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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to use a car seat for a third child?

29 replies

Runningupthathill82 · 19/12/2015 09:33

Baby due next month. Fully intended to use the Maxi Cosi car seat which served us well with DS.
He was the second child to use it - we were given it, in excellent condition, for DS, and it's still in great condition now (or will be once I've given the covers a bit of a wash).

Anyway. Other threads have got me thinking I should replace the seat for the new baby, even though it seems fine and has never been in a bump or a scrape. Would this be OTT?

For background, we have no money, so if we did buy a new car seat it would be on credit. It would also have to be the same model of Maxi Cosi to fit with our existing pram, so couldn't get a cheaper version. (If I was loaded I'd just buy a new one and not give this any further headspace).
Also, for clarity, we haven't "prioritised" other stuff above a car seat, which is often raised on these threads. DC2 is having absolutely everything as a hand-me-down from DS, aside from a new Moses basket which was bought for us as a gift.

All thoughts welcomed. Is it wasteful and OTT to replace a perfectly good seat? Or the absolute minimum you would do in terms of safety?

OP posts:
ValiaH · 19/12/2015 09:36

Personally, I would reuse it. As long as it's not been in an accident or been bumped around majorly anywhere. Could you check it over with the covers off- make sure there are no stress lines/ cracks in the plastic to make sure? If there were signs of wear like that then I'd be looking at replacing it.

TaurielTest · 19/12/2015 09:37

I would use it unless it was several years old (I think the polystyrene degrades and gets more brittle with age).

BessieBlount · 19/12/2015 09:39

Blimey, I used my maxi cosi for all 4 and then passed it on to another mum who is on her second so he is the 6th child to use it.
I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

IndomitabIe · 19/12/2015 09:39

You may be able to replace the polystyrene bits (we did this with a Britax seat when I accidentally snapped one of the side pieces!)

torthecatlady · 19/12/2015 09:40

As long as it looks ok and you feel comfortable doing so.. If it were me, I would re-use. X

TheNumberfaker · 19/12/2015 09:40

Wash the covers and try not to worry. I don't know a single mum who buys a brand new car seat for each baby.

BrandNewAndImproved · 19/12/2015 09:42

I would reuse it.

poocatcherchampion · 19/12/2015 09:45

We are reusing for dc3 and it was used for a niece too. Bought Xmas 2011.

And for the record we could afford it we just don't think we need to.

OwlinaTree · 19/12/2015 09:45

I'm pretty sure car seats have an expirery date on them somewhere.

CurlsLDN · 19/12/2015 09:46

Depends how long you've had it, car seats do 'expire' due to plastic becoming brittle over years. There should be a label on it somewhere giving a definitive answer on this, info here

thecarseatlady.com/used-and-borrowed-car-seats/

BloodyDogHairs · 19/12/2015 09:46

I would use it.

HackerFucker22 · 19/12/2015 09:47

I'm not precious at all but I've always replaced mattresses and carseats (although we don't currently have a car so with DC2 we borrowed one to leave hospital and we borrow one when we rarely, maybe once a month get in a car)

OwlinaTree · 19/12/2015 09:47

Have a look here

OwlinaTree · 19/12/2015 09:48

X post curls!

passmethewineplease · 19/12/2015 09:52

I'd use it. The biggest risk with second hand car seats are not knowing the history, you do though so it wouldn't stop me from using it.

Strangertides1 · 19/12/2015 10:04

Am using my silver cross car seat for my third it's never been in an accident so is in perfect nick. Bought back in 2012. But sadly so it the pram chassis that goes with it, I say sadly cos it handles like a tank! Lol

superbfairywren · 19/12/2015 10:08

You just need to check with maxi cosi what the life of the car seat is and make sure it isn't older than their recommendation. It's fine to reuse as long as it is within its expiry limit. Manufacturers differ so I'm not sure on maxi cosi

BrandNewAndImproved · 19/12/2015 10:09

I didn't replace the cot mattress either. Only 17 months between my dc so dd went into a bed when ds was to big for the moses and went straight into her cot.

superbfairywren · 19/12/2015 10:12

From maxi cosi website-

We develop our car seats for an intensive use of approximately 10 years. However car seats don’t expire and the lifetime is dependent on the real use of a car seat. Car seats involved in an accident should be replaced immediately. We advise to never use a car seat whose history is unknown since it could have been involved in an accident, or have some broken, torn or missing parts. Do not leave the car seat exposed to direct sunlight for long periods and we advise to check the plastic parts regularly for damages or changes in shape or colour. The expanded polystyrene (EPS) parts of your car seat are important to guarantee the best safety performance. We advise to check the expanded polystyrene (EPS) regularly for damages.

Frazzled2207 · 19/12/2015 10:12

I would.
I used a 2nd hand one with my two.
However do check it carefully, when dusting it off for #2 we realised that some of the polystyrene had cracked Confused- it was dropped a couple of times when in loft.
We got this replaced easily for about £20.
Getting the cover back on afterwards was more fiddly but we eventually managed.

FatimaLovesBread · 19/12/2015 10:13

There was a thread on a similar subject last week and although that was a Britain seat. They had said that the seats in the UK have no expiry date as the plastic is more durable. They only have expiry dates for us regulations.
I'd imagine it's something similar with maxi cosi

specialsubject · 19/12/2015 10:16

reuse it, obviously. The only concern is whether an older car seat has been in an accident. You know for certain that this one hasn't.

Marsaday · 19/12/2015 10:23

Depends how old it is. We were lent a seat to use while at inlaws abroad, took cover off to change strap height and discovered that all the polystyrene was crumbled underneath. I would use it again with a thorough check over to make sure it's all fine.

Marsaday · 19/12/2015 10:24

Ps most manufacturers say you can gaffa tape broken polystyrene if it's a clean break and doesn't affect the safety - but check with manufacturers of individual seats before doing this!

AuntieClimax · 19/12/2015 10:25

Another one here who would reuse it.