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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Second hand car seat - DM has worried me!

12 replies

PandaWatch · 18/03/2013 14:36

My SiL has offered to lend us their maxi cosi carseat, which they would have had for about 18 months by my due date. I know it hasn't been involved in any accidents and was bought new. However, my DM is concerned about us using it on the same basis that it is not advisable to use a second hand mattress for a newborn.

I think this sounds a bit over the top but would appreciate anyone else's viewpoint!

TIA!

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forevergreek · 18/03/2013 14:38

I think it would be fine as long as your sil is correct with it not being bumped.

The main reason it's a no to second hand car seats is that you can't tell if they have been in an accident before even if thy have.

If you had one child then another yourself 18 months later it would be fine to use as you would know the circumstances. I'm assuming the same if from reliable sil

lagoonhaze · 18/03/2013 14:39

she's wrong. You know its history its fine.

Think of the money you save.

scaevola · 18/03/2013 14:39

I think in your circumstances it's not a problem. The seat is not aged and you can be absolutely sure it's not been bashed.

There is no read-over between standards for car seats and those for mattresses.

FoofFighter · 18/03/2013 14:41

I would without hesitation take one from a family member or a close friend where I trusted them, they knew it's history. I wouldn't buy one from Ebay etc just in case.

(Although I do honestly think that (crashes aside) this is just a manufacturer's way of getting you to buy more car seats and make them more money scaremongering if you will - plastic takes 1000s of years to deteriorate yet they want us to believe that it will be dangerously deteriorated after a couple of years?? hmmmm )

TimothyClaypoleLover · 18/03/2013 14:45

In your circumstances I think it would be ok to accept a second hand car seat as you know where it comes from and its history.

My DH and I had a huge argument with inlaws as they bought a car seat at a car boot sale without asking any questions about it. And it was cracked which they hadn't even noticed. Even now they think we were being precious about not wanting our DD anywhere near it.

Lexiesgirl · 18/03/2013 14:46

We have a second-hand carseat, from a very close friend who I trust to have told me the truth about being in any accidents. I'd definitely use it, if I were you.

Original poster

PandaWatch · 18/03/2013 15:24

Thanks everyone! I thought that would be the case and was loathe to spend another £100 unneccessarily. I think my DM is just being more PFB than me - which is amazing considering this is her 8th grandchild! :)

OP posts:

lagoonhaze · 18/03/2013 15:30

My DM cant understand why I still use a carseat with my 5 yr old (mmm he will be in it til hes 150cm - yes more than the legal minimum of 135cm- because thats what it is minimum and in other countries like sweden its 150cm)

She is also completely perplexed as to why we choose to extend rearface our 16mths old........well shes our fourth child between us and we know better now of the risks of forward facing.

OP this is likely to be the first of many things you and your parents will differ over. I suggest the only way to deal with such differences is to send links to research/articles and remind them its your child!

Bejeena · 18/03/2013 16:09

But with a mattress for a baby the logic is that another baby has slept in it and mattress moulded to that baby's shape.

As far as I know you cannot mould a car seat, it is a seat, so surely that theory is a pile of rubbish!

I don't get all the big car seat hype of course I am going to ensure my baby's safety is my main priority but I cannot, for the life of me see the difference in safety of a new vs secondhand car seat (assuming you know the history of car seat). It is almost like saying you are safer in a new car than a five year old car!

Original poster

PandaWatch · 18/03/2013 17:14

I think with the mattress the links to cot death are based on the idea that there may be bacteria passed from one baby to another through the mattress - not just about the shape of the mattress. But even that is just a theory! My DM is definitely one of life's worriers... :)

OP posts:

glossyflower · 18/03/2013 17:25

Sounds ok to me as you can trust it has never been in an accident.

Daisy299 · 18/03/2013 19:19

If you are concerned, Kiddicare currently have a car seat for £15. Ours actually cost a bit less as they had a flash sale over the weekend, but £15 is still a very good price. Ours came today and it's perfectly fine. Note that you'll have to pay postage unless you spend £30.

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