Car Seat Guide

These days it seems everyone is looking for ways to save money, and buying used seems to be a no-brainer. But baby seats should never be purchased used. Here's why:

Baby Seats Can be Damaged Even Though they Appear to be Fine

Car Seat

Baby car seats are designed to protect infants from the incredible forces involved in a car crash. They are built to secure the infant safely, and also to absorb some of the energy released in the crash. They absorb the energy by flexing - if they were strong enough not to flex they wouldn't be capable of doing their jobs. But, the very fact that they do flex when stressed in an accident means that they can be damaged even when they show no signs of damage. If they are in another car crash they may fail, and break, instead of flexing causing severe injury or death to the baby they are supposed to be protecting.

Car Insurance Companies Don't Take Risks with Car Seats

If you attempt to purchase one used you have no way of knowing if it has ever been in an accident. It may look perfectly fine, but be still be damaged and incapable of functioning safely. This is why car insurance routinely pay for new baby car seats after accidents even when the seat has no sign of damage.

Don't Rely on the Seller's Representations

You cannot count on the representations of the person selling the used baby car seat. Even if they honestly believe that the baby car seat has never been in an accident, they could have simply forgotten about it because there were no injuries and no obvious damage to the seat. Also, it could have been damaged in another way, by being dropped or improperly installed.

Used Baby Seats May Not Meet Current Safety Standards

Finally, by avoiding used baby seats , and only buying new, you are ensuring that the seat conforms to the latest safety specifications. Many older baby seats - like other baby furniture - does not meet current safety requirements. Baby seats should be discarded, not resold. Never risk buying one used.

Dangers of Used Baby Car Seats

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