car seat standards

car seat standards
Used Car Seat “Issue”?

Ok, so I’m going back to work (Part-time) and so there will be a need for a 2nd carseat for our 12 month daughter. Here’s the thing. My husband wants me to look at yard sales for a car seat… I dont think so… I dont know if that car seat was involved in an accident or not (which makes them void per safety standards) or how clean another family was, I’m wierd like that, I think of diaper blow outs, puking, sippy cups leaking etc… so I was talking to my mom, and she gave me a $50 towards a 2nd car seat. Am I wrong to want a new one, or should I just make the hubby happy and get a yard sale car seat?!?!?!?
I know this sounds stupid, but it’s really bothering me. It’s not about money to me, it’s about safety, but to him it’s about money since its a 2nd seat and I’m only working part time.
Good grief, someone help me lol
THANKS!

You are totally doing the right thing! I am a car seat tech, so for me, hands down–you get a new one..no question! If someone comes to me and says the seat is from a garage sale, I usually ask to take the seat and I will replace it with a new one…then I get the sledge hammer the old one!!!!

For $50, you can get a Cosco Scenera from WalMart for $39 right now. It is a great seat b/c you can keep your child rear facing up to 35lbs or when the top of her head is 1″ below the top of the shell. There isn’t a lot of padding, so I don’t recommend LONG travels in it as she may be uncomfortable. These are the seats we give out at seat checks/clinics. The seat will then FF to 40lbs. BUT if there is any possible way for you to come up with $129, I would look into the Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe http://www.albeebaby.com/fiprsavodeco2.html OR the Evenflo Triumph ADVANCE http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5933974

The FPSVD is the shell of a Britax Marathon, but will only harness to 55lbs FF and 33lbs RF. The Marathon goes to 65lbs. The ETA harness to 50lbs FF and will RF to 35lbs. Both are great seats and super easy to install.

Congrats to you for sticking up for your child’s safety!!!!! Now, if you can trust your child’s life in the hands of the person your purchase a used car seat from, then get it, but if you don’t, keep on walking girl!!! YEAH for you!

If you need to get your seats checked, please get a car seat tech to look at them for you..even teach you how to install it correctly! http://www.seatcheck.org or http://www.safekids.org/certification and click on the Find an Instructor/Technician.