We were given a previously used Britax Carseat that my nephew had used and outgrown. We've been using it with my 2 1/2 year old and also bought a brand new Britax carseat for my now 15 month old to use. I was recently flipping through a consumer reports magazine that said carseats need to be replaced after something like 5-6 years. I had no idea as I'd never heard this, we checked ours and realized that it's almost 7 years old. I looked up Britax online and it does say to replace after 6 years. It's still in good condition and works fine, is it really necessary? I hate to spend the money but of course, safety first and will...just wanted to get some input on this before doing it.
Thanks to all! I can't believe I've never heard this before, maybe I just haven't been paying attention. We will be getting a new one this weekend.
The expiration dates are because plastic breaks down/weakens over time. I would replace it when it expires for safety reasons.
I wouldn't question it. If Britax says to replace after 6 years, then I would. It may be fine longer... but is it really worth the risk?
Yes, absolutely necessary. Car seats, while higher grade plastic (especially Britax, they use the same plastic is prosthetics!), is still only plastic. Its exposed to heat, cold, sun, and extreme use multiple times a day. The plastic breaks down in a process called photodegeneration. It becomes more brittle and susceptable to breaking. Please look on youtube for the video of the 10yr old Britax crash test, the harness rips right out of the plastic.
PLEASE PLEASE replace the seat. 6yrs they expire from the date of manufacture, this one is past due. Remove the harness, write 'DO NOT USE!' on the plastic and dispose of it. You can sell the cover on eBay as long as its in nice condition, they are a highly sought after.
EDITED TO ADD- wow, people are ignorant! Yes, car seats need to be replaced. Not doing so puts your kid as a crash test dummy, so good luck to them. Not you OP, just in general. I'm glad you are replacing your car seat. They are only plastic people, even the steel reinforced ones like Radian's need to be replaced after 8yrs. It has nothing to do with them lining their pockets, they know the seats aren't safe after so many years of use. Seriously, you people arguing not to replace it are the same people who rush out to buy the latest smart phone or gadget but can't suck it up and spend $100 on a new seat to keep your child safe in the car.... the singly deadliest thing your child does on a daily basis? Good grief people, get your priorities in order! (obviously this is a soapbox issue with me, sorry, but c'mon!)
Absolutely replace it. It's become standard practice for the reasons someone else said. Clip the straps and see if Babies R Us will take it for money off a new one. Sell the cover, too.
Similarly, if you are in an accident, even a little fender bender, get the seat involved replaced. I had mine covered by insurance.
I recently looked this up. I had what I thought to be in great condition, but expired infant seat I was going to give to a friend. I wanted to find out if the expiration date was merely a marketing ploy to get me to buy a new seat. Apparently not. The plastic wears over time and hairline cracks can form, these could cause the car seat to shatter during an accident. (So I clipped the straps and let my friend use it as a trade in at Babies R Us and get money off her new seat.)
http://baby.about.com/od/healthandsafety/f/car_seat_expir...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvCRz7BRAM0
I had no idea that carseats expire either! We are expecting our second and checked the carseat we used for our first and it's expired. Yours should have an expirtation date on it...I'd get a new one if it's past it's date!
Id say better safe than sorry. The situation sucks but if the manufacturer is suggesting this I would go with that
Good Luck
Check the seat bottom for the exact expiration date and replace if expired. You can probably get something now that while keep your older one in a harness much longer. My kids are 2 and 5 and are both in the Graco Nautilus car seat that will keep them harness until 65 Lbs then convert to a booster. Britax and other companies make comparable seats. I've been doing research to switch my little one in the last few months and there are so many more good higher weight limit seats now than when my older one was this age! Hopefully your little one can stay rear facing until 2 as well (this recommendation just officially changed in the last 12 months or less).
since it's a Britax, and you can tell if the tether has been torn (love that feature!), I would go ahead and keep using it for a little while longer. I don't think there has been a change in the safety features of their seats, so why buy the exact same thing? I'd use it for a few more years, and then keep my eye out for a 20% off coupon for babies r us or the like, and then replace. I'm obsessed with safety, too, but I think you're good on this one! Best of luck!
I just bought two Sunshine Kids car seats... they have a metal frame so theoretically the whole plastic breaking down should not be an issue.
Google Sunshine Kids Radiant and get a phone number for them and see if they have an expiration date (my kids are older so that doesn't matter for us). They have a 5 point harness to 80 LBS ... and are top rated. Expensive - but good.
It is just like a car accident can damage it. Over time you stop suddenly, go over bumps and train tracks. It could work but maybe not.
this is news to me. I know once you have been in an accident they have to be replaced, even if the kids were not in them at the time. I had no clue that they expired...I have had a few for almost 6 years...I have gone through alot of carseats..had extra for other people to use if they had the kids..looks like i need to pull them out and check...
Where do you dispose of them once they are out dated?? if anyones knows.
Yes, please replace it. I've also heard that if you and your child are in a car accident, an insurance company may not cover your child's medical costs if the car seat has expired. An ambulance ride can costs thousands so please replace it. It's peace of mind!
I would replace it. My thoughts are you'd never forgive yourself heaven forbid something happen due safety changes. Plus I am weary of insurance companies using it as a loop hole in covering medical expensses in the event of a crash. I think it's some what a scam though I understand the reasoning too.
NO! You don't need to replace a car seat just because it has reached a certain age. I raised all 8 of my kids without car seats until the youngest was 3 years old, then the "no-nothings" in government required car seats so we had to get them.
The government had expiration dates on everything. If you think the government knows better than you about your family and its needs, then you have my condolences. The government says charcoal briquets have an expiration date. When I was in the U.S. Army, we were given C-rations to eat that were left overs from the Korean war and before. Some of them expired before I was born, yet we were given them to eat and no one got sick.
The car seat companies want you to replace your car seats on a regular basis. Why? Duh!! So they can sell more car seats. If a car seat hasn't been damaged in an accident, it DOES NOT (!!!) need to be replaced, unless you have too much money in your savings account, or unless you want to help pay for the car seat CEO's yacht.
Good luck to you and yours.
I'd go with the expiration date. Your son will need a car seat for many more years not just a few months, You dont have to buy a new one, you can save money by buying one that is just a few years old and will last you until he outgrows carseats and needs a booster, or one that converts....
