2nd hand car seat from family - safe to use?

[Bexy99]

Hi there,

This is my 1st post on Mumsnet! I am 23 weeks pregnant and am starting planning what to buy for the baby.

My sister in law has just given me their old secondhand pushchair travel system with car seat. Their son is now five and so the car seat is quite old but it is in good condition and hasn't been involved in a crash.

Do you think it is safe to use the car seat or should we buy a new one? Any advice from other mums would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,
Bex.

I would be happy using the car seat as long as its still in date - most car seats are only ok for about 5 years because the plastic outer and the polystyrene support padding can degrade and weaken over time so they won't protect your baby properly in a crash.

The age of the seat would put me off.

I wouldn't have a problem as long as the seat wasn't involved in a car crash. I do agree a bit about the age of the set because of the polystyrene support might well be a bit weak, but you can just check that and just have that bit replaced for minimum money by the car seat company.

You know thd history of the seat so that wouldn't bother me if I'd the age ic it that would.

I sold my pram and car seat to my friend, she was with me when I bought them in John Lewis and wStched me using them e wry day until my son was about 14/5 months if so.

Take the pram but I would buy z bed carseat.

On one hand they say plastic takes 1000s of years to degrade, yet a car seat can after 3 years or whatever? Excuse me for being cynical but I have a feeling this os more to do with profits than safety!

If I was 100% certain of the history of a carseat I would use it yes.

since its not been used for 5 years I wouldn't, they do degenerate, mine have! new car seats are very cheap on kiddicare

Thanks everyone for all your comments and advice - it is much appreciated.

I think we're going to get the car seat checked over and if it's fine give it to my mam to keep at her house as a spare along with the other bits to go with it.

Think we will buy a new system for our use.

If anyone knows where to go to get car seats checked please let me know!

Thanks again.

www.kiddicare.co.uk

You might be able to find a compatible car seat and not need to replace the whole travel system.

Can you buy a new Car seat to to on the travel system? Which make is the car seat and pram? I'm sure some one here will be able to tell you which is compatible x x

I would replace the car seat, what make is it/ what make is the travel system? I'm sure some one here will be able to help you and let you know which make / models are compatible x x

Argh! Sorry my first post didn't show up! You get the drift lol