Comments on: Anybody Need a Car seat (slightly worn)?

By: Bird Goddess

Bird Goddess — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:56:51 +0000

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

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:01:16 +0000

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.

By: Ezza

Ezza — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:43:06 +0000

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!

By: Jacket

Jacket — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:46:45 +0000

Fill the landfill. Heck that is what it is for, right?

By: Kranf

Kranf — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:11:16 +0000

I would say bust it up and dump it. But that is just me.

By: realtorchick

realtorchick — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:14:09 +0000

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 ???

By: Bird Goddess

Bird Goddess — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:26:03 +0000

I believe there is a program that assists low income families in obtaining a new car seat….

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:27:17 +0000

Dump it. I would hate to think of a little one getting hurt.

By: kidsmom (Tracy)

kidsmom (Tracy) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:29:32 +0000

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.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:34:04 +0000

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.

By: Emma LeighWBParent

Emma LeighWBParent — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:09:18 +0000

Goodwill will not take carseats. I tried.

By: sumgirl

sumgirl — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:17 +0000

we have carseats from way back when … i need to look for some dates on them. i have never really thought about it … hmmm.

By: The Bosphorus

The Bosphorus — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:30:18 +0000

Hell hath frozen over…
there is consensus on the tumor.

We’ll have to have a carseat busting party.

By: meice

meice — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:41:15 +0000

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.

By: meice

meice — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:44:37 +0000

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.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 04:40:51 +0000

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.

By: Mamalee

Mamalee — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:37:38 +0000

Dump it. Bust it up and put it in a big garbage bag and put it OUT. You don’t want anyone using it!

By: Atomictumor

Atomictumor — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:18:26 +0000

Set it on fire.

By: Jacket

Jacket — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:10:17 +0000

Car seats have an expiration like milk or bologna? Who knew?

By: Denette

Denette — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 18:05:19 +0000

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.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 01:24:38 +0000

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