Disposing of used car seats

[Shortjanet]

What do people do with them? I have two high backed booster seats, about 4-5 years old and never in an accident. I'm minded to offer them free on facebook market place. I understand the reasons people don't get second hand and it's advised against but surely if someone is struggling to afford one? Or if a grandparent might want one for occasional use? I guess alternative is to take them to the council tip and hope they are actually broken down and recycled. It seems so terribly wasteful though. I really think car seat manufacturers should have to have end-of-useful-life strategies in place for the products they sell. Anyway what do you lot think? Thanks in advance and sorry it's not the most interesting/exciting topic for a thread!

I'd put them on fb marketplace tbh.

Depends if you want loads of time wasters and weirdos, if so, put them on Facebook, gumtree or free cycle

If not, take them to your local tip

I know what you mean. I'm feeling brave (or naive?) so I think I'll chance marketplace. It just seems such a waste to chuck them out. I've even washed the covers and gone through the hell of getting them back on! Thanks PPs

I think I'll try this as mine has been in the attic for 6 years. My car seat was for my niece who I picked up from school once a week and taken for the odd day out.

I've always given mine away on a local FB mums page or town giveaway, buy, sell page

I took mine to the tip recently as they were both forward facing ones suitable from 9 months which I don’t think are recommended any more. I would give marketplace a try for the high backed booster type.

Even if they haven’t been in an accident the condition of the plastic deteriorates over time, especially with the temperature extremes of being left in a car. I took an old but unused one to the tip, honestly think recycling is the best way with car seats. I cut the straps first to make sure it wasn’t ‘rescued’ and reused.

As long as a seat isn't mouldy ( makes the straps fabric weaker and unsafe) or past its expiry date then Facebook market place is fine. I've seen some shocking car seats put up, mouldy, or looking like they are from the 90s! In an ideal world everyone would be able to buy new ones but that isn't reality and it does seem wasteful otherwise doesn't it if they just get destroyed when other people could benefit when they wouldn't otherwise.

Car seats have an expiry date (largely relating to material strength) - they should be disposed of, regardless of history and apparent condition, at a certain age.

Just take them to the tip/recycling centre. Old car seats people keep around just in case make my head hurt. On a couple of occasions I’ve had a friend offer us the use of a second hand carseat for an awkward trip (eg. Pick up from the train station then a 10pib drive to their place) and been horrified at the ancientness of them. The last horror I saw a friend use for another friend’s baby in exactly that scenario was a baby seat that didn’t rear face. It must have been 30years old or something ridiculous. I was very glad my child was in the 5 year old toddler seat and not that baby seat.

10min not 10pib

Thanks everyone. Totally understand concerns about older seats not being safe to use. I've double checked and it appears mine are older than I realised with 2016 manufacturer date but according to what I see the manufacturer says they have a ten year lifespan. I might use a white mark-anything marker to scrawl exp 2025 on the back so it is clear in future and there's no confusion. If I get no interest or time wasters I'll take to tip.

Exp 2026 that is...

Less than 5 years old, good condition and no accidents yes I would definitely pass them on! People will always buy second hand ones so you don't need to feel guilty about offering something in that market as long as it's not deliberately something dangerous.

EU seats don't expire, they change the regulation number every so often and the old ones become illegal to use. That said you can still use back to R44.03 which is from the 90s, so not the most effective method if they don't actually bother to phase out the old regulations!

The date of first use is much more relevant than the date of manufacture.

Do you have a school class what’s app group?

Thats the best place I’ve found to offload stuff and people know your honest on group class chats…. Than a random stranger …