Secound hard carseat? Were leaving in 4 hours but in panicking

[alesha123445]

My baby is 7 months old, I have my own carseat. The mil has bought a secound hand car seat so I dont have to put mine on and out of hers, I know shes trying to help and wants to make things easier but I'm panicking. I've read a lot saying that you should never buy secound hand carseats, my hearts beating so fast. Should I be worried

Sorry for the bad grammar I didnt proof which I should've 😬

Probably not. Ask her what type it is - or get her to send you a photo? You could explain you need to figure out how to install it??
Would be worth google the make/model - I was given a second hand car seat once that turned out to have been recalled!
I'd be concerned if it was particularly old (plastic degrades over time), but it's very likely it'll be absolutely fine.

We have brand new but since GPs do some childcare we bought theirs & due to expense we bought second hand. It's advised against just in case they've been in an accident but I feel that risk is low especially if you buy from someone you know or with a good selling profile. I wouldn't stress about it but if you don't want second hand then you probs have to help MIL with cost in my view

I wouldn’t be happy with a second hand seat unless I was 100% confident that it hasn’t been in a crash i.e. it came from a trusted friend not an internet stranger. Can’t you just take yours?

Yh if it was a family members I probably be so panicky, she assured it's near enough brand new so I'll just go round look at it and take her word for it. She doesnt need a carseat as I have one and we live 2 mins away, I think it's more because she wants one x

If it was bought from someone you know and can be sure it wasn't in an accident then second hand is fine

It depends where it came from. Someone you know and trust then I would be ok but some random stranger then I wouldn’t use it.

Having said that I did recently sell a car seat via Facebook, it was basically new as we had replaced an old one after someone crashed into us, used a handful of times and then loackdown happened, it didn’t get used for ages and ds grew out of it.

I think you need to first calm down. If your heart's racing it sounds like you're having some sort of panic attack. Perhaps do some deep breathing and try to be rational!

Establish where the car seat is from, go and check it yourself, make sure MIL has fitted it correctly in her car. It's very unlikely that it has been damaged in a car accident. I think it will be fine. What sort of journeys is mil doing with your baby? Just local drop offs?

I've always used car seats donated to me by my older sister because she has older children. The only risk is if the seat has been in a serious accident and damaged. It then shouldn't be used.

I'm really scared of a loved one being in a crash and it made me panicky in a weird way. I had to tell her and now she said she will but it brand new, which makes me feel awful. But the original price was only 40 and I do already have one. I hope I havnt upset her

I found this Which article on line which gives advice to people buying a 2nd hand car seat.

Try to but from someone you know, or who you can trust to be honest about it's history

Check for structural damage and damage to the safety straps/closing mechanism

ensure it is suitable for your child's height and weight

Check it conforms to current safety standards (not an old model) it should have labels R44.04 or R129

Ensure it fits securely in the car you intend to use

Ok it sounds as though you have a nice understanding MIL. Perhaps you could offer to put something towards the cost of the new one? I think if you are panicking a lot about loved ones having car crashes then reassure yourself that this is extremely unlikely statistically.

Have you had experience of someone close to you having a car accident? That can affect you. It's not quite the same, but I was hit by a car when crossing the road when I was younger and I am overly cautious now and panic a bit when my own children cross the road. I'm probably a bit over zealous with road safety/ crossing roads because of my experience.

@Thesearmsofmine

It depends where it came from. Someone you know and trust then I would be ok but some random stranger then I wouldn’t use it.

Having said that I did recently sell a car seat via Facebook, it was basically new as we had replaced an old one after someone crashed into us, used a handful of times and then loackdown happened, it didn’t get used for ages and ds grew out of it.

😂 so you literally admit you wouldn’t use secondhand but sold yours secondhand. The double standards on this on here is a marvel.

I personally see no problem. Take a look at the seat, if it’s old and tatty and visibly scruffy, then no. If it looks ok, the chances are it is ok. This mantra about not using secondhand is just propping up this mad industry.