Designer 22 seats prior to the base modification consistently detached from the base when tested with a lap/shoulder belt. They passed the standards in effect at the time - but they would fail under 2012 standards since the updated standards require testing with a lap/shoulder belt.
So imagine you're a new parent, innocently using a friend's designer 22 seat, and you just check recalls and not consumer information notices. You decide to install the seat in the center position with the seatbelt because it's the most protected position in the vehicle and it's what all of the literature tells you to use when possible. You're subsequently in a collision and the seat detaches from the base and either injures the baby or someone else in the vehicle.
I still think that if it is safe enough for ME to use, then it should be save enough for my friend to use. In this case, I'd say they should be re-called and no longer be aloud to use w/ out the base. This is not safe and has nothing to do w/ loaning the seat out. Lets say I (personally) own this seat and either bought it today or had it for my 1st or last son and then have another child in February. I know enough about car seats, never heard this defect before (this) and I double check for recalls (actually like I did before using ODS's crib w/ YDS, all the good that did me!). Then, use the seat. Put it in a friend's car. Baby is hurt/worse. If I'd known, I'd have bought a new seat (happily) but *had* or just bought a new one on sale and Voila.
It plays out the same w/ the same consequences. That seat(s) should be recalled, not fine for me to use, but not fine for my *friend* to use.
As for the 20 vs 22# thing. It's been known since I had my ODS in 2006 that RF is safest and should be done for a long time after 20#, so if you FF prematurely...And, really that would be an easy fix. ALL seats made in the last 6-8 yrs can do a voluntary recall to issue new stickers that say 22#, but really, does 2# make *that* big a difference, it's more about age. My kids hit 22# at a year. Others hit earlier/later. It's not the 2#, it's the age and that's never been added to seats, no FF until 2yo...
While I agree there is no need for hostility and they probably are not going to check b/c if they did, they'd be going after the expired seats on CL, not a 2009 MA+ (mine's gone btw! LOL). I still think it's absurd for the government to be making policies about loaning and/or selling non-expired & not recalled seats b/c it can encourage people to ignore the true and legitimate and even valid points of not borrowing/selling expired/recalled seats.
No idea what I will do w/ my current seat(s) GN and/or RN that my boys are (now) using and are not 2012 compliant, when we're done with them. YDS will be 10 when the RN is done and 8 when the GN is done. So, I'm inclined to think I'll have a RN that we're not using that I otherwise would have put on CL for $20-30 w/ a couple years left on it, that I will not be *aloud*, yet, the person w/ the expired, recalled seat w/ the chest shield that does not care about car seat safety, can sell theirs. To me, there is just something *wrong* with the government limiting a safe & not recalled seat off the 2nd hand list when know how few and far between HWH seats are on CL...Suffice it to say, I'm not impressed! LOL
tam
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