2nd baby, new car seat?!

[soandsosmum]

This morning a very helpful mothercare girl told me I'm sposed to buy a new car seat for my dc2. (i have to confess I said Bollocks!) Has anyone heard of or done this?

unless it's been in an RTA or you have any other reason to believe that it's not up to safety standard then yes, bolleaux indeed!

She's wrong. The reason you're not supposed to buy 2nd hand is you don't know if they've been in a bump, even if they say not. If its been yours from new them you know it's history.

I'd reuse definitely.

It's either a marketing tactic or she's getting confused somewhere. No 2nd hand carseats you don't know the history of, new cot mattress for every baby.

Other than that, you're fine.

Oh yeah, or if there is a big age gap I probably wouldn't reuse - because you don't know if the plastic has degraded, and because there's probably something better on the market.

Thanks. Dd1 is still in the seat as she's only a year. Didn't think she was right but just wanted to check. Thank you ladies!

Reported

If more than five years old I would buy new due to plastics becoming brittle. Car seats do expire.

I would buy a new seat, definitely. I used to work in road safety and heard too many stories about accidents involving older seats. There may be stress on the seat that isn't easy to see and you may end up having to get a new one before your new baby grows out of it. To be honest, my son has just grown out of his infant carrier and we are looking into where to recycle it as, even though I know a few preggers ladies and ours had never been in an accident, there is no point taking risks with babies. If and when we have another I will definitely be buying another one (albeit one that fits the travel system!). Good luck with new baby.

Absolutely. I used to do car seat clinics where we helped people fit car seats and saw tons of carsseats that were only a year or two old, being used be baby #2 that had big white stress marks over the plastic that the owners had no idea about. Emergency stops can put a helluva lot of stress on the plastic, I'd recommend people check their car seats thoroughly after they had one. Take the material off and have a really close check. I would buy a new car seat if we were in an accident just in case because I won't want to take any risks with my boy's life. I shall be doing regular checks in the new seat I have just bought as par for the course. It may be a little ott but every few months, the cover is coming off the seat and getting a big inspection. I just don't think that using a second hand or used car seat it worth it, not when it comes to your lo's life. Not when you can pick up a new one and have peace of mind.

Gosh, that's really interesting, Ashvis. So despite all the research into materials and design, you're saying that the manufacturers are producing seats that aren't up to safety standards after a year of normal use?

If the seats aren't fit for purpose after being used for a year, surely the product can be returned and refunded under the Sale Of Goods act?

Wonder what Mothercare would make of that?

I don't believe I said that at all, FurCough, I am sure that there are plenty of seats that could be used for extended periods. My point is that I personally would not take that risk, especially as it concerns a child's life. A year's normal use could mean anything. Seats are designed to withstand stress and pressure, yes, but in my car that could be a completely different amount than in another. I live in a city and walk everywhere so my infant carrier was not used that much but if I had lived in a rural area, it could have been used for miles and miles every day and I would have checked it more frequently. Everyone has the right to make up their own minds about what they will do when it comes to their own child but the OP asked for opinions about whether or not to use the seat. It is my opinion that it would be safer to buy a new one rather than risk using a seat that will be subject to a certain amount of wear and tear. If they do decide to reuse the seat, as is their right, I would suggest a thorough inspection in case the are stress marks in it that they are not aware of. I have seen lots of car seats that did which were used for a shorter time than the OP's.

Sorry Ashvis, I honestly wasn't having a pop. Of course seats should be checked. But what if the product has sustained sufficient wear and tear through normal use in a few months that stress marks have appeared? It's not good enough on the part of the manufacturers, imo.

For many parents, a replacement car seat would take a significant proportion of their family budget. Are they supposed to just buy a new one without questioning the manufacturer or the retailer?

i used each of mine for 2 children, they are deisgned to last a certain number of years and as the ops carseat is only a yr old i would say its fine to use again, she could check with the manufactuer tho :) and yes take off the covers and have a good look for any signs of ageing and wear.

oo will check the plastic when i take off the covers to wash them pre-baby#2

Good luck, soandsomum, hope the seat is still in good nick. FurCough, people are free to speak to the manufacturers if they do not feel the longevity of the seat is sufficient for them but I personally feel that the budget should not be a reason not to buy a car seat. I just bought my son a new seat earlier than we had hoped we'd have to in the same month as my wedding anniversary, dh's birthday and one of our closest friend's marriage. I'm wearing an old dress to the wedding, slashed our birthday budgets and very pleased I love beans on toast. As disappointed as I am that dh will not be hiring a kilt for the wedding, I am happy in the knowledge my lo is safe in the car. We all have to decide where we are willing to make compromises, or used older products. Using a car seat that has stress marks means that it may not perform as well as you'd like it to in an accident thereby risking the child's life. Complain to the manufacturer, complain to the store, just don't keep using a stressed car seat.

I got a very beautiful car seat that also have all the safety harness and support. It is very comfortable as told to me by nick(my son) . I bought it on-line from www.astarisbornkids.com/index.php/car-seat-covers-and-gear.html