Car Seat Expiration: How Long Are Car Seats Good For​?

“Expiration dates” becomes an area of expertise for new parents. You make sure to check the expiration date on formula, milk, and even baby lotion. But there is an expiration date that slips by unnoticed until it’s too late, and it relates to some of the most essential safety gear you own. 

Many parents are shocked to learn that there is an expiration date on something as simple as a car seat. It’s easy to assume that something as durable as plastic and metal will withstand the tests of time, but they will not. It’s essential that you understand why they expire and comply. If you ever have questions about maintaining family safety items while getting your Arrowhead Imports Audi repair in Peoria, AZ, be sure not to overlook car seat expiration checks.

The Science Behind the Expiration Date

You may be tempted to believe that expiration dates on car seats have something to do with manufacturers wanting people to buy as much product as possible, but there are some very good reasons for these expiration dates. Why do car seats expire? Material degradation is the main culprit. Car seats are made up of mostly plastic with hard plastic exteriors. This plastic degrades as it expands and contracts with the intense changes of temperature inside your auto. Your car functions similarly to an oven during summer and a deep freeze during winter.

Secondly, safety standards are also rapidly changing. It can be clearly noticed that technologies and procedures employed to develop a child car seat a decade ago are totally different from what we have today. 

How long are car seats good for? A child seat that is older may not offer safety and security compared to a modern child seat due to tighter safety standards and more intelligent designs. Moreover, utilization will also result in general wear and tear. The straps will start fraying, and dirt will accumulate within the buckle area, hampering its functionality. Also, vital user manuals will start fading.

Learning About the Expiration Date

To identify your car seat expiration date, it will be necessary to examine the unit. The manufacturers will usually mark an expiration date on a label. The label will be stuck to either the side or the base of your car seat. There will be some instances wherein it will be marked on your plastic unit. You would be able to locate it together with your serial number and your date of manufacture. 

When you are unable to locate your expiration date on your product, researching your date of manufacture will be your next best option. The average expiration period usually ranges from six to ten years. You will have to check your user’s manuals for your specific product. You will normally be able to obtain your manuals online using your model number.

Risks Involved with Ignoring Date

Using a car seat that is no longer usable may have serious effects on your child once you are involved in an accident. The biggest hazard associated with these seats relates to their safety and durability. When an accident occurs, the hard plastic materials that make up the seat are supposed to absorb impact and cushion your child. A problem arises if these materials have gone brittle due to aging and prolonged exposure to sunlight. As a result, they may break or develop fissures because they cannot withstand the impact energy. 

The older your seat, the more your child will be exposed to impact energy instead. Moreover, old car seats may not have some safety features associated with modern designs, including side impact and energy-absorbing foams. Using old safety gadgets is equivalent to betting on safety technology. Always consider the life span of car seat safety materials - it is vital for protecting your child.

Prioritizing Safety Over Savings

Although it may drive a motorist crazy to have to replace a perfectly healthy-looking unit, it is necessary due to the deterioration that occurs on a microscopic level. When you find out that your seat has passed its expiration date, it should never be sold or given away. Rather, research trade-in options so that your seat will be properly processed. It will be cheaper and more advantageous for your child’s safety to have a new seat. 

It will not take more than a minute to check your car seat for expiration. It will be worth it to know that your most precious passenger will have maximum safety as you pull out of your driveway every day!