Safer Child Products

November 1, 2010 Draft

Did you know that Child Car Seats have Expiration dates?  The life span for a child Car Seat is about 6 years from the date of Manufacture, not the date you take it out of the box! I’ve heard more, I’ve heard less.

“Why do they expire?” you ask. I used to wonder the same thing.

After a number of years, technology changes and improves, so we as consumers are encouraged to get newer seats with newer technology, because presumably the newer technology is safer. This is not the only reason though.  The strain and stress on the plastic “shell” can start to wear on the seat over time.  The extreme temperatures that we find in the car can weaken and ultimately crack the plastic, and the Styrofoam “padding” can start to disintegrate.   

“So where can I find the expiration date?”  The expiration date for your Child Car seat should be found in one of several places.  Your best bet is always to check the owner’s manual that came with your child car seat.  The other places you can check is: (1) The sticker on the side of your Child Car Seat or (2) Embedded in the hard plastic on the back of the child car seat. It should say “DO NOT USE THIS CHILD RESTRAINT AFTER….” It will list a month and a year.  If you cannot find it in either of these places, call the manufacturer to find out.