Car Seat Expiry: Myth or Must? The Facts You Need

Have you ever noticed stamp on your car seat stating the expiry date and wondered why does it have such a thing when the seat is still good as new? To all car owners and parents it is important to know why a car seat has an expiry date so that your little occupants will be ensured of their safety. Car seats are not simple accessories; they are special equipment intended to protect children during an accident. The article explains the science of car seat expiration, myths and ends up with the practical advice that car lovers and parents can follow to remain safe and in peace at the wheel.

What Are Car Seat Expiry Dates?

The car seat expiry dates indicate the expiry of a car seat which is about 6-10 years of manufacture. This date is available on a label affixed on the seat or in the user manual. This period is on all the different car seats such as infant seats, convertible seats and boosters. These dates are set by manufacturers when conducting intense tests to make sure that the seat is proven safe and productive during the lifespan of its use. Being informed about the reasons Why Do Car Seats Have An Expiry Date, car owners will be able to consider the safety of children as an item that is a part of car maintenance.

Why Do Car Seats Expire? The Safety Science

Cars seats are not intended to be used until they are worn out and there are a number of reasons that make them unreliable. The car seat compositions like plastic, and foam deteriorate with time under the influence of heat, UV rays, and moisture, which is readily available in a car. This corrosion may undermine the protective capacity of the seat in the case of a crash. Moreover, safety standards, such as U.S. FMVSS 213 are constantly updated, and the older seats become nothing but outdated as these ones might fail to satisfy all those safety standards. Further damage can occur when a seat is being used repeatedly, cleaned or even in a minor accident without the damage being visible and this further depreciates the structural integrity of a seat. Besides, a new technology implies that even more advanced models of car seats usually have additional safety measures, like side-impact protection or LATCH systems, and the older ones will appear less efficient in comparison. Knowing the reason why car seats have an expiry date helps you not to jeopardize the safety of your child.

Common Myths About Car Seat Expiry

Several car owners are misguided by myths that may trigger unsecure judgment concerning the expiry of a car seat. Among the common myths one can hold about the car seat is that the seat is okay as long as it appears that there are no problems. Nevertheless, visual checks will not help identify internal wear on materials or obsolescence of safety rules, which implies that what appears to be a good seat at sight might fail during an accident. There is yet another myth that the existence of expiry dates is no more than a sales gimmick employed by the manufacturers in order to increase its sales. As the matter of fact, these dates have scientific research and safety standards, rather than profitability in mind. Lastly, some people think that hand-me-down car seats will always be safe, but used car seats can be especially unsafe depending on their history because there are other stories to tell about them as owners underestimate their car seat safety. Busting these myths should assist car owners in the decision-making process concerning replacing expired seats. Also read Car Seat Expiration Dates: Myth or Must-Know Fact?

Why Car Owners Should Care

To the car fanatics who pride their vehicles on its performance, car seats are an important component of safety that cannot be ignored. With an expired car seat, your child will not be able to survive in case of a crash and will nullify the security of your well-kept vehicle. An expired car seat may not be safe, nor may it even be legal in certain areas and having to pay extra costs to cover those cases may not be expected. That means not being afraid of a car accident because a seat expired and can kill your youngest passenger, just replace it and your car will be fully equipped to take care of your younger passengers. To those who love cars, consider car seats as a component of vehicle safety ecology, no differently than any well-performing tire or brakes system which are considered as must-haves in a vehicle.

Practical Tips for Car Owners

With some useful measures, it is simple to keep abreast with car seat safety. Never assume that you can use or purchase a car seat based on brand new or never used, always find manufacture date and expiry date on the label. When putting away unused car seats it is ideal to place them is a dry and cool area that is not affected by harsh temperatures to reduce the degradation of the materials. It is always advisable to have someone who can resell an expired seat and this can be achieved by recycling programs that may be available at the manufacturers of the seats. Graco or Britax manufacturers have recycling programs that can be utilized once you have purchased a seat. Otherwise, you can find recycling centers and dispose of it in the correct manner. In the process of selecting a new car seat you should select those models with modern features like car seat side impact protection or LATCH installation convenience that fits your cars make and model (the LATCH is the unique car seat installation design). If you are on a tight budget, watch out for trade-events in stores such as Target or Walmart where they will allow you to turn in your expired seats in exchange of reduced prices on new seats. For more information visit AdvisorWheels.

Conclusion

The Expiration of car seats is not a myth, but a life-saving concept that can make the roads much safer to children. Learning about the purpose of expiry date on car seats, dispelling rumours, and obediently adhering to the advice, car owners will be able to maintain their cars in good condition. You would not be stingy about tuning your car engine or even costly braking mechanisms; you should not be stingy about checking and replacing your expired car seats since this is part and parcel of being a responsible car owner. Do an inventory check today to ensure the expiry dates on your car seat and drive away knowing that you and your passengers are safe. Do you have any tips or questions to offer? Leave us a comment or refer to the reliable sources such as NHTSA.gov to consult on the car seat safety.