Being a bargain-hunter and going to many second-hand stores, consignment stores and yard sales, I have seen my share of second-hand car seats being sold. I never thought any thing of it, until I had kids. I see people buying these old, out-of-date seats to put their child in. So the question in, how do I know if a used car seat is safe for my child?
The answer is simple, you have no idea. Is it worth risking your child’s safety to save a few dollars? Did you even know that car seats have an expiration date? Yep, they sure do. Car seats are only safe for a maximum of six years from the date of manufacturer. They place a date on them to let you know that the plastic can begin to break down and become unsafe after that date. Did you know that if a car is in an accident, the car seat must be replaced. Even a slight fender-bender can put stress on a car seat and make the plastic more brittle. There have also been changes in strap requirements. A five-point harness is now required in all new car seats. It drives me crazy to see a child in a three-point harness and watch them move their arms to take the straps off and only be restrained by their lap.
So you are at a consignment store and see a car seat for your toddler for $5, knowing that the same seat at Target is $45. Do you buy the used seat, not knowing how old it is or if it has been in an accident? The choice is yours to make, however, you are ultimately responsible for your child’s safety. I know that the economy has hit many people hard and it is very expensive to raise a child, however your child’s safety must be put first. The most expensive and luxurious car seat is not always the best. You can find a great car seat on sale for a responsible price. Instead of automatically heading to your local Wal-Mart, Target or Babies R Us, try looking at some of the discount stores. Locally I have a store called Big Lots that often has new, name-brand seats for a fraction of the cost of Wal-Mart because it is a pattern they are no longer using or something like that.
So before you accept that expensive car seat from a friend that has used it for her past three kids, ask yourself if you really think it is safe enough for your child. It is within the expiration date? Have they ever been in an accident or fender bender? Even in the car seat has been strapped into the car too tight, the plastic can have stress put on it and become weak.
