Used Car Seats | Things To Check When Buying A Used Car Seat

There are many parents that are tempted to buy used car seats because they can be much cheaper than buying new car seats. While it is important to make sure that the used car seat is not visibly falling apart and is in good condition, there are also other things that you need to check before you buy a used car seat.

First, you need to check the date that the used car seat was manufactured. It is very important to select a used car seat that was made after January 1^st of 1981. It was at this point that federal regulations for child car seats changed and became much more strict. Typically, however, you should only choose a used car seat that is no more than 5 years old, just to be on the safe side.

The next things that you need to check for the used car seat is if there are any recalls associated with that particular car seat model. You can take the used car seat's information (name, model, and manufacture date) and do a search online for recalls. You can find all of the information that you need for the car seat located on a sticker on the side or back of the seat. If there is no sticker, do not buy the used car seat.

You should also make sure that you have the user instructions for the used car seat. It is understandable that sometimes other people will lose the instructions to the car seats, and there are ways that you can gain access to the manuals that you need in order to use the car seat properly. You can contact the manufacturer of the used car seat and request instructions, or you can check the Internet.

Make sure that you are registering the used car seat that you have purchased with the manufacturer. You will need the information from the sticker again for this purpose. It is important to register with the manufacturer so that if there are any recalls issued for the particular model that you have, you will be notified, and a replacement will be issued (in most circumstances).

Do not purchase a used car seat that has been involved in any kind of auto accident, no matter how small it may seem. There may be damage to the car seat that is not visible, and can put your child in serious damage if you were ever involved in an auto accident. Also, you need to thoroughly inspect the belts, straps, and buckles for excessive wear and tear; if there is even the smallest amount of fraying do not buy it.

Jumping right into the purchase of a used car seat without checking it out first can wind up costing you more money in the end, especially if there are problems after you have already bought it. To avoid issues and protect the safety of your child, never buy a used car seat that has any information missing or that shows any sign of damage, no matter how small it might be (other than a few scratched here and there). Your child is trusting you to worry about his/her safety first, and the price second, not the other way around.

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