Maxi Cosi, recommend not using a car seat over 5yrs old? The one i have is, what to do?

[threecurrantbuns]

I have/had a maxi cosi cabriofix, which i actually only purchased 2yrs ago for my ds (hasnt been used since he turned a yr old) just gone up to the attic to get it down for dc due on sunday, to find mice have munched their way through it I am soooo pissed off!

Anyway my friend has given me a maxi cosi cabrio fix exactly the same although she purchased it for her first daughter who will be six in june. Iy was used for her for 9mth then her sibling for the same. Hasnt been used at all for 3yrs. She is a very close friend and i know for a fact it has never been in any accident. But it is over 5yrs old.

Not sure what to do it seems such a waste to purchase a new one exaclty the same for over hundred pounds when i have one sat in the house. But also wouldnt want to use it if unsafe, just not sure if its one of these pieces of 'general' advice. As a car seat used for 5yrs may have had it.

The plastic may have deteriorated and become weak and thats not something you could see. I wouldn't risk it. Buy a brand new one.

When you say mice have munched it, what has been munched? Would it be possible to transfer the straps etc from the okay seat to the chewed one? IIRC it's just the plastic which supposedly degrades over 6 years.

What makes me a bit suspicious of the 6 year thing is that some of the maxi cosi (and other brand) seats are designed to be used from "9 months to 12 years" - surely that is longer than 6 years? Do they use different plastic?

They do have This at the moment in Mothercare which looks like a good deal, if you don't need it to be compatible with a pushchair.

its completely munched the actually seat fabrice and all

Thanks Bertie, but i have had the cabriofix as it goes on my bugaboo frame so would really like to stick with it, plus a changed from a different seat to a cabrio due to it having a really good/comfortable position for a newborn.

Bertie - the 9m to 12y car seats still don't have extra special materials, they just may fit a child from 9m to 12y they won't last for the same child for the whole time frame . There are seats in the US designed to fit children from newborn to backless booster and sold as the only car seat you'll ever need, you will need to buy two of the same model as the seat expires in 6y (plus they make rubbish infant seats, have low harness slots so are outgrown well before 40lbs/18kg, and make poor high back booster...).

Dorel are bringing in expiry dates on all of their brands this year in line with the US/Australia/NZ/Canada (Safety First, Maxi Cosi, etc) and if you use the seat after that then have an accident you won't be covered by ins. in case anything goes wrong as you are using them against manf. instructions.

i agree,with bertie... can you not just put the covers from your friends seat onto your newer seat?

have they eaten the plastic/polystyrene?