Car Seat Recycling in Morristown NJ

As we know by now, but may not be a widespread knowledge as of yet, car seats expire usually on the fifth or the sixth year after the manufacturing date. You can check my post about the expiration date of car seats for additional details.

With that in mind, through the effort of the Morristown Moms & Tots, a car seat recycling initiative was started in Morristown, New Jersey which was greeted with excitement by families in the area. It is said that it is probably the first car seat recycling effort of its kind in the state of New Jersey.

The event will officially kick off with an Infant/Child Car Seat Recycling Day
on May 9 at the Morristown Town Hall from 10am-2pm. Volunteers from the group Morristown Moms and Tots will be on hand to teach the public how to disassemble their car seats for proper recycling. Further information about the event, check it here.

It’s good to hear that organizations like Moms & Tots and towns like Morristown in New Jersey are making efforts to go green through recycle programs like this one. I agree that we should all be environment friendly for the sake of the future generation. Hats off to the proponents of this great idea, the volunteers and the enlightened town officials that all helped to make this event happen. This should be a model for every town to emulate. Thank you Jen Carcich, Linnea Hasegawa, Samantha Rothman, Councilwomen Harris-King, Feldman, and Deeb. Good job guys! :)

Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Used Car Seat

To be frank, I don't normally recommend buying a used car seat. But, if you have to buy one or you are to receive one from a friend or relative then below are some questions you should ask yourself before using a used car seat for your child. I have to emphasize that you really need to evaluate a used car seat more carefully before using it. As always, your child's safety should be the main concern.

Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a Used Car Seat

1. When is the expiration date of the car seat?
Yes, car seats do expire! You can find the date by looking at the back of the seat where it is usually located. Wear and tear through constant usage can produce cracks on the usually plastic materials of the seat. If the seat has already expired then don't buy.

2. Do you know the history of the car seat?
You got to know the history of the car seat. Has it ever been involved in a crash? with or without a child in the seat? A car seat that's been involved in a crash should never be used again. You have to ask this question to the previous owner. Now, if the seller is somebody you don't know, can you trust him/her to tell the truth? If it is a relative then you can have a little comfort that he/she will tell you the true history of the car seat.

3. Have you checked if there were recalls for the brand/model?
Check first if the particular car seat brand and model was recalled. Sometimes some sellers are either unscrupulous or clueless that the car seat they are selling was recalled. You just have to check the safety agency of your country again to find out this information. You can also look it up on the internet.

4. Does it look worn out and are all parts still intact?
Inspect the seat thoroughly. Check for cracks, chips, cuts, white or gray patches or lines in the shell. If it looks worn out, unclean or you see missing parts then don't buy.

5. Is the brand and model "safe" to use in your country?
Just like in buying a new car seat, you should check with the safety agency in your country if the car seat meets the safety regulation and guidelines they set forth for car seat usage. In Canada, an approved car seat should have a CMVSS (Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) sticker. So, for Canadians, look for this sticker in the car seat. Don't buy if you can't find it.

6. Have you checked the car seat's recommended height and weight for the baby?
Car seats are created for the different stages in the life of a child. All car seats have a guideline as to what the maximum/minimum height and weight are recommended. Make sure that the used car seat can fit your child nicely before you buy it.

The above is just a guideline. A thorough and careful check is needed when you evaluate a used car seat. Visually check the seat for any signs of problem and as always "err on the side of caution". If you find any issues then it's better not to buy it. Saving just a few bucks is not worth it. Safety of the child should be the main priority. You can always cut back on other things.

Yes Virginia, car seats do expire!

A friend of mine asked me about car seat expiration recently. He didn't know that they expire. It was the same question I asked when I first found out while I was researching for a car seat that I will buy for my first-born child. I came upon a site that talked about car seat safety and it was mentioned that yes, car seats do expire! So, there you go. It was an "aha" moment for me. Sometimes, you just don't think about this fact because your mind is set up and thinks that a car seat is just another regular seat. Is there a chair that has an expiration date? The first time I heard that car seat can expire, I said to myself, "Really, they expire??" You can probably imagine me having the clueless look of a first-time parent. But, if you think about, it somehow makes sense as the materials they use for car seats are usually made of plastic and plastic can crack or chip due to age and usage. So this is something that parents or caregiver have to keep in mind. I think it is wise for parents to always do a visual check of the car seat to check for wear and tear from time to time even if it isn't nearing the expiration date.

What about used car seat?
Knowing that a car seat has an expiration date brings us to question the wisdom of buying a second hand car seat or getting hand me down car seats from friends or relatives. First, I don't personally recommend buying second hand car seats. You might be tempted to buy a used car seat at Craigslist or EBay but think first about who used it before. Did it expire already? Has it been involved in a car accident? Manufacturers and safety experts recommend that you should never use a car seat that was involved in a car accident. Never! Nadah! No and no. It's not just wise to use it again. When you buy a second hand car seat, you never really know how it was used by the previous owner. No matter what they say. Don't believe them as sometimes people do lie about things. They might lie just to be able to make a sale. It's a sad fact but it does happen. Now, we go to hand-me downs. Recently, a friend of ours who was "on the way", (the baby is coming out this April) have this really annoying aunt who wanted to give them a car seat that was used by a neighbor of her. Her aunt is totally (and annoyingly) persistent and wouldn't budge even though she doesn't know a thing about car seat safety. All she care about is the savings. To be honest, if you don't know who used the car seat before, don't get it. It's not worth saving a few bucks. But, how do you handle the persistent aunt? I know that for some people, it is hard to say 'no'. But, it's your child's safety that's on the line. Just tell her to look up the internet and almost all safety experts agree and they all don't recommend the use of a used car seat that came from previous owners that you don't know.

How do you check the expiration date of a car seat?
Typically, expiration dates are four to five years after the manufacturing date. After buying a car seat, check it out and make a note of it. To look for them, turn them around. It's usually located at the back of the seat. If you plan to use your seat on your next child then take good care of it and make sure that the usage is before the expiration date. So, parents planning a next child in one to three years after the current child should definitely look into the date and make sure that they purchased a recently manufactured unit. If it's already 3 years after the manufacture date then just return it to the store as some might have been in the retailer's warehouse for awhile. You have to remember that older car seats can develop cracks in the plastic or the plastic itself can deteriorate in time making it less safe. It makes sense and I don't think its a gimmick by the manufacturer just so that you buy from them a new one again.

In summary, don't try to cut corner by getting a second hand or used car seat. Before you buy, check the car seat's expiration date. The safety of our child and especially of infants should be paramount. Buy wisely and in truth, safety should always be the biggest concern for parents when they buy a car seat for their child.