Comments on: Ask Glinda: What the Heck to do With Old Car Seats Edition http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/ Celebrating the Joys of Parenting and Childhood Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:24:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Mindy http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5594 Mindy Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:20:31 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5594 I'm somewhat cynical about the expiration date, as well, but I'm not comfortable enough to just keep using an allegedly bad seat, either. I would rather play it safe than find out that there was a valid reason behind the recommendation. Regardless of whether the expiration date is scientific voodoo, legal arse-covering, or a ploy to sell more goods, I don't believe a seat should stay in circulation forever. One of our seats no longer had a handle, so the date was a moot point; it was handed down to us that way, and I'd never used it because of it. Not only was it inconvenient, the handle in the "down" position is allegedly part of the protective structure of the seat. I wish there'd been something more constructive to do with it than hacking it up with an ax and throwing it out. I’m somewhat cynical about the expiration date, as well, but I’m not comfortable enough to just keep using an allegedly bad seat, either. I would rather play it safe than find out that there was a valid reason behind the recommendation.

Regardless of whether the expiration date is scientific voodoo, legal arse-covering, or a ploy to sell more goods, I don’t believe a seat should stay in circulation forever. One of our seats no longer had a handle, so the date was a moot point; it was handed down to us that way, and I’d never used it because of it. Not only was it inconvenient, the handle in the “down” position is allegedly part of the protective structure of the seat. I wish there’d been something more constructive to do with it than hacking it up with an ax and throwing it out.

]]> By: raincoaster http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5566 raincoaster Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:12:29 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5566 I'm wondering just how plastic could degrade over time. Isn't the whole thing about plastic that it doesn't degrade. I’m wondering just how plastic could degrade over time. Isn’t the whole thing about plastic that it doesn’t degrade.

]]> By: Phyllis http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5564 Phyllis Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:52:33 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5564 "The National Highway Transportation Safety Board and the car seat industry have come to the six year number together; what science they used is something I’m still trying to find. (I have an e-mail in to someone, pending a response.)" Science? The cynic in me says this has nothing to do with science, and everything to do with limiting the liability of the car seat manufacturer in court. It would not surprise me in the least if the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit relating to a car seat failure is, conveniently, six years. “The National Highway Transportation Safety Board and the car seat industry have come to the six year number together; what science they used is something I’m still trying to find. (I have an e-mail in to someone, pending a response.)”

Science? The cynic in me says this has nothing to do with science, and everything to do with limiting the liability of the car seat manufacturer in court. It would not surprise me in the least if the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit relating to a car seat failure is, conveniently, six years.

]]> By: Steph http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5536 Steph Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:28:30 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5536 I didn't know that carseats had expiration dates, but have a carseat and booster to dispose of after we were in an accident a few weeks ago. I might just had them off to the insurance company and let them dispose of them for me. I didn’t know that carseats had expiration dates, but have a carseat and booster to dispose of after we were in an accident a few weeks ago. I might just had them off to the insurance company and let them dispose of them for me.

]]> By: Ana http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5531 Ana Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:46:06 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5531 Wow whatcha learn! I never knew about the expiration date on carseats, either. Glad to know that now. Wow whatcha learn! I never knew about the expiration date on carseats, either. Glad to know that now.

]]> By: dgm http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5507 dgm Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:22:45 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5507 We used my daughter's old car seat as at time-out chair. Ah, the good ole days... We used my daughter’s old car seat as at time-out chair. Ah, the good ole days…

]]> By: Glinda http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5506 Glinda Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:15:41 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5506 It does bother me that there is such a short "shelf life" if you will for car seats. I'm not a conspiracy theorist kind of person, but it seems a mite odd that they would only last for six years. Is it the foam that degrades? But then again, isn't foam supposed to have a half life of a million years or something? I read one answer that said, "Don't your plastic toys get all cracked and discolored in the sun? Well, that's what happens to car seats." Well, it takes a long time and a lot of continuous sun exposure to do that, although I agree that discoloration can indeed happen. The cracks, though? Not so sure. It does bother me that there is such a short “shelf life” if you will for car seats. I’m not a conspiracy theorist kind of person, but it seems a mite odd that they would only last for six years. Is it the foam that degrades? But then again, isn’t foam supposed to have a half life of a million years or something?

I read one answer that said, “Don’t your plastic toys get all cracked and discolored in the sun? Well, that’s what happens to car seats.”

Well, it takes a long time and a lot of continuous sun exposure to do that, although I agree that discoloration can indeed happen. The cracks, though? Not so sure.

]]> By: Mindy http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5502 Mindy Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:39:12 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5502 The "expiration date" of a car seat is usually embedded/embossed in the plastic on the bottom of the seat. Typically, it's got a shelf life of about six years from the manufacture date. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board and the car seat industry have come to the six year number together; what science they used is something I'm still trying to find. (I have an e-mail in to someone, pending a response.) I appreciate your work, Glinda and Raincoaster. I'm pretty sure I irritated a few people with my questions, too. About half the people I spoke to really tried to help; the other half seemed to wonder what kind of flaming pinko tree-hugger I was, bothering them with a recycling question. The “expiration date” of a car seat is usually embedded/embossed in the plastic on the bottom of the seat. Typically, it’s got a shelf life of about six years from the manufacture date. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board and the car seat industry have come to the six year number together; what science they used is something I’m still trying to find. (I have an e-mail in to someone, pending a response.)

I appreciate your work, Glinda and Raincoaster. I’m pretty sure I irritated a few people with my questions, too. About half the people I spoke to really tried to help; the other half seemed to wonder what kind of flaming pinko tree-hugger I was, bothering them with a recycling question.

]]> By: BigRed http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5496 BigRed Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:27:15 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/2008/01/23/ask-glinda-what-the-heck-to-do-with-old-car-seats-edition/#comment-5496 Well, I'm not fabulous, but I am a reader :) I'd never heard that car seats have an expiration date, and was very satisfied with the 2 infant seats and the toddler/booster seat that we got as hand-me-downs from friends. We were in a car accident (minor) and they functioned well enough to keep the kids in their seats and unharmed, and continue to function. I would never have considered throwing out a perfectly serviceable, functional piece of equipment--we handed down ours to my sister, who used it with her kids. I understand the paranoia about safety, but given that the only real protection a car seat gives its user is some stability in a crash (and not becoming a projectile), how exactly is it supposed to fail? It's not a helmet--I can see replacing that after a header--it sits in your car and doesn't experience any direct damage, so what exactly is "expiring"? It boggles the mind. Well, I’m not fabulous, but I am a reader :)

I’d never heard that car seats have an expiration date, and was very satisfied with the 2 infant seats and the toddler/booster seat that we got as hand-me-downs from friends. We were in a car accident (minor) and they functioned well enough to keep the kids in their seats and unharmed, and continue to function. I would never have considered throwing out a perfectly serviceable, functional piece of equipment–we handed down ours to my sister, who used it with her kids.

I understand the paranoia about safety, but given that the only real protection a car seat gives its user is some stability in a crash (and not becoming a projectile), how exactly is it supposed to fail? It’s not a helmet–I can see replacing that after a header–it sits in your car and doesn’t experience any direct damage, so what exactly is “expiring”?

It boggles the mind.

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