You also need to watch out for when your baby’s car seat expires. Yes, car seats expire.
Car seats are an important product to buy when you are welcoming a new member into your family. These tiny humans swarm our world with so much love and light that we would never let anything happen to them. This means safety technology is the first subject to think about when you’re bringing your precious infant home for the first time. Thus, you need an infant seat that has received a number of peer-reviewed studies so you can double check the feedback and choose your own instead of going for a car seat recall. A seat that has received a 5 customer rating is ideal to have as it is sure to have great quality.
Top Baby Car Seats
You should be aware of your options before you make your purchase so you can make sure that you are buying something that is your worth. A product that has received a number of customer reviews can help you in selecting by going through their feedback and rating. In this article, we made a list of the best-selling Graco car seats from Amazon. It is worth mentioning that car seats with a great number of customer reviews definitely are your best option. Let’s also consider the matter of how and when car seats expire. Check out the serial number for that.
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible
- The Graco’s Exten2Fit Convertible product from Graco is recommended for parents who prefer their child to ride rear-facing. It has a safety surround side impact protection for the baby’s added safety.
- Graco child car seats like Extend2Fit also allow a 6-position recline to make the seat extra comfy for your children and 10 positions headrest to accommodate their growth spurt.
- This model has a Graco Premier version that offers enhanced safety with its premier design and materials.
Graco 4Ever DLX 4 in 1
- The amount that you pay for the 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 product will give you 10 years of wear and tear which makes it a really good investment especially if you are looking for an all-in-one car seat that grows with your child. The expiration of their product is when the child outgrows them.
Graco Grows4Me 4 in 1 Seat
- The Graco’s Grows4me 4-in-1 car seat is good for 10 years or until your baby graduates from toddlerhood to preschool – that’s when their car seat expires. This 4-in-1 product is a practical choice considering how it can be used by your baby.
- This is a great 4-in-1 car seat as it is durable and complete with safety features that you can rely on in case of unwanted situations.
Graco SlimFit 3 in 1 Convertible Seat
- The Graco’s SlimFit LX all-in-one convertible car seat is the only one your baby will need till he or she grows from 5 to 100 pounds; simply put, this 3-in-1 car seat will grow with your baby.
- This LX 3-in-1 convertible car seat is complete with Graco Protect Plus Engineered and the essential features with a latch system that will make your baby feel secure all the course of time making it a great 3-in-1 car seat to own.
Check Car Seats’ Manufacture Date
On every infant car seat, whether they’re replacement parts of travel systems or not, there is a manufacture date. This tells you when the product was made. Now almost all car seats’ expiration is 6 to 10 years, just after their manufacture dates.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do Car Seats Expire?
Is the Expiration Date Printed On The Car Seat?
In some cases, car seat manufacturers do imprint the car seat expiration date into the plastic base the seat is made of. You can find the expiration date of Graco car seats and even other brands usually on the bottom or at the back of the seat if this is the case. If the expiration date is not printed on these baby gear products, you’ll do as was mentioned above and look for the date of most manufacturers. Then, the car seat manufacturer expiration dates typically ensure 6 years from that date. You’ll want to refer to the manual, though, to see what is said about car seat expiration dates in there so you can replace things if you must.
Is Using Expired Car Seats Illegal?
Although it is advised not to use an expired car seat, it is not illegal. Now depending on specific states, they may have laws in place that will result in legal consequences if your infant is riding in an expired car seat (like a fine). The federal government, though, has set forth safety regulations for making a car seat, but nothing that will punish a parent for using a car seat recalls.
The reason for the regulations and guidelines is to keep babies and toddlers safe when they’re riding in vehicles. Though regulations change, make sure that you are always knowledgeable about your car seat. You need to know the sign when your baby should be kept in a rear-facing position and when to shift to booster seat mode or to the forward-facing harness stage.
Is It Okay To Buy Used Car Seats?
If you’re going to be purchasing any used infant car seats or you’ll be using one that is being handed down from our previous child, it’s critical for the safety of your baby to look into the safety information that applies to it. Infant car seats are notoriously used for more than one baby.
Whether you’re buying a rear-facing car seat, a seat that’s included in travel systems, or a belt-positioning booster seat, make sure you read the safety information that goes along with it. You need to find the manufacture date and calculate the expiration date so you can keep your baby or young child safe. You also must ensure that your vehicle seat belt can properly secure the used car seat whatever brand it is, in case you are getting one.
Source: flickr.com
Why Are Car Seats Expire Or Go Bad?
Expired car seats even the ones you bought with 5 customer ratings can go bad because, after so many years, the materials begin to degrade. The constant sun exposure warps the plastic material with its extreme temperatures and summer heat, the cold air makes the plastic brittle, oxidation causes the metal to rust, and more. It can cause your child’s car seat to malfunction or become unsafe. It risks your child passenger safety. Your car seat can break if you were to have a wreck and would not protect your child like it normally should. This is the main reason that expired car seats are bad even if they are the best or have received 5-star customer ratings from many users. Although it costs more money, buying a brand new car seat is better than an older car seat and used seats.
When To Stop Using Graco Car Seats?
Just like the Graco car seats, the bases that are part of the travel systems car seats expire as well. Regardless if you have one that has received a 5 customer rating, car seats’ expiration is within 6-10 years depending on each individual base. Refer to the specific information from child passenger safety technician for the one you have or are considering. There should be a manufacture date located at the bottom of the base just like the car seats. You can look up your specific one based on the website I provided earlier in this article. Graco infant seats normally have 4.8 out of 5 ratings on the product review site.
What Else To Know About Car Seats Expiration?
When buying Graco car seats or any other brand of infant car seat, steer away from used car seats. Unless you personally know the person who owned the car seat and they were the original owners, I suggest buying a new one. In case you are getting wear and tear car seat, make sure that it can be secured by your vehicle seat belt. Also, you do not know if any of the materials of the product have been warped, ripped, torn, or weakened. This can cause the product to malfunction if you were to get in a wreck later on and harm your baby.
Can I Put 9-Month-Old In Forward-Facing Car Seats?
- Graco’s Grows4me 4-in-1 car seat – 5-40 lb weight recommendation for rear-facing and 22-65lbs for the forward-facing position.
Do Car Seats Expire And How Long Does Car Seat Expiration last?
Most car seats expire after six years. After you buy a brand new car seat, you should check under the seat or on the frame of your model to find the car seat’s expiration date or date of manufacture. Make sure that there are no missing parts during installation and that it can function properly. Also, ensure that it is set up based on government regulation and federal safety standards. Like expired medication, using a car seat past its expiration date will bring you more harm than good.
When To Replace Expired Car Seat?
Any old car seat or expired seat that you have in your car should be replaced when it has passed its expiration date based on what is written. If you experience car accidents, you should change your child’s car seats after that, to ensure safe kids’ travel. Remember: if you see something wrong with the seat using your naked eye, then it is most definitely time to replace the seat.
What’s The Weight Limit For Infant Car Seats?
The weight limit for infant car seats varies by brand and model. Generally, most infant car seats, including popular brands like Graco, Chicco, Britax, and Evenflo, can accommodate infants weighing between 4 to 35 pounds. It’s important to refer to the specific manufacturer’s guidelines to determine the exact weight limit for your infant car seat, such as the Graco Contender 65.
Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Allen Laconsay
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