Buying car seat second-hand

[wondering7777]

I know you’re told never to do this in case the seat has been in a collision. But I assume it is ok if you’re buying from a trusted person? My cousin is about to sell hers and has asked if I’d like it for a really good price!

We got ours from a really close friend as we know they've never been in an accident! I think as long as you know it hasn't, that's fine! X

I'd take a seat from someone I knew and trusted.

However infant car seats are really cheap anyways - is this a one after the infant seat?

Car seats can also be damaged by the way they have been stored (such as in an attic or garage and exposed to extremes of temperature), and by the age of the seat. The plastic in a car seat can degrade without any signs until you have an accident and it doesn't do it's job.

I personally wouldn't use a second hand car seat even if I was 100% certain it hasn't been in an accident. Is it really worth the risk?

Yes, I bough second hand car seats. And I bought twice from strangers too.

I would if I knew the person, especially if it's family.
Car seats get reused for subsequent children after all. I'll be using mine again in a few months time and it's been in the loft for a few years!

Given how cheap they are and the fact it is one of only 2 things that experts advise you buy new, the other being a matress I don't think I could purchase a second hand seat even from someone I trusted. If something did ever go wrong its one of those cases where you would never forgive yourself.

I dont see the problem. You buy prams and cots (albeit new mattress needed) off strangers. These all carry risks too.

Go with what you can afford and dont worry.

We throw too much away now!

There’s something about the plastic degrading after a certain amount of time-check with the manufacturer. We gave our seat to a friend having checked-it would have been within the 7 year limit, but we made sure they knew to chuck it after they had used it. I’d say a reliable 2nd hand one is better than a cheap one. They might be available cheap but that doesn’t mean those are the safest. Do your research.

I dont see the problem. You buy prams and cots (albeit new mattress needed) off strangers. These all carry risks too

You don't strap your baby into a pram, put them into a metal box driving 70mph alongside other metal boxes doing 70mph though do you?

If they have dropped it it might not be safe either. Just like motorcycle helmets.

Make sure you research well.

I didn't realise there was a 7 year limit on the plastic. Is there a way to tell when it was actually manufactured? We bought ours 4.5 years ago for DC1, used briefly for DC2, and are planning to use it when my BIL visits with his new baby later in the year (they don't have a car seat they can bring). If it's been sitting in a factory for a year or so before we bought it, then it's almost out of date!?

Sorry I've just googled it - I'm going to take a close look at the stickers on it for the answer!

cannot believe how cavalier some people are about car safety when it comes to their children

I personally wouldn't use a second hand car seat even if it was from
Someone I knew just in case
For any reason it was faulty but everyone is different

@coffeeforone It’s not necessarily 7 years-depends on the seat. I contacted cybex with all the product information, serial numbers etc and they said it was 7 years for the seat I had.

If the seat has been taken as checked in baggage in an airline or has been knocked around in storage then it’s not fit for purpose.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz The cheap ones often score pretty low on safety tests. I'd take a second hand expensive one from someone I trusted over a cheap one any day.

I've bought them all so far second hand, if it's been in a colition then surely there will be viable signs of damage. Plus imagine if every parent bought one brand new where do they expect they might end up if can't sell it on? I mean to they get recycled?

I'd never buy second hand, because you never know how it's been treated. Not saying anything about your cousin, but hot sun, constantly taking in/out, flying, etc. take their toll.
Also, car seats have a Max legal lifespan - it's 7-10 years where we are. This is also due to improvements in safety. Collision legally a seat had to be disposed of. I had to hand mine in to the insurance company with the receipt for the new seat before they'd reimburse me.

In order to inspect for damage you'd have to take it entirely apart and use a microscope across every bit. There’s no way of telling by eye. The only way you’d know is if it failed in a car accident. The consequences of that don’t bear thinking about.

I’d buy off a trust friend/ family.

Hiii childseat specialist here 👋

So, when it comes to infant seats (your newborns) you must never buy or reuse seats because of the deterioration of the seat over time, regardless of storage if a child that weighs more has been using the seat previously it will wear the foam down which is there to protect their fragile bodies (and also contains your internal side impact protection on some seats), they are made of nothing but soft cartlidge and mush until around a year old so they need 100% protection. A carseat should be something you invest in more than any other item, this is because it SAVES THEIR LIFE, it is not just for transportation it is designed for the purpose of saving lives. We always tell people to buy anything but a carseat or mattress second hand. A carseat should be bought before a pushchair and it should be much more invested in. Pushchairs second hand are fine as long as it can be thoroughly cleaned and covers put through the washing machine with antibacterial wash. Not everyone has money to spare but it's the one item that should be a number one priority. I hate that we don't have a good recycling system for them but that is soon to change as people like myself in the industry are campaigning for the change! But yes also storage, bumps and drops etc contribute to why we do not recommend them. Also if we knew then what we know now our carseat laws would be very very different.. isize is always best ! Any questions or follows up please feel free to ask 😬