Car Seat Sharing Safety
Can I pass my child's car seat on to a friend?
By Kay Green,
www.MyPreciousKid.com
Copyright 2000-2008
Your daughter has outgrown her car seat. A friend is in need of a car seat. Can you safely pass it along? What things should you look for?
"If the car seat was made in the last 7-8 years, there should be an expiration date on it. My daughter will be 6 in May, and her car seat expires in October of 2005. That was the date imprinted on the car seat." says Cris of
"Always ask if it has ever been in a car when there was an accident (sudden force can damage the plastic even though it is not noticeable to the naked eye) and is it less than 6 years old. The plastic does deteriorate over time, and 6 years is the longest you can use a car seat. We had car seats for my oldest granddaughter, who would have been 7 last Sept., and we couldn't use them for the newest baby because they were too old." Says Anita of
http://www.blessedenterprises.org
THE TEST - These are both valid points.
Before passing on a car seat I like to do the following:
1. Be certain the seat was never in a car accident
2. Check the age of the seat
3. Check with the seat manufacturer for recalls
4. Check for any breakage or tearing
If the car seat is free from accident, recalls, and breakage and the seat belts are strong then you can pass the car seat onto a friend. If your seat does not pass the test then please do not pass the car seat along.
IN AN ACCIDENT - If you own a car seat that is ever in a car accident please mark the plastic of the frame with a permanent marker "IN ACCIDENT - DESTROY" then break it down and put it in the garbage. Your own car insurance will almost always pay for a replacement car seat after a car accident. Call them to request this. Do not risk putting your child in a car seat that could have underlying damage that puts your child at risk.
RIGHT SIZE - Be sure your child is in the RIGHT size car seat. Every car seat comes with weight and height requirements for that seat. Please follow them. I have often seen children riding in car seats clearly not the right size for them. I saw a 15 month old child in an infant carrier car seat. The mother insisted that because he was under 20 pounds she could not move him to a front facing. She was right. BUT what he needed was a rear facing convertible car seat made for a child of his height and weight. His head was all the way to the top of the car seat. It needed to be no less than one inch from the top of the seat.
CAR SEAT ID CARD - Always have an car seat ID card attached to your child's car seat. This card should have your child's name, age, weight, height, medical info, 5 contact numbers for family members and a medical release signature. This card can make the difference in getting quick care or finding a family member to come get your child in an accident where you can not care for your child.
We as moms love to share our baby items with friends. With car seats it is very important that we carefully look at all the criteria before passing along car seats to be certain the child we want to share with is safe as well.
Car Seat Safety Guide. Find out what the weight and height limits are for the car seat you own or are considering buying.
| Item #06-102 | Radian 80 SL Car Seat - Super Latch Version |
|---|---|
 |
NEW - Radian 80SL car
seat by Sunshine Kids is the first and only convertible car
seat that can fold to a width of 7 inches. This car seat holds
children to 80 pounds in a 5 point harness - the highest limit on
the market. It exceeds all US safety standards for infant car seats.
Higher quality stay cool fabric, more padding and infant insert than
the Radian 65. New SUPER LATCH feature requires no seat belt. Latch to 80 pounds. Rear-facing children 5 to 48 lbs. Forward-facing children 22 to 80 lbs. in 5 point harness Maximum child height of 53 in. FREE CAR SEAT ID CARD with each car seat purchase. Car Seat Accessories |
| Radian 80 SL $269.99 Special Order - Call for availability |
| Item #06-106 | Radian Monterey Expandable Booster Seat |
|---|---|
 |
Monterey features adjustable height and a unique, expandable seat
back, so it actually grows with your child. Monterey starts with a
tapered shape that's contoured to match a child's body growth and
then adjusts in height and width to provide a custom fit for
individual growth proportions. Monterey features deep sidewalls
lined with EPS foam for genuine side-impact protection and a
reinforced seat bottom to. Monterey also includes integrated LATCH
connectors for the option of a more secure installation. Forward-facing children 120 lbs. Maximum child height of 63 in. FREE CAR SEAT ID CARD with each booster seat purchase. Car Seat Accessories |
| Monterey Expandable Booster $139.99 Special Order - Call for availability |
Articles written by Kay Green, Child Safety Expert, and Christian mom to Melissa 26, Jordan 24, Allison 21, Haley 9. Kay and Russell, her husband of 30 years live in rural Oregon.
Kay's first granddaughter Madison
Kay was born December 2006. Twin grand sons Micah & Mason
were born
May 2009
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COPYRIGHT 2000-2009 My Precious Kid, Kay Green.
All rights reserved. Reprinting is only with permission and with this author's box and copyright intact.
