Do Child Car Seats Have Expiration Dates?

You may have heard that car seats have expiration dates. It’s true, they do. There are concrete and important reasons why we must retire our trusty seats after a certain time. One of the Charles E. Boyk Law Office staff is expecting and was checking to see if she could use the car seat that she had when her son was born a couple of years ago.

You need to check the manufacturer’s label, which is normally on the side of the car seat itself. These labels also may include model, serial, and batch numbers. The companies don’t always make this process easy. This is especially true when the date is found molded into the plastic. We did our best to help you find the appropriate information for certain child seats. If you need more guidance finding this information on your particular model, contact your manufacturer or post your question and we’ll try to assist you.

If you’ve looked at the photos, you understand that there are indeed manufacturer expiration dates. We found that dates can be as many as 8 years and in some cases as little as 5. Parents should know that NHTSA instructs its techs and both Safe Kids and the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association agree that no seat should be used for more than a period of 6 years from its date of manufacture.

What should the public take from this? They should note both experts and seat manufacturers agree that seats do have a finite lifespan. Best practice would be to retire that seat after 6 years. That is, of course, unless your car seat manufacturer states that its lifespan is 5 years. Always consult your seat markings, labels, and manual for this information. Check out some of the following blogs on reasons why the child safety seats expire.

Why Do Car Seats Expire?

Car seat expiration dates are based on safety, not marketing. Manufacturers test seats to perform for a specific number of years, and they cannot guarantee that an older seat will provide the same level of protection in a crash. Some of the reasons that car seats expire include the following:

Degrading Materials

A car seat spends years inside a vehicle where temperatures regularly swing from below freezing to well over 100 degrees. Those constant changes cause the plastic shell to become brittle and can weaken the metal components that hold the seat together. Even if a car seat looks fine from the outside, it’s possible that the internal components are no longer safe for your child.

Wear and Tear

Daily use also takes a toll on every car seat. It’s common for buckles to wear down and padding to compress, which will reduce the effectiveness of the seat over time.

Safety Technology and Standards

It’s also worth remembering that child passenger safety continues to improve. Manufacturers regularly update their designs to comply with new federal safety standards and incorporate better side-impact protection, stronger materials, and improved harness systems. Replacing an expired seat helps ensure your child benefits from the latest safety features rather than relying on outdated technology.

Recalls

Manufacturers occasionally recall car seats because of defects or newly discovered safety concerns. Older models become harder to monitor because owners may no longer receive recall notices, and replacement parts may no longer be available.

How to Find the Expiration Date on a Car Seat

Finding your car seat’s expiration date usually takes only a few moments. Start by looking for the manufacturer’s label attached to the plastic shell, which is commonly located underneath the base or along one of the sides. The label typically lists the model number and the date of manufacture.

The owner’s manual will also explain how long the seat is designed to remain in service. Some manufacturers print the actual expiration date on the label, while others require you to calculate it by adding the stated lifespan to the manufacturing date. Even if you no longer have the manual, the odds are good that you can find it online.

Important Safety Tips

Below are a few useful safety tips when it comes to car seat safety:

Never Use an Expired Car Seat

An expired car seat may not provide the protection your child needs during a collision. As materials weaken and safety standards change, the risk of failure increases. Replacing an expired seat is one of the simplest ways to improve your child’s safety while traveling.

Replace a Seat After a Crash

Expiration dates are only one part of car seat safety. If a car seat has been involved in a moderate or severe crash, it should be replaced even if it has years of useful life remaining. The impact of a collision can damage the seat in ways that are not visible, reducing its ability to protect your child during another collision.

Don’t Guess If You Can’t Find the Date

If you cannot locate the manufacturing date or expiration information, contact the manufacturer for assistance. If that information cannot be confirmed and the seat appears to be more than six years old, the safest choice is to replace it. The cost of a new car seat is small compared to the protection it provides during a serious accident.

Discuss Your Accident With A Local Child Injury Attorney

If you or someone you know has a child who has been injured by one of child accidents listed above, you need information. Contact our Ohio child accident lawyers to order your free copy of Little Kids, Big Accidents.

We handle Ohio personal injury cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, ATV accidents, Ohio workers’ compensation, construction accidents, child injuries, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, food poisoning, dog bite attacks, and all injury cases.