Carseat expiration WWYD

[sdlaura]

I asked DH to get the infant carseat down from the attic this weekend so I could check the expiration date. It's a Chicco Keyfit (the 22-pound one, which I got since it's lighter than the Keyfit 30).  It was manufactured in January 2012 and we started using it in August 2012 (not sure if that matters). I've read that they expire in six years. So this baby will be born when the carseat is 5.5 years old.

I'm thinking I probably want to use it for more than six months, mainly in DH's small car where we'll need to have carseats three across. 

So would you just get a new one now?  Or wait until it expires and then decide whether we need a new one if we want to keep using it?  Or just ignore the expiration since it won't be used very long after then anyway? 

My issue is not a money thing - more just that I don't want to be wasteful if I don't need to be.

[honda13]

You could always trade in the old car seat at Babies R'Us and get a discount on a new one.

I would buy a new one now or when that one expires.

[sdlaura]

Thanks honda13, I looked into that but based on pricing online, I think I'd get a better deal at Buy Buy Baby using the 20% coupon. I could still give my old carseat though to Babies R Us though for them to recycle it, I guess!

[honda13]

Jan 24, 2017 19:36:20 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

Thanks honda13, I looked into that but based on pricing online, I think I'd get a better deal at Buy Buy Baby using the 20% coupon. I could still give my old carseat though to Babies R Us though for them to recycle it, I guess!

You're welcome. We don't have Buy Buy Baby here so I never think of that. You could turn in the car seat and maybe get something else with the discount. Either way, getting the seat recycled is great.

[marshian]

Definitely get a new one when that one expires. Probably easier to do that now than after baby comes (because you'll be busier)?

[mreve]

I only used the infant seat for 6 months and don't plan to use it any longer this time. If it were me, I would use it until it expires and then re-evaluate if I wanted to spend money on another infant seat or get a convertible.

[bagels]

Jan 24, 2017 21:54:32 GMT -5 mreve said:

I only used the infant seat for 6 months and don't plan to use it any longer this time. If it were me, I would use it until it expires and then re-evaluate if I wanted to spend money on another infant seat or get a convertible.

This. I ended up moving my second into a convertible much sooner than my first, so I would reeval when the time comes.

[lulu783]

I'm in the keep/re-evaluate when you get there camp, especially since you have the 22lb car seat. You will need to buy a convertible within the year anyways, so I would wait and see how you're feeling once the seats gets close to its exp date.

[applemuffins]

I would also wait and then get the convertible, but my thinking is for cost savings. If it isn't an issue, I would get a new one and just recycle the old at babies r us. Even if you don't want to get your new car seat there, the coupon could be used for other gear like a crib, toddler bed, high chair, etc. Lots of other qualifying baby gear. You don't have to trade car seat for car seat.

[starsandshamrocks123]

I say use it until it expires and then re-evaluate.

I should also add I suck because even though we have an infant seat, our daycare no longer has room to store them... creates a problem when DH drops off and I pick up directly from work. Rather than put up a stink about it and insist they find a place to store it or else, or fighting DH over who has to deal with a convertible seat for those first few months (I hate confrontation), I ended up buying a new one because I saw target had a good deal on it... could have spent that $$ elsewhere

[agm04]

another vote for using it until it expires and then deciding.

[sabrinaml]

Add me to using it until it expires and re-evaluating.
I only used the infant carrier for C until just before 6 months. It just got too heavy to carry around, (and switching to convertible freed up some space for the front passenger of my car.)

[sdlaura]

Thanks ladies! I don't plan to carry it around after six months - I'm mainly thinking that because space is constrained in DH's car, we probably want to keep using the infant seat in his car after six months. Decisions, decisions

[mreve]

Jan 25, 2017 12:29:20 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

Thanks ladies! I don't plan to carry it around after six months - I'm mainly thinking that because space is constrained in DH's car, we probably want to keep using the infant seat in his car after six months. Decisions, decisions

This obviously depends on the specific car seats, but I found that the convertible seat took up less space in my vehicle.

[cheezee]

I'd wait and see too. We bought ours the summer of 2011 and it'll be expired right when this one comes. I went ahead and registered for a new one. I heard that the heat is what breaks down the plastic and the reason behind the seats expiring. We live in the south and have terrible
heat in the summer...and it's been on out attic for years. Better safe than sorry I guess.

[iris1264]

I'd use it for now and see what happens down the road. If you're planning on buying a new one at BBB anyway, those coupons come around often.

[sdlaura]

Jan 25, 2017 12:42:24 GMT -5 mreve said:

Jan 25, 2017 12:29:20 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

Thanks ladies! I don't plan to carry it around after six months - I'm mainly thinking that because space is constrained in DH's car, we probably want to keep using the infant seat in his car after six months. Decisions, decisions

This obviously depends on the specific car seats, but I found that the convertible seat took up less space in my vehicle.

Front to back or in terms of width? My issue is fitting three seats across in one row.

[mreve]

Jan 25, 2017 15:34:21 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

Jan 25, 2017 12:42:24 GMT -5 mreve said:

This obviously depends on the specific car seats, but I found that the convertible seat took up less space in my vehicle.

Front to back or in terms of width? My issue is fitting three seats across in one row.

Both, actually. I don't know if I just have a bad infant seat (it's a cheap safety 1st), but the base it clicks into takes a lot of room. My convertible is a britax boulevard clicktight and it is much more space-efficient.
I can't speak to three in a row as I just have the one so far, and I'm sure there are other factors to take into account like what seats your other kids are using.

[sdlaura]

Thanks mreve! I don't think I'm going to be able to fit three in a row in DH's car with our existing seats (two pretty wide convertibles and the infant seat). But DD will be almost 5 when baby arrives, so I think I'm going to buy her a new slimmer seat that has a 5-point harness for now but also can be used as a booster. So my plan is to take all our seats to Buy Buy Baby sometime and try out different configurations with their convertible-to-booster options

[starsandshamrocks123]

I have the Diono Radian RXT for DS... it's supposed to be the slimmest for fitting 3 in a row but that prob doesn't help you if you already have 2 seats there. We will only have 2 in the back seat but my car is smaller so will prob get another diono so we can fit another passenger back there

[marshian]

Side question:
starsandshamrocks123 - How do you like the Diono Radian RXT? Is it particularly large front-to-back (thinking of space behind the front row seat)? Was it easy or tricky to install?

We'll be trying out that one and a few others at BuyBuyBaby soon to see what works, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[starsandshamrocks123]

marshian there are pros and cons to it. It was a little awkward in the rear facing position as it sort of rested against the seat in front of it. I have a Jeep Compass. I ended up having to put it in the middle seat and it was better, but it still would rest against both seats, just a little more room... (I wish I had a pic... if I find, I'll post) I bought the angle adjuster but never ended up needing it because the actual angle ended up being fine in the middle seat position BUT I don't have the tether system in the middle seat of my car, so maybe that would have made a difference. We did the manual installation with the seat belt. I bought it because it can be rearfacing for like 4 year olds but we ended up liking it so much better once we moved it to forward facing. It's supposed to be one of the safest. And it will be a booster so I don't plan on needing anything else for him ever which is great.

I would not recommend it if you have to move it around a lot. DH has the graco mysize in his car and it's so much easier to take out and put back. Plus with the diono, once the straps are too low on the shoulders you have to remove the entire seat and unthread the straps and move them to the next higher slot. Then reinstall. I found that to be a gigantic pain. I don't know how other seats are though

So long story short, other seats are easier to deal with but at the end of the day, I'll probably get another one. And DH will curse me and want a MySize for his car

[marshian]

@starsandshamrocks - Thanks for all the info! I guess we'll see how it fits in our car and if it's too much of a pain. We would only move it when traveling, so not too often. I love how long you can RF in it. Also that it goes to a booster.

[trebletrouble13]

marshian, starsandshamrocks123 - we have the Radian RXT in my dad's car for when he is transporting DS. He has a big truck and the low sides make it super easy for getting him in and out. He is comfortable enough in it to nap on occasion.
He does not have seat anchors, so it is secured by seatbelt, we needed the angle adjuster, and it is behind the passenger seat. It doesn't rest on the seat in front of it, but that may partly be a function of the size of the truck. We have not yet needed to move the straps.

[marshian]

trebletrouble13 - Thanks for sharing! I'm hoping it will fit in our car. We have an older Subaru Forester, so it's not small but not big either.