Need help! Carseat question????

[thelittlemermaid]

My DH was cleaning out the garage and found our DS's old booster seat.

My question is, when should a car seat just be thrown away? I thought I read somewhere that after the manufacter date if it's 10 years or older that it shouldn't be used. Then I thought since the latch system came out that they lowered it to 6 years. The booster hasn't been in an accident and I am just wondering if it's worth getting a new harness for it for DD or just go out and buy a new one. This booster seat was made in 1998.

I hope someone can understand that. LOL!!!! It has been one of those days.

TIA!!!

 

[Annette_VA]

Check out the FAQ on carseat.org & click on "Age of safety seats".

 

[gallaj0]

I don't think you need to throw it out unless it's been in an accident, or shows sings of wear.
But if you need to get a new harness for it anyways, I would question how much you would save over buying a new seat; some boosters are pretty cheap.
Go ahead and get a new one, better safe than sorry.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

for the posts!!! I happen to find the harness for the seat most of the pieces were with it except one. The ones I did find are in very good shape.

I checked out the link that Annette_VA posted and found that certain booster seat listed. It talked about the plastic part cracking and if it had to call for a replacement. It says it is a free replacement and not a recall. That if it didn't crack there was nothing to worry about. Well the one piece that I am missing is one of the plastic pieces.

Now, do you think it would be dishonest of me to call and get a brand new plastic buckle for the seat? The seat is in very good shape as the pieces I did find. If I remember right I think we paid over $80 for this seat. DH says I should just call. But I want to know what fellow DISners think.

TIA!!!!

 

[floridaminnie]

With the anchor system, most boosters don't have them....just the regular infant/toddler car seats do...just bought one a couple months for DD and non of the good ones had any.

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by thelittlemermaid
do you think it would be dishonest of me to call and get a brand new plastic buckle for the seat?

jmo, but if you're missing that one piece, it could be because it DID crack. So, I don't think it's dishonest to ask for the replacement.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by gallaj0
I don't think you need to throw it out unless it's been in an accident, or shows sings of wear.
.

Not true..they now have expiration fates printed on them because after 5 years or so of bewing in a hot car/cold car..the plastic breaks down adn they are not as safe as they were prior to that....they all now come with dates stamped on them stating when they should be replaced.
I wouldn't use an old one that didn't come with a latch system and tether strap. I just bought my daughter a new one that goes up to 80 pounds and it had a latch and tether. Its a high back booster seat. She is only 30 pounds now and going to be 5 soon so she may be in that thing until high school LOL!