So we are buying a second hand car seat. But unlike last time and the abandoned (money) seat in the garage I am not going in blind…
I’ve been armed with questions from #carseatfullstop and intend not to come home with a denim covered car seat of unknown origins.
We tried this second hand car seat buying thing before, but due to not knowing any betting we ended up buying crap. We aren’t sure what make or model it is, how it fits into the car and even for what age group. Luckily that one was intended for my car and since we downgraded to just one car it wasn’t that big of a loss… But guys I hate wasting money so here is how to “take a seat” the intelligent way.
5 Questions before buying a second hand car seat
1. Ask if the seat was ever in an accident.
If a car seat was in an accident it probably has taken some strain regardless of whether there was a child in it at the time
2. Are there any missing parts?
Our denim shame came without the soft padding on the straps. Also I only found out later that the denim cover itself is actually not safe as the cover car seats come with are actually an integral part of the seats design and add to the safety of the seat
3.have they fixed or added anything?
Adding things like cushions, padding or stitching reduces the safety of a seat.
4. How old is the car seat?
Don’t buy a seat more than six years old. Safety measures improve all the time and some seats have even been recalled.
5. Do they have the instruction manual?
The manual is needed so you are sure that you are installing the seat correctly. The smallest installation error can render a seat unsafe (you could probably find the manual online but do check first)
After you have been THAT EXTRA MOM and asked all the questions.
Also check…
-If there is visable damage
-That the make and model is appropriate for your child’s weight and height (the orange sticker on the body of every legal car seat will indicate this)
-does it fit nicely into your car (even the fanciest seat is completely unsafe if it doesn’t install securely into the car)
With statistics saying that up to 93% of people aren’t strapping in their kids in South Africa… We ALL know somebody who is adding to that number. Please share this post to help us reach more people.
You have the power to save a little life. One share, seen by one person, who straps in one child, saves a life. #CarseatFullstop. Every child. Every time. No matter what.
#CarseatFullstop is a very proud retailer for the BeSafe car seat range in South Africa. This means that if you purchase a BeSafe car seat through #CarseatFullstop, the profits go to maintaining this initiative! If you would like to have your little one as safe as they can be, be sure to join this group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/supportcarseatfullstop/ or contact us on besafe@carseatfullstop.org.
And if you have a car seat that your little person has outgrown, please consider donating it to Wheel Well[1]. Wheel Well is a non-profit organization that collects used car seats, which are then cleaned and refurbished in order to provide a safe option for parents who are unable to afford a new car seat. Seats can be dropped off at any Renault dealership.
