Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Car seat for newborn- do I need a new one?

10 replies

Bugaboom · 04/01/2015 12:50

My brother gave us his children's car seat for my DS when he was born 2.5 years ago. It had been used for his 2 children, never been in any accidents or damaged. We bought a compatible isofix. Now we are getting ready for baby number 2 and dug the car seat out of the loft. I've just read the instructions and it states that the car seat shouldn't be used 5 years after manufacture. It's about 6.5 years old.

Now I'm not sure what to do? It's not been in any accidents or damaged, but now that I've read this, I think we should just get a new one. I'm a couple of days overdue so we're a bit late sorting this out! WWYD?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

stargirl1701 · 04/01/2015 12:51

There may be cracking because you have stored it in the loft. The extremes of temp can weaken and warp the plastic shell.

Brandysnapper · 04/01/2015 12:52

Buy a new one, this one is out of date. No brainer really.

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 04/01/2015 12:54

I wouldn't use it. The plastic might not be strong enough in an accident.

It's annoying, but they aren't too expensive to replace.

Also, when you buy a car seat new, you should check the date on it. If it's already a year old you've lost a years use, even though it hasn't been used.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

6 year olds Baby & toddler products Families General parenting

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 04/01/2015 13:44

Id replace it.

Its because the polystyrene used in car seats can degrade over time - even if it appears OK on the outside it can be weakened and breakdown too easily in a crash. The same thing applies to helmets for motorbikes and horse riding where people have died through using an out of date one, that looked OK but couldn't take the impact of an accident.

CoolCat2014 · 04/01/2015 14:05

We had the exact same situation - given a 6 year old seat from SIL, knew it hadn't been in an accident etc, but we got a new one, the risk just isn't worth it. If the plastic is weakened you'd never know it.

Original poster

Bugaboom · 04/01/2015 16:58

Thanks for the replies. Going to get a new one. Hopefully baby will stay put another day so I can get sorted

OP posts:

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 04/01/2015 17:04

Britax dont have expiry dates, so if it is a Britax it should still be suitable.

Original poster

Bugaboom · 04/01/2015 18:02

No its mamas and papas. Going to get a Britax as compatible with pushchair.

OP posts:

Brandysnapper · 05/01/2015 08:24

Does being made by Britax mean the polystyrene never degrades?

middlings · 05/01/2015 08:27

I thought it was that the manfacturers hadn't tested the plastic when it was older than six years at high speed so they couldn't guarantee it's integrity. Not sure that Britax are different!!

Right decision OP, I'd get a new one too if I were you.

Flip