Alternative uses for a car seat

[Papalazarou30]

Hi

I'm currently pregnant and to save space/ practice I've had my car seat in the passenger side of the car.

Recently had a bump in my car no injury to anyone but I had an empty car seat in the car and the damage was to the front passenger side. I've rung the manufacturer they have advised to replace which is fine and I am sorting this out with the insurance.

Obviously I know that this car seat can not under any circumstances be sold/used in the car as there may be hidden damage. However, I am now left with a spare seat and at risk of sounding incredibly tight it seems a shame to throw it in the bin.

Does anyone have any alternative uses for this seat?? I'm wondering about maybe giving it to my niece to use for her dolls. I just feel wasteful putting something that has never been used in the bin but am also fully aware of the dangers of using it

Sorry for the rambling post

I'd put it straight in the bin. I'd never want to run the risk of it being donated/sold/gifted when DN was done, and the recipient not realizing. You really don't want it inadvertently being used. Toss it.

I think given you know it isn't safe to use cutting the straps and tipping it is the best option just to ensure it isn't reused. It's a shame but these things happen

Yeah was thinking the same but just wondered if there was something I'm missing cheers for the quick reply. Cutting the straps is a good idea as well I didn't think of that.

Thank you

I would bin it. If you're buying the same one again keep the covers. It's very handy to have a second set.

If it's got removable covers, you can sell these on ebay!

Ask your local fire station, we gave ours as they could practise cutting them out etc

Take the covers off, have as spares or sell on ebay.

Use the seat as a plantpot outside?

There is a store near me that takes them for recycling, I'm not in the UK though so don't know if you would have similar.

Could it be used by NCT type classes to show how to safely strap babies in? As long as it was clearly marked that it wasn't safe for actual use.

Otherwise the fire station sounds a great idea.

Like the fire station idea.

Ours doubled as a baby seat on the pushchaor as it was a travel system. If yours does that is it safe to use it on the pushchair only and keep the new one for car only?

If it's a rocker baby type one, use as a portable seat indoors or for on pushchair.

Yes sell or pass on the cover to someone with the same seat, useful to have spares.

First pregnancy? Reason I ask is that I hate wasting stuff but since being a parent the amount of stuff that ends up being thrown away has really shocked me!

Also I question whether the seat is actually unsafe to use. If there was no one in it, and it was strapped in, them the only way if could be damaged was if the car that hit you pushed the passenger door actually into the seat . That sounds like more than just a prang!

So I suspect it is actually fine to use. I presume a rear-facing seat? So a plastic shell which the airbag might have hit? If no crack then I'd use it again.

Child seat safety is usually made up of retention (straps and mount points) to prevent baby for flying across the car.

Then impact resistance which is the hard plastic shells. If not cracked then it'll be fine.
Finally impact absorption which is the polystyrene and padding. The polystyrene degrades with time, and if compressed by a bump, cannot do the job a second time.

Very similar concepts to cycle helmets really.

A manufacturer will pretty much always recommend to replace because profit and potential liability if they said it was OK.

I like the fire station idea there's one nearby that my friend works at so I'll give them a call.

Thanks again for all the advice I did wonder about using it purely for the pushchair or maybe leaving it at grandparents for something similar but would be concerned about them getting mixed up

Whatever you do, do not use it as a portable seat indoors
They really are not designed for babies to sit in for any length of time
And baby's airways can be compromised leading to them stopping breathing
Research was done by the lullaby trust

If no crack then I'd use it again
Please don't. You may not see a small stress fracture. It might make all the difference

Take out any bits that are removable fabric (headrest, newborn inserts, covers) and sell on eBay or keep as spare. Cut straps & bin main seat.