Help for a newbie - pram/car seat

[RebeccaCloud9]

Hi everyone,

I am totally clueless so need some help!

We were recently given a 2nd hand (good condition but has been used by 2 other babies) Jane Powertrack 360. There is a 3 wheel base which can have a buggy bit or a pram bit attached.

The pram bit is called the Jane Matrix and can be positioned lying down and sitting up slightly. It doubles up as a car seat in both positions.

I know that you need a new car seat for safety so does this mean I need a separate car seat but can I still use the Matrix in the pram? Is it ok to use a car seat bit as the pram if it is lying down? Or do I need a separate attachment altogether? And seeing as a new Matrix part costs £200 will it just be better to get a totally new pram?

As I said - totally clueless! Thanks x

I don't really follow, sorry.

You can use the old car seat in the pram still no problems.

You only need a new car seat I the other has been in a crash. Did you get this from a friend? If so, ask if it's been in a crash and I not it is still ok.

You can use it on the pram no problem. You will need a new one for the car.

It doesn't matter whether its been in a crash or not. Car seats start to degrade and usually should no longer be used after 5 years. I'm guessing if it has already been used by two babies it could well of been manufactured over five years ago. Is there a date sticker on it anywhere? They are sometimes on the bottom.

Thanks Raskova. All guidance I have seen says not to use a 2nd hand car seat ever (in the car).

Thanks Clargo. Yes, it is more than 5 years old. So do you think it should not be used at all or just not in the car?

Do people tend to have a separate car seat and transfer the baby from pram to car seat or use the same unit? Or is that just personal choice?

Thanks for your help!

Well usual car seats do not lie flat, so I would not attach it to a pram as a small baby should not be in a non-lie flat car seat for periods longer than an hour ( they have soft bones and can deform their spine and also puts their chin on chest and can close the airways). However, I have seen many people do this. I guess it's up to you, but I would keep the Jane flat for the pram and get a new one for the car.

If you can not find an expiry date on the seat you could try calling the manufacturers to find out.

It can vary from company to company. For instance Maxi-cosi advise that their seats have an expiry date of 5 years from manufactor, but Britax says theirs do not have an expiry date as they do not use the plastic that degrades.

Here's a video of a crash test preformed on expired seat
m.youtube.com/watch?v=wvCRz7BRAM0

The straps fail as the plastic has degraded.

I personally would never risk a second hand car seat. That's what I've always been told and why risk it.

If it's over 5 years. Definitely don't risk it. I didn't know about that one.

Thinking that's terrible nowas the woman at toys r us was shocked when I said I didn't want one of those car seats that didn't last til she no longer needed one.

I always just picked car seat from car and put in pram. You have to instead them anyway to get the baby out so no point having two