Ok, so I'm going back to work (Part-time) and so there will be a need for a 2nd carseat for our 12 month daughter. Here's the thing. My husband wants me to look at yard sales for a car seat... I dont think so... I dont know if that car seat was involved in an accident or not (which makes them void per safety standards) or how clean another family was, I'm wierd like that, I think of diaper blow outs, puking, sippy cups leaking etc... so I was talking to my mom, and she gave me a $50 towards a 2nd car seat. Am I wrong to want a new one, or should I just make the hubby happy and get a yard sale car seat?!?!?!?
I know this sounds stupid, but it's really bothering me. It's not about money to me, it's about safety, but to him it's about money since its a 2nd seat and I'm only working part time.
Good grief, someone help me lol
THANKS!
2007-09-08 17:57:49 · 25 answers · asked by marcie1997 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
You are totally doing the right thing! I am a car seat tech, so for me, hands down--you get a new one..no question! If someone comes to me and says the seat is from a garage sale, I usually ask to take the seat and I will replace it with a new one...then I get the sledge hammer the old one!!!!
For $50, you can get a Cosco Scenera from WalMart for $39 right now. It is a great seat b/c you can keep your child rear facing up to 35lbs or when the top of her head is 1" below the top of the shell. There isn't a lot of padding, so I don't recommend LONG travels in it as she may be uncomfortable. These are the seats we give out at seat checks/clinics. The seat will then FF to 40lbs. BUT if there is any possible way for you to come up with $129, I would look into the Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe http://www.albeebaby.com/fiprsavodeco2.html OR the Evenflo Triumph ADVANCE http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5933974
The FPSVD is the shell of a Britax Marathon, but will only harness to 55lbs FF and 33lbs RF. The Marathon goes to 65lbs. The ETA harness to 50lbs FF and will RF to 35lbs. Both are great seats and super easy to install.
Congrats to you for sticking up for your child's safety!!!!! Now, if you can trust your child's life in the hands of the person your purchase a used car seat from, then get it, but if you don't, keep on walking girl!!! YEAH for you!
If you need to get your seats checked, please get a car seat tech to look at them for you..even teach you how to install it correctly! http://www.seatcheck.org or http://www.safekids.org/certification and click on the Find an Instructor/Technician.
2007-09-08 18:17:34 · answer #1 · answered by 2cutekiddos 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
USED CAR SEATS ARE NOT SAFE I learned this because I was in an accident. I had a used car seat. THANKFULLY, my child was not in the car!!! I purchased a used one because it was when those reports first came out about how the bases are not safe over 35 mph. Then more reports came out saying they actually were. I did not know which to believe. So, I decided not to get a base just to be safe. Unfortunately, the only ones in the stores around here had bases. I guess that's all they sale now. I got one from what I thought to be a reliable source. My husband took it to one of the seminars where they show you how to install the seat. The woman was certified with the police department! We just left it that way so it would be correct. I was in an accident. The police officer looked at the carseat and told me it had a missing part. He showed me what could have happened if my baby was in the car and a car had hit me (Iwas hit by a motorcycle!). The carseat slung around like it was in one of those pinball machines! He also explained that if the carseat was even in a bump of 5 mph before I bought it, that straps would be stressed and unable to perform in a major accident.
So, here's my advice, after talking to this officer for quite awhile: BUY A NEW SEAT, take it to the police station, not a seminar, to have it installed properly, then take it to the next county over and get their opinion how it is installed. It may seem ridiculous, and hopefully you will never need the protection a functional and properly installed seat will provide, but if you do no amount of money is worth not having your child protected because it is just a second car seat. God Bless.
2007-09-08 18:15:34 · answer #2 · answered by Crishelle 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I back you up 100%. When it comes to the safety of your children, money should never be an issue. Let's just say you do get a carseat from a garage sale. What if you have an accident and something horrible happens to your little girl (hypothetical situation here), you will never stop blaming yourself. The extra sixty bucks could've saved her life. That's how my husband and I see it. The same goes for the cheapest carseat at the store. It hurt my wallet to spend 100 dollars on a carseat for our newborn but you know what? They are worth it.
2007-09-08 18:04:51 · answer #3 · answered by ericsmaria 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're right - do NOT buy a used seat. Carseats expire after 6 years and you shouldn't get a used seat from anyone you would not trust with your child's life.
You can get a Cosco Scenera (5 point harness NOT overhead shield) at Walmart or Kmart for around $40. They are on sale this week at Kmart for $35.
The scenera is a great seat that will allow your daughter to rearface to 35lbs which she should do anyway.
2007-09-09 08:20:17 · answer #4 · answered by Kak22 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think if you want to get a new one you should go ahead and do that. If you give in to your husbands idea you will never be happy about it and will always worry about your daughter and her safety. Your husband on the other hand won't be worried one way or another. And since your Mom has chipped in $50 you won't need much more to buy a good car seat.
2007-09-08 18:23:34 · answer #5 · answered by ☼♫Hmm..Interesting♪☼ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you're wrong at all for wanting the new one. You're not supposed to use a used one if it's been involved in an accident and like you said, it's a yard sale..you don't know it's history. You don't want to put your child in any danger. I would go get a new carseat if it makes you feel safer and hopefully hubby comes to understand your reasoning.
2007-09-08 18:06:47 · answer #6 · answered by ♫Joshua's~♥~Girl♫ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not stupid to be like that. YOU want to make sure that car seat will be secured for your child. NEW Car seats come with all the new equipment attached to it, like the tether belt hook for the back shelf on your car. You want to make sure all the seatbelts work properly, and try your child in it to make sure that the seatbelt is secure enough for her size.
ME personally I would get a new one. I got a brand new one. It had hardly been used though because I don't have a car. BUT the old Teather hook is on the Car my ex had. So that would be a missing peice for that car seat. My car seat turns into a booster seat as well. I would get a carseat/booster seat for your daughter.
2007-09-08 18:05:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell your husband to take a sandwich to work for a couple of weeks, and cough up the money for a NEW car seat. Standing ovation to you for considering the fact that a used car seat could have been involved in an accident! Oh and good luck at your new job!
2007-09-08 18:03:30 · answer #8 · answered by TxsWitchWAB 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think you should look on line for the best deal and go to that store and buy it. You are right, It might be dirty or unsafe.
But also it wouldn't hurt to see whats out there and use your own judgment. You can see if there clean people and think to your self if its a safe one or not, Heck go to a web site and get a list to see which ones are rated the safest and which ones are not. Take that list with you when you go to a yard sale or if you look on line. At least you can be honest and tell your hubby that you tried.
2007-09-08 18:07:12 · answer #9 · answered by Sweetie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't do it! there could be damage on the inside, which you wouldn't even know about. anything that would risk the safety of your child (even if it's a small risk) is not worth it. i'm all for saving money (since i basically have none), but a car seat is the one item i would not take any chances with.
good luck.
check out sales at all the stores. i saw some really great prices at target a few weeks ago.
2007-09-08 18:05:22 · answer #10 · answered by blue 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋