How long are child car seats considered safe before they need replacing?

Question

We are due to have our second child in early November 2007 and I still have a travel system (carriage and car seat combo) by Graco that we purchased with our first child. That was in August 2003. Is there a way to find out if this seat is still considered to be safe by current year standards? I have searched all over the labels to see if there is an "expiration date" on the car seat and found no date other than when it was manufactured. I no longer have the manual that came with the system. I have also throughly examined the seat and base and there is no visable wear on any of the bars, belts or pieces. Please help.

Answer 1

Go to Graco's website. I'm not sure what a certain website is for that info, but you can go to Graco's website and probably type in the model type and it can tell you if there were any recalls or things like that. As long as their haven't been any recalls, and the seat is in good condition then you should be fine to use it.

Answer 2

Infant carseats (as are all carseats) are crash tested and do stay in their bases. Have a CPST (carseat tech) teach you and your husband how to install the seat. An infant seat fits your child better and will keep them safer. Find an infant seat with EPS foam, 5 point harness and front harness adjuster. I love the Chicco Keyfit. Infant seats are outgrown when a child reaches the weight limit, or more commonly when the child has less than one inch of plastic shell above his head. Infants then move to a rearfacing (RF) convertible seats and MUST remain RF until at least 1 year AND 20lbs, but should remain RF until the limits of the seat (30-35lbs in the US). The recommendation from safety experts and the American Academy of Pediatrics is to rearface (RF) to the limits of the seat which is 30-35lbs on all seats sold in the US. My 3.5 year old daughter still rides RF and prefers it over FF. I have included several links with great pictures and videos of what happens to children’s necks when they are FF in a crash. Most people are concerned about their child's legs being scrunched or broken in a crash. There is absolutely no evidence that shows a child's legs are in danger and I would much rather deal with a broken leg, than a broken neck. Highly recommended convertible carseats are the Britax Decathalon, Boulevard and Marathon; Sunshine Kids Radian; Evenflo Triumph ADVANCE; Cosco Scenera and Safety First Uptown. Stay away from the Alpha Omega 3-in-1 seats only harness to 40lbs and most 40lb weight limit seats are outgrown before a child is mature enough for a booster seat. They also have very low top harness slots, so are outgrown by height at around 2 or 3 years old. The Graco Comfortsport also has very low top slots.

Answer 3

I would say to contact Graco. They make so many changes and adjustments to things like that very often. Graco would be able to tell you better than any of us could. First I would try asking them for a copy of the owners manual. If they will not give it to you, chances are because they don't recommend using a model that old.

Answer 4

They recommend a new seat every 7 years. So you should be ok. But I would go to their website and make sure. I had the manual to my daughters seat, and it told me the exact date I had to stop using it.

Answer 5

I belive it is 7 years, before they suggest a newer car seat. There should be a number on the car seat, call and see what they say.

Answer 6

6 years is the general standard.

Answer 7

look it up on the computer...the company usually will have recalls for the #'s on the car seat.....and aslong as its never been in an acident it should b safe.

Answer 8

it should be fine take it to your local fire department and have them inspect it