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AIBU?

To not want to use this car seat?

16 replies

Feminine · 10/08/2011 22:09

We are returning to the UK next year... My Dad has dug out my 15 year old brother's old one for me to use for DD3 (then)

I want a new seat as I believe advances are made all the time ,and I want one that will be more modern (and I believe safer). This gesture is kindness on my Dads part ,wants to save us some cash etc...but he also is super frugal and would think us very strange for wanting to shell out on a new one.

I don't want to hurt his feelings...he has gone out of his way to make our return to the UK as smooth as possible.

AIBU?

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BertieBotts · 10/08/2011 22:10

The old one won't meet current safety standards, so just say you're really grateful but you don't want to get stopped and fined for it.

BertieBotts · 10/08/2011 22:11

(Which technically won't happen - you can legally use old seats, you just can't legally sell them in a shop. But it's a kind way of letting him down.)

griphook · 10/08/2011 22:12

there's no way I would use it, but I would lie and say something like, thanks very much but it illegal to use a car seat over 10 years old, you know what uk health and safety laws are like.

thisisyesterday · 10/08/2011 22:12

no yanbu

just say "thank you so much for thinking about it, but we'd rather buy a more up-to-date one so she is as safe as possible"

GwendolineMaryLacey · 10/08/2011 22:12

No YANBU. Car seats are the one thing I won't compromise on. Am currently in a dispute with PIL because they want to take DD out of a car seat that fits her perfectly to move her up into the next one that she's a little too small for.

BertieBotts · 10/08/2011 22:13

Here: Current standards

Sirzy · 10/08/2011 22:13

Yanbu. Being stored for 15 years there is no guarantee about the condition of it.

ZonkedOut · 10/08/2011 22:15

Also, car seats these days have a maximum life of 10th years (sometimes less, depending on manufacturers guidelines, but I don't think any are more), because the plastic can degrade in time due to heat and cold and sunlight, things like that.

Feminine · 11/08/2011 16:14

Thanks all ... I will be brave and tell him thanks no thanks!

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Feminine · 11/08/2011 16:15

*but no thanks!

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oldraver · 11/08/2011 16:20

NO. It will not be up to current standards plus manufacturers recommend a 'life' of five years on a car seat due to weakening of the plastic. Now I dont think a car seat 'expires' at the 5 year mark and a well kept/stored seat is better than a second hand one or one exposed to sun all day long (thinking here of the seat in my folks car in Spain), but a 15 year old one ? No

Plus where has it been kept ? are the straps mouldy or frayed ?

WilsonFrickett · 11/08/2011 16:27

It probably won't fit your car either, which is another 'excuse'. YANBU.

ShoutyHamster · 11/08/2011 17:13

No. Show him the current standards - it is too old and the plastic will have degraded. It could easily be dangerously weak - and you wouldn't find that out until the worst happened. Do you take chances with something like this? NO. I'm sure he wouldn't either, he sounds helpful and loving to both his DC and DGC!

EssexGurl · 11/08/2011 17:33

We had a similar situation when we had DS. PIL offered us DH's moses basket to use. This had been kept in the loft for 38 years. I wasn't going to touch it with a barge pole so made DH tell them that we would have to buy a new mattress for it and all the material would need to be changed so we would rather have something new. FIL was undeterred and said that was fine, they would keep it at theirs so we could use it for transporting DS in the car when we visited them. Apparently that was what parents did in the 60s - just stick the moses basket in the back of the car for journeys. Needless to say that never happened.

Refuse and quote lots of H&S at him - that usually works with the older generation!!

skybluepearl · 11/08/2011 19:46

can you buy one on line and get it sent to his house? maybe just thank him for the offer but say that it wouldn't meet present saftey laws.

Feminine · 11/08/2011 20:45

Originally he was going to order it for me from Argos ... then he must have remembered the loft!

We don't have a card that works on UK sites, some cards here in the US are useless in Europe :(

They were going to pay ,and we would give them the money on our arrival...

I am going to call him...Thank you all for the advice and hints :)

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