Is it too old?

U

Unregistered

Guest
How old is too old to keep using a carseat? My mother-in-law bought a carseat at a yard sale. I worry that it is too old to keep my 18-month-old safe. It is a fisher-price model and instead of being mostly plastic like today's models it has the metal bars (I'm talking old). I bought a new one for my car, and we still have one from when my son was little (it's about 5 years old), that my husband uses in a pinch, but I think her's is too old. Any comments.
 
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Sum1Else

Senior Community Member
The JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association) recommends not using a child safety seat beyond 6 years from the date of manufacturer. Some manufacturers allow longer usage.*

That being said, I would be very concerned about the seat your mother purchased at a yard sale. Does it have all of the parts, instructions, labels, etc? Is there any obvious damage? Do you know the history of the seat (esp. crash history)?

*The reasons for not using a child safety seat after the recommended time frame have to do with possible breakdown of the plastic shell and other parts due to usage. Also, consider how quickly safety advances are being made.
 

mamamia

New member
ALl FP convertibles have the purple metal bars around the outside. It is not an indicator of age. FP stopped making seats in 2001, and they have an 8 or 10 year expiration. I can;'t remember at the moment, but I have two FP Safe Embraces and they are great seats. Mine were manufactured in 2000 and 2001 and have the blue and white checked cover and purple harness straps. The older ones (pre-2000) have a blue velour type of cover with tan straps. Some of the earliest modles did have a recall, and since FP stopped making seats replacement parts are not readily available. The seat you have should have a manufacture date on it. It is on a small white sticker either on the side or back of the seat. FPSEs were ranked number 1 by Consumer Reports prior to being discontinued in 2001.

FP does recommend replacing seats if they are involved in an accident, so if you don't know the history of the seat, I would avoid using it.
 

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