Disposing of a car seat

[Mishy1234]

How should I go about disposing of an infant car seat? It has past it's expiry date by a few months, so isn't suitable for passing onto anyone.

Should I just take it to the dump? I'm a bit concerned as sometimes the guys squirrel things away and I don't want anyone ending up using it as it's too old to be safe.

Also, I have a couple of Easyfix bases for the Maxi-cosi. One is as old as the seat itself, so I presume it's out of date the same as the seat? The other one is 2 years old, so could I pass/sell it on? I hasn't been in any accidents or damaged in any way.

if you want to make sure no one removes them from the tip, you cut the straps that way it cant be used.

the other one, if you know that it is still safe to use and not been in any accidents then yes sell it or pass it on, people do buy second hand car seats, so there is a market out there if you want to sell.

Could you take a sledgehammer to it first to make it obviously unusable? No idea about the rest...

I didn't realise car seats had expiry dates?? I thought they were safe provided they had not been in any accidents - is this not the case??

we cut the straps and took it to the recycling centre

tooblunt the plastic degenerates over time and becomes brittle, I think they should not be used 4 or 5 years after manufacture, there is an expiry date printed on the base (where the sticker with the manufacturere details is).

Cut the straps off and dispose of in the normal household bin (metal can be removed to be recycled at the tip), remove the cover and if you have a permanent marker write 'broken' on the shell. If any tip workers take it off you tell them it was in a horrible accident (just in case!).

Or if you are feeling particularly pissed off with anyone, take your frustrations out on the car seat with a hammer! (or perhaps not - don't want you to lose an eye if a bit of plastic goes shooting off!).

this is what maxi cosy says about this:

Car seats are a safety device. To properly protect your child, the car seat must be in good shape and all labels and instructions present and readable. Dorel Juvenile Group car seats now have expiration dates molded into the shell and sometimes the base of the car seat. The expiration date will be from 6 to 8 years after the manufacture date.

Thanks for the advice. I'll cut the straps and take it to the dump.

I feel really emotional about it though. Both my boys were in the seat and although I couldn't use it for another baby anyway, we aren't having any more and it feels kind of sad to be getting rid of it .

Thanks Mousymouse - I didn't realise that at all. Thankfully the age gap between my oldest & youngest isn't that big, so the car seats are still ok!