SarahP said:
Even a backing out of a parking space at 5mph or so fender bender?
Yes, because your 30 lb child requires 150 lbs for force to retrain them in a 5 mph crash. Most fender benders happen around 15-20 mph (just ask me how I know!
) So that same 30 lb child requires a LOT more force than you realize to retrain them. And if the child is not in the seat, the seat shell still absorbs crash forces.
Honestly, I think you're really talking about something on par with hitting a pot hole, or backing into one of those poles at the gas station, and then you have to make a parental decision, since they're supposed to be replaced if they're dropped. I can't tell you it would be safe to use, but I can tell you what I would do.
Now, this is a picture of my driveway.
At the end of it (as you can see) there is a tree on either side.
With my previous car I have backed into those trees a couple of times at
maybe 1-2 miles an hour (while braking).
When I called Graco to inquire about the necessity of replacing my son's Turbo Boosters (since I *did* leave a dent in the car and break the plastic tail light covers), their opinion was that it was "probably okay" but that they couldn't tell me they were safe to use. I made the
parental decision to continue using them based on my knowledge of crash forces and speaking with techs who's opinions I value.
Now a few months later we had a minor fender bender (10-15 mph) and I absolutely DID replace the seats then because they sustained actual crash forces, kwim?
But I would NEVER tell a parent it's OK to use a seat that has been in a crash. I can say what *I* have chosen to do, but honestly it's not worth a few dollars (no matter how tight money is!) to risk my children's lives.
I worked too hard to bring them into this world to lose them over something stupid.