Eddie Bauer Infant Carseat Question

[jamiebrewha]

OK this may be a strange question. My sister got a infant carseat from her in-laws. It has never been in an accident. It has not expired.

It is Product Number 22625MAC, manufactured on 9/22/2004.

BUT, here's the issue. The LATCH belt screws to bottom of the carseat base. The owners were not using LATCH so they unscrewed the belt :confused: My sister has the LATCH belt and the screw and everything. BUT after looking up the instruction manual, I see that it certainly never indicates to unscrew the LATCH belt (just to clip it together when not in use).

So the question is.... is the carseat safe to use? Should she reattach the belt with the screw? Leave it unattached? Avoid using LATCH? Or is this something that would make the seat unusable?

[LISmama810]

The screw is just there to keep the strap from getting lost. It's not a safety issue.

Did this seat belong to the inlaws, or did they get it from someone else? We always recommend against using a second-hand seat from someone you don't know. Given that the LATCH strap was taken off, I'd worry about what else might have been done to the seat.

[jamiebrewha]

It is from my sister's in-laws directly. She knows them. But they are NOT car seat saavy (turned their 10 month old around forward facing - eeep!) so my sister is trying to be very cautious about it.

[LISmama810]

Make sure they didn't wash the straps in a washing machine or anything. And make sure that it hasn't been in ANY accidents, no matter how minor.

Other than that, it's probably fine as long as no other pieces are missing, the harness is routed properly, etc.

I don't have a recall list or I'd check to see about that. Off the top of my head, I don't think there have been recalls on those seats, but I don't have them all memorized. :)

[jamiebrewha]

The accident thing she was VERY clear on, and it has not been in any. I will look into the other things and pass this information on to her and will check for any recalls to be sure.... Thank you!

[Jeanum]

Hi, there was a recall on that model number 22-625 infant seat made between 8/19/2003 and 10/20/2004. It shows up on the comprehensive carseat recall list that Safety Belt Safe USA maintains at http://www.carseat.org/Recalls/179NP.pdf It's listed under "Dorel" as a "Deluxe Infant Seat" with that same 22-625 model number on the recall list because Dorel is the parent company of the Eddie Bauer, Cosco, and Safety First carseat brands. The recall list states: "Strap ends can slip through adjusters causing gradual loosening of the harness. Call for clips to attach to ends of harness." You'll need to contact the manufacturer for the recall repair kit if you're unable to fully verify the original owner installed the repair kit. :twocents:

[jamiebrewha]

Hi, there was a recall on that model number 22-625 infant seat made between 8/19/2003 and 10/20/2004. It shows up on the comprehensive carseat recall list that Safety Belt Safe USA maintains at http://www.carseat.org/Recalls/179NP.pdf It's listed under "Dorel" as a "Deluxe Infant Seat" with that same 22-625 model number on the recall list because Dorel is the parent company of the Eddie Bauer, Cosco, and Safety First carseat brands. The recall list states: "Strap ends can slip through adjusters causing gradual loosening of the harness. Call for clips to attach to ends of harness." You'll need to contact the manufacturer for the recall repair kit if you're unable to fully verify the original owner installed the repair kit. :twocents:

Thank you for the info!!