thekatie
New member
When my SIL was pregnant with her first, her mom (my MIL) bought a travel system and "big kid" seat from a neighbor of hers. I turned up pregnant with our second about 6 months after SIL. We explained to MIL that neither of us were that comfortable using secondhand seats with unknown histories (we know they were in no accidents, not even fender benders, but no details beyond that, such as whether the harness straps were washed, etc). Our kids are 23 and 17 months now, both well out of infant seats...
Today, we were all at my in-laws, and MIL and I went to look for a shirt for my oldest. I saw her "big kid" seat (which I had expected to be a convertible of some kind) - its a Britax Regent. I had a very active and squirmy toddler to wrangle so I didn't get to examine it in detail (couldn't even find the DOM or expiration date), but I could see the cover wasn't staying on the shell, and every strap on the seat was twisted over and over again. MIL told me, "You can have the seat. I never have y'alls kids enough to need to put this in my car... You guys just give me your seats when I keep the kids."
I didn't take the seat, and don't know that I will at all, but either way, I don't know what should be done with it. Same with the (Eddie Bauer) infant seat. Obviously if they're expired, they need to be destroyed (or donated as example seats that aren't meant to be used for kids? I don't know how that works). But not knowing anything about their past use beyond no accidents, I wouldn't feel comfortable selling them even if they aren't expired.
I'm sorry this is kind of rambling. I just don't know what to tell MIL to do. Any advice or input would be helpful! Thanks!
Today, we were all at my in-laws, and MIL and I went to look for a shirt for my oldest. I saw her "big kid" seat (which I had expected to be a convertible of some kind) - its a Britax Regent. I had a very active and squirmy toddler to wrangle so I didn't get to examine it in detail (couldn't even find the DOM or expiration date), but I could see the cover wasn't staying on the shell, and every strap on the seat was twisted over and over again. MIL told me, "You can have the seat. I never have y'alls kids enough to need to put this in my car... You guys just give me your seats when I keep the kids."
I didn't take the seat, and don't know that I will at all, but either way, I don't know what should be done with it. Same with the (Eddie Bauer) infant seat. Obviously if they're expired, they need to be destroyed (or donated as example seats that aren't meant to be used for kids? I don't know how that works). But not knowing anything about their past use beyond no accidents, I wouldn't feel comfortable selling them even if they aren't expired.
I'm sorry this is kind of rambling. I just don't know what to tell MIL to do. Any advice or input would be helpful! Thanks!