Maxi Cosi Cabrio Fix

Ellejmorgan

ikkle87 wrote: »

Your advised not to buy 2nd hand car seats as you don't know for sure the age, if it's been in any accidents etc x

You all do what you want, I for one don't have the money to spend on expensive car seats..

I have checked it, there is no cracks or holes that's the damage that is caused by accidents...

AS for not knowing the age I do by the model, but how does the age affect it's function ??
It's like saying I can only use a kettle for 1 year then it's not safe...

Doesn't make sense...

mildred1978

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

You all do what you want, I for one don't have the money to spend on expensive car seats..

I have checked it, there is no cracks or holes that's the damage that is caused by accidents...

AS for not knowing the age I do by the model, but how does the age affect it's function ??
It's like saying I can only use a kettle for 1 year then it's not safe...

Doesn't make sense...

Oh dear. A little science lesson for you here.

Car seats are made in the same way as motorbike helmets - a moulded foam seat with a hard plastic casing. On impact, the foam takes the impact by contracting. It does not recover from that. And it will not absorb any of the shock from a second impact. You cannot see the foam layer whether the fabric covers are off or not. So you have no way of knowing whether the seat will protect the child if involved in an accident. The plastic doesn't have to have fractured for the foam to have contracted.

In addition, the chemicals in the foam break down over time, preventing the foam from cushioning an impact. This will be sped up by temperature changes. So keeping an old seat in an unheated garage or in a hot attic will degrade the foam faster.

That's why it isn't recommended.

rpc

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

I have checked it, there is no cracks or holes that's the damage that is caused by accidents...

Not all damage that weakens the car seat is visible. Cracks and holes are not the only damage that an accident can cause. Plastic (as with metal, etc) fatigues and that will affect its performance in a crash. Fatigue (if detectable) can often only be detected with specialised equipment - not worth doing on a car seat costing a hundred pounds or so.

You have no way of knowing if that seat will provide the level of protection the manufacturer intended, or even the mininmum required by ECE R44.04.

AS for not knowing the age I do by the model, but how does the age affect it's function ??
It's like saying I can only use a kettle for 1 year then it's not safe...

Less of a concern, but materials do degrade over time (particularly when exposed to sunlight). I think this is often given a bit too much weight - a 1 year old car seat will almost certainly be fine. A 5 year old one is more debateable.

It's more like saying that a mattress wears out and has a finite life (or do you sleep on a 50 year old mattress?).

Doesn't make sense...

It makes sense if you know what you are talking about.
edit: as the poster who beat me clearly does!

ikkle87

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

You all do what you want, I for one don't have the money to spend on expensive car seats..

I have checked it, there is no cracks or holes that's the damage that is caused by accidents...

AS for not knowing the age I do by the model, but how does the age affect it's function ??
It's like saying I can only use a kettle for 1 year then it's not safe...

Doesn't make sense...

Firstly, there's no need to be quite so rude, I didn't quote you directly it was a general response as to why it is advised not to buy second hand car seats.

Secondly age has plenty to do with it as plastics change over time, they go brittle etc. Again this wasn't personalised at you or the specific model you've bought but it applies to all car seats.

shortdog

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

You all do what you want, I for one don't have the money to spend on expensive car seats..

I have checked it, there is no cracks or holes that's the damage that is caused by accidents...

AS for not knowing the age I do by the model, but how does the age affect it's function ??
It's like saying I can only use a kettle for 1 year then it's not safe...

Doesn't make sense...

Last year, a friend of mine had a serious car accident. Both her and her daughter walked out without more than scratches or bruises, but the car rolled a couple of times, and they had to be cut out, the car was a complete wreck.
Her daughter was removed from the car in her rear facing car seat, as it was the easiest way for the fire brigade to get her out. The car seat ended up in the ambulance and subsequently the hospital with them, where it was thrown away. The car seat looked perfect, not a mark, scratch, crack. Would you be happy putting your child (whose life could depend on that seat) into a seat that had been through that? Remember, it still looked perfect, and could easily have been sold to some, unsuspecting person, who would never have any inkling about what happened, until, god forbid, they were involved in an accident, and their child was seriously injured, or worse. Please think about it.

emsywoo123

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

I checked it...don't worry second hand car seats are fine as long as cover is removed and checked for imperfections..

I know this has been covered, but this is such spectacularly bad advice I felt I needed to highlight it again.

It is *strongly* recommended that you purchase a new car seat and a new mattress for a baby. They are the 2 safety "must-be-news"