Do I Trash the Britax or What?

Check out these guidelines from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/childps/childrestraint...

Since there is "visible damage" it needs to be "trashed"!

5 moms found this helpful

Remove the cover (you can keep that - or sell it). Cut the straps. Write DAMAGED DO NOT USE on it. My insurance required me to turn it in to their adjuster. Find out if you need to do so.

5 moms found this helpful

Trash or sell it in parts - people often want new covers, or replacement straps.

4 moms found this helpful

I would throw it out. I wouldn't risk having another child get potentially hurt because of a carseat that was in an accident. You don't know if there is damage unseen to the naked eye. I would cut the straps and make it unuseable and put it in the garbage. GL

M

3 moms found this helpful

See if a recycling company can take it for the plastic and the metal parts. Might as well recycle if we can :D

3 moms found this helpful

Make sure the insurance company doesn't want it. Both times we had accidents they replaced but we had to bring them the old ones.

Check before you get rid of it!!!
H.

2 moms found this helpful

First, see if someone in your area recycles car seats. (I should clarify "recycle" -- I mean literally recycle the parts, not refurbish/reuse) We have an auto collision place in Omaha that does.

If you're going to curb/trash it (which you should if you cannot find someone who recycles them), take off the cover, trash the foam/styrofoam, cut the straps. You don't want someone else to pick it up and use it.

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If you put it at the curb I would find a way to make it so no one takes it and tries to use it. Would it fit in a large garbage bag?

2 moms found this helpful

Cut the straps and take a sledgehammer to the back so its visibly broken and write 'DO NOT USE, DAMAGED!' with black marker on it, and remove the cover (they sell great on eBay) and toss it or call a recycling center.

1 mom found this helpful

Trash it. If you won't use it for your own child, why would you risk someone putting *their* child in a damaged seat?

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I dont know if this was mentioned but you can always call Britax and explain to them what happened they may want your car seat to review it since it was not in a "controlled" crash.

I'd ask the fire department. They know about car seats.

Totally agree with you to trash it, but 1st cut the straps out of it so it can not be used again. Someone may see it on the curb and think, wow carseat looks brand new.... We've seen people actually dumpster dive for a carseat that was thrown out at a wee-sale for being expired. You may have a carseat recycling center near you as well.

they say that even if it doesn't look damaged... you should throw a carseat out if it has been in a crash...

I am all for helping people... but if there is unseen damage it really isn't safe to give away anymore...

So, I would throw it out unless you want to keep it in the house as a baby lounger or something!

-M.

The foam on the back got cracked, it's trash. Off to the curb it goes!

I am the CEO of a passenger transport organisation (buses and cars). We regularly review our child seats and restraints. Just last week I ordered the destruction of many of our dodgy/questionable/borderline children's seats. They will be destroyed by our Fleet Manager personally. I will not risk any children using potentially unsafe restraints and seats. Please ensure your Britax is destroyed and cannot be used by anyone else. :)

I've heard they shouldn't be used again...maybe check, like Heidi says, and then be sure to get rid of it if they don't want it.