What to do with old car seats?

[Poledra]

That's it really - DD3 has outgrown her britax Cosi-tot and I'm not having any more children . The seat's still in good nick and never been in an accident, though it is getting on a bit (used for all 3 DDs). Is there a charity or suchlike that could use it? I hate throwing away perfectly serviceable stuff.....

Hmm obviously Britax US are a bit more cautious. I'd like to know why Americans get the benefit of having a shelf life on a product that can literally save a child's life but the British don't. Do they use really crap platic in the States in that case????

I'll give them a call tomorrow as I'd like a straight answer about this. If I'm wrong then I apologise but I would still err on the side of caution about using a really old car seat.

I emailed Britax today and this is the reply I got:-

As the legal requirements of the European and Federal Standards (USA) are incompatible this means they have different regulations they can comply to. As it states on our website as long as the product has not been involved in an accident and is approved to the current safety standard ECE R 44/03 then it is safe to use. Obviously our newer products are now more advanced with side impact protection so it would be your choice on whether you purchased a newer product.

Worryingly the 'current' standard of ECE R 44/03 was introduced in 1997, this isn't the current standard but the previous one. The real current standard is ECE R 44/04 which was introduced in 2005.

So folks according to Britax a seat manufactured in 1997 is good to use now . I really hope no-one actually follows that and uses a 12 year old seat now!!

look Up the website for eastern alliance for safe and sustainable transport. I appears to donate seats to Moldova

Eastern alliance for sustainable transport