moderate crash...do I need to replace the car seat?

[teacher01]

My dh was in a wreck about a month ago with my 3 year old, 30 lbs, 38" son.:thumbsdown: We drive a dodge durango, and my son was in a decathlon in the second row middle seat. Both of the passenger doors had to be replaced, but the car was drivable, no one was hurt, and the car seat wasn't touched. We had the insurance replace the seat, and we got a regent....but I am not sure that we actually needed to replace the seat after reading a couple of the threads. Any advice? Should I use the old decathlon a little longer and keep the regent for future use, or should I just use the regent to be safe?:thumbsdown:

[crunchierthanthou]

Britax follows the NHTSA guidelines (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ChildRestraints/ReUse/RestraintReUse.htm) for carseat replacement.

NHTSA recommends that child safety seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers.

NHTSA recommends that child safety seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.

Minor crashes are those that meet ALL of the following criteria:

The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;

The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;

There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;

The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND

There is no visible damage to the safety seat.

Since both passenger doors had to be replaced, your crash doesn't fit the criteria for minor crash. You should stop using the seat. You already have the Regent. It's not getting any newer sitting in the box. You may as well be using it.

[teacher01]

I just wasn't sure since it was in the middle and not on the side. I was also a little worried that he wasn't truly big enough for a regent after reading all the threads...although he does seem comfy and likes it.

Thanks for the info!!