Anybody Need a Car seat (slightly worn)?
January 23rd, 2007 by The Bosphorus
Here’s a question for all you ethics experts out there.
The Missus and I bought a new car seat for lugnut. So now we have an extra seat that we don’t need. It’s at least six years old and is showing its age. On its back is printed a warning stating not to use the seat past December 2004. It still works, however and could be given to charity for somebody else to use.
So the dilema is this: Do I throw it away, or do I give it to charity?
It is very well worn. The manufacturer warns against using it any longer. It’s a potential danger, evidently. How could I lay that death trap on some family that can’t afford any better? Good grief!
(I’d also have to clean it up before I took off to said charity, if I so choose.)
Of course we’ve been using it for two years past its prime with no problems. It appears structurally sound. A good bath might do it wonders. (I’d have to bathe it. That’s the strongest argument in favor of el dumpo, so far.) Why should I make the charity’s decision for them? If they think it’s crap, let them throw it away. I’ll just be prematurely adding more junk to our overjunked landfills, if I throw it away now before all its potential is used up. Al Gore is shedding tears right now at the horror that thought. (I don’t believe he uses this internet. I think he uses internet 26 sub 7. So chances are he’s totally unaware of this unfolding moral… choice.)
Seriously, What do you all think? Should I take it off to the dump or over to charity? I suppose I could bronze it and mount it onto the hood of my truck for a makeshift hood ornament. Dude, wait a minute! A bronzed carseat would look great on a Mazada 6. Heh…
[edit: That’s Mazda 3, not Mazada 6. Those are crap cars anyway.]
January 23rd, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Contact any of the following for answers to your questions:
Safe Kids Coalition of Greater Knoxville: 215-5175
Knoxville Police Department, Car Seat Safety Office: 215-8602
www.safekids.org
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
The reason for the “expiration date” on the car seat is that new safety features are constantly being added. If your car seat expired in 2004, it is not current with the most advanced safety requirements. I, personally, would bust it up making it unusable, and throw it away. I wouldn’t want to think that the car seat I donated could possibly hurt another child. My 2 cents, for what it’s worth.
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Actually, the main reason they expire is because of the plastic polymers. After a time, they become more brittle, adversely affecting the seat’s effectiveness.
A charity will not take an expired seat, as they cannot use it.
So dump with no dilemma!
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Fill the landfill. Heck that is what it is for, right?
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I would say bust it up and dump it. But that is just me.
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I tried to donate my car seats and the charity would not take them…period. They do not want the liability. Which leads you to conclude that charities would rather no car seat than a nice, used carseat ???
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:26 pm
I believe there is a program that assists low income families in obtaining a new car seat….
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Dump it. I would hate to think of a little one getting hurt.
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Dump it. It will save you time - after taking it to a charity that can’t use it and then you end up taking it to the dump anyway.
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
As many other said, the foam inside of the seat breaks down over time making it significantly less safe and likely to not protect a child involved in an accident.
Cut the straps, bust it up and toss it out.
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Goodwill will not take carseats. I tried.
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
we have carseats from way back when … i need to look for some dates on them. i have never really thought about it … hmmm.
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Hell hath frozen over…
there is consensus on the tumor.
We’ll have to have a carseat busting party.
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:41 pm
If you decide to dump it on a charity, you’re kinda screwed if you want to use it as a tax write off. For 2007 things have to be certifiably in good condition.
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I have a whole section of my basement devoted to different stages of car seats. That [michael henry] that our little girl is our final baby. No offense, but I don’t know how people can handle more than 2 kids. I’ll never know… snip, snip.
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Don’t bother busting it up–just bag it in a big garbage bag so know one will trashpick it. That’s what we did with our last one.
January 24th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Dump it. Bust it up and put it in a big garbage bag and put it OUT. You don’t want anyone using it!
January 24th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Set it on fire.
January 24th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Car seats have an expiration like milk or bologna? Who knew?
January 24th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Dump it. The straps can start to dry rot because of the sunlight as well as the plastic and padding breaks down. They have so many programs to help those in need get carseats. Be sure to cut the straps like the other person said.
January 24th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
from www.carseat.org:
There is some controversy about the “expiration” date for safety seats. All experts agree that a seat should be discarded and destroyed if it is more than 10 years old, even if it looks fine. Most manufacturers suggest replacing a seat 5-8 years after the date of manufacture, because current safety seats may have better safety features than older seats, such as tether or air bag warnings. The date of manufacture may be found on a sticker on the seat (unless it has peeled off) and may be stamped into the plastic shell. However, don’t confuse patent dates, which can also be molded into the plastic, with the date the individual safety seat was manufactured.
(in my google search I did see information about plastic breakdown as another reason for not using an old car seat but I did want to explain my comment about safety issues being a reason to dump the seat)Karen