How Old Is Too Old for Infant Carseat?

I've never lived in M.... However if the car seat has gone through multiple summers, sitting in the car and cooking in the heat, the plastic could be brittle. Like others have said, it's probably better to get a new one than risk it in an accident. However, you might want to keep your old one as a spare (in case your car needs to go to the mechanic's & you won't have to totally take the carseat out for 1/2 days; if you travel; if someone else needs to take the baby somewhere, etc.).

Another idea is that you can save it for when Babies R Us does its ''Great Trade-in" sale; depending on the brand of your old carseat, you can get 25% off some other carseat, highchair, stroller, etc. I think they do it twice a year-?

4 moms found this helpful

Most, if not all, car seats have an expiration date on them (found on a label on the side or the bottom). Otherwise, 6 years is the rule of thumb.

3 moms found this helpful

I heard it was 5 years too, and/or look for the expiration date.
Because of the plastic breaking down.

3 moms found this helpful

I thought the rule was 7 yrs but check the seat.
Much of the "expiration" date has to do with the ever changing regulations concerning car seats.

3 moms found this helpful

Yes, check the date, but I too thought it was 5 years...can't remember. The whole thing is that the plastic breaks down after a certain number of years and wouldn't be as effective if you were to get in an accident. I don't honestly know how true or not true it is, but your insurance company may not cover an accident involving an expired car seat, so it's probably better to get a new one and be on the safe side.

3 moms found this helpful

A few months after my son was born we had his seat checked at the fire station for proper installation. They checked the date and told us that it should have been replaced a year or two earlier. That car seats should be replaced every 5 years. I have since seen that as an expiration date on new car seats. With the old seat, riding in the car with my son was a test of patience. How long can he scream and cry? After we got a new seat, which we got very cheap from the fire station, it was like riding with a totally new kid. I think the old seat had very little padding left and was hard under his little body.
I would suggest, like a few others have, take it to the police station or fire station and let them check the seat for you. They will even help you make sure you install it properly. They will also show you the new safety features in the seat and cars. If needed they will show extra tricks that the M. Highway patrol has deemed acceptable if the seat needs something extra to install properly. (Extra padding to install level in your car.) They may even have a car seat that you can 'purchase' for a donation. I think the M. highway patrol supplies them to the fire stations. That is how we got ours. We got a nice Graco seat from them for a donation. My son is 2 now and still using it. I would suggest going to the fire station.
FYI- We live just down the interstate in Columbia.

2 moms found this helpful

5 years is the max for a car seat.

My sister is a Pediatric RN and is also car seat certified. As others have mentioned, due to the extreme heat and cold weather conditions that car seats endure, the plastic becomes brittle over time. Also, safety features are continually being improved upon, making a 5+ year old car seat not quite as safe as a new one.

Car seats are expensive so it is VERY tempting to use one that seems to be in "good" condition even though it is over 5 years old. Babies R Us has a great promotion that they run a couple of times a year where you can turn in an old car seat and get 25% off of a new one.

I know that I could not live with myself if something was to happen to my daughter while in a car seat that I knew was not the safest for her.

1 mom found this helpful

There should be an expiration date on the car seat. If it is past the expiration date then the plastic could be too old and not as effective.

1 mom found this helpful

Infant seats are 6yrs. Read the manual, look for a sticker on the side. If there is no expiration date on the seat, then look for the date of manufacture and go by the 6yr rule, throw it out, its too old to reuse now.

1 mom found this helpful

http://www.carseat.org/Resources/FAQs.htm

this website says 5-8 years. So you should be fine. Plastics shouldn't break down as much or quickly as some people think. Unless the car seat has been in an accident or has sat out in the sun for a long time, it doesn't break down that fast.
When I had my last child, I checked the Graco website and they said a max of 10 years. I would honestly feel that the brand name car seats will hold up better over time and be safer in general. You could also have someone at the police station look it over for possible weak spots, or some car dealerships can do inspections as well.

1 mom found this helpful

The expiration mark is 5 or 6 years. It depends on the seat. I wouldn't use it at all. Things have changed soo much in the past couple years. They look the same, but they are different internally and with cushions and foam.

1 mom found this helpful

most I know of have a 6 year expiration - Sunshine Kids and some Dorel/Cosco ones have 8 year expirys but I think that's mainly convertible seats. The owner's manual should state what the expiration period is for your car seat, and if you can't find your manual, most if not all manufacturers allow you to download a manual from their web sites.

1 mom found this helpful

I've heard you should never use a car seat that is over 5 years old. I completely disagree. If it was good for 1 and 2, why isn't good for #3? Yes new technology is available and there may be safer seats on the market. Check the seat over carefully to make sure all the belts and buckles are in good shape and are working.

1 mom found this helpful

My theory is that these carseats are made out of plastic, which with age, wear, weather and love will bend and mold. Think about what product do you own that after 5 years hasn't shown it's wear, and then think plastic. Even if it is slightly that can be enough that in an accident can make the difference.

Also think about when you are carrying that carseat. As they start out as tiny little 7pd miracles they are so much easier on your back and arms. But as they get closer and closer to the age of one the weight of that seat can make you grunt as you go to lift them. Well imagine what that continual strain and pressure does to the handlebar and thus the sides of that carseat..... And then remember that you have done that twice and you are getting to the end of the typical lifespan for a carseat.

Clearly I would lean towards a replacement. You can get a brand new one for around $60 at Target or even find one that is only one or two years old and only been through one kid.

1 mom found this helpful

My car seats have the expiration on the back of the seat. Hope this helps!
Nanaof6 boys

1 mom found this helpful