these seats included visible damage from the original collision including bent latches. In the tests, NOT ONE seat failed in a second accident. These seats are stronger than you'd think, and in reality will last far longer than the expiration date. Manufacturers just don't keep testing or supporting products past the expiration date because they don't want the liability. They also want to sell more seats! Resale shops are concerned about liability as well. The biggest danger from carseats is mis-use including not having the straps adjusted properly or not having the seat securely attached to the car.

Shouldn't there be a warning label(expiration) on the car seats so the consumer could be aware of this? I just bought 2 car seats used and cannot find and expiration date or warning anywhere. What about parents who use the same seat over the years for 2 or 3 children in a span of 6 years How do they know it could be unsafe?

I bought a new (& expensive) convertible car seat for my daughter who just turned 1. I also purchased her infant seat new. For those who think a new seat isn't worth it, think about what you could be losing. I'd rather eat ramen for a couple of months than chance that my daughter could be seriously injured in a crash. It comes down to what you're willing to do for the safety of your child. I'm trying to figure out what to do with her old seat, but I'm not going to make any parent fret over a used seat if I wasn't going to subject my daughter to one either. As far as the materials the seat is made of, tests done on seats from crashes, heat stress, etc., I want proof. I want the actual test info, the articles, websites, etc. Pardon me if I'm not just going to take your word for it! I live in AZ, & when it's 115 degrees outside and 140+ in my car, I'm not risking my daughter's life on heat-stressed plastic or whatever just because a bunch of people tell you it's okay!

Now,what is the rule on store, specifically online stores, selling car seats, do they have to sell one that was manufactured in the current year? I Hope so! If I am buying a car seat online, I want to know what it was recently manufactured so that I get my full 6 years or whatever it is out of it!
Also, I am bummed I have to buy a new car seat because the one my older son outgrew is expired this yr, so my newest son could be in danger.. and I agree with some people, it looks perfectly fine and hasn't been in any accidents.. but the alternative thought- losing my child- is horrible... top it off, I have twins, have to buy two new ones!

I am currently trying to resell the infant car seat that my daughter outgrew in just 7 months. This car seat cost a small fortune and didn't get a lot of wear and tear, since we mostly used my hubby's car and a hand me down car seat from my sister. It's a shame these car seats can't be recertified somewhere to save future parents a buck. I am a first-time mommy, but I figured out quick that the baby after-market is the place to shop if you don't want to spend a fortune on things your baby will outgrow in 2-3 months!

The one thing everyone has overlooked is not only the quality of the car seat, but that it is properly installed in the car. You can have the newest, most expensive car seat, but it's not going to do anything if it's not installed properly (ie-tilt, tightness, etc). Many fire departments and police departments check and/or install for free.

Manufacturers should have to take back the used car seat WITH its clearly marked and nonremovable date of manufacture. They could also give a credit slip toward another purchase and end the problem for consumers. Half the cost must go into liability insurance!

the question still remains ..what do i do of my used car seat ,which is still in good condition.Throwing it in thrash is not an option for me.

I am certified to install car seats through SafeKids. I usually tell parents to get rid of them but if you can't bring yourself to throw it away, you could always donate it to the local chapter of Safekids. When we are certified, we have to practice on many different types of seats. I would highly discourage using any seat that has been used by someone that you don't know. If you get a seat from a family member or friend, at least you know the history of the seat. Accidents do cause damage that isn't visible. Many seats that have been brought to me to install that were used, have passed their expiration date. One seat even had a date of 1989! The safety standards for seats are continually changing. A seat made 7 years ago would not pass the saftey testing and requirements that currents seats are held to. I would like to encourage everyone to have their seats checked because atleast 95% of seats I check are incorrect in some way. This service is always free at fire stations and ambulance companies, however donations are appreciated to fund this important service.

Since you can't sell it... and you can't give it to charity... and you no longer have a use for it... then pitch it in a recycle bin.

Perhaps the manufacturers should include recycling labels on the products. It's the least they could do after successfully lobbying for a series of laws (based on questionable science) that force parents to buy more and more of their products.

I'm sorry, isn't your child's life worth it? I agree, they get expensive but they are an investment. An investment in your child's future and their quality of life. Most insurance company's will cut you a check to buy new seats if they were in use during a crash.
PLEASE do not sell expired seats, even if they were only used for a fraction of their usable life. Or seats that have been in accidents or mishandled outside of vehicles. Cut the straps out of the seat if you can't turn it in to a recycling facility. Write crashed on it. Trade it in to Babies R Us for a 25% off coupon.
And don't wash the harness straps, the webbing is like your vehicles seat belts, washing them can compromise their ability to perform in a crash.
If you honestly know the history of a seat and it is safe/unexpired, then go ahead and list it on ebay or craigslist. Charities and consignment shops cannot sell used seats due to liabilities and in some states, the law.