subject: Top 3 Tips For Buying A Second-Hand Babies Car Seat [print this page] Top 3 Tips For Buying A Second-Hand Babies Car Seat
If you are thinking of purchasing a second-hand child or babies car seat, then you really must do it the right way. If you do not, the results may be disastrous. If you should end up with a defective seat, you could put your child in danger. Here I will discuss three top tips on how you can prevent that from happening.
1. Age and History
Check the history of the seat carefully. Because a failure to do this may mean not only wasting your money, but worse, putting your child in danger. As a rule-of-thumb, the seat should be less than 5 years old. It should also never have been involved in a major car collision as the construction of the seat will be compromised. Do not make the error of ignoring this particular imperative suggestion!
2. Harnesses and Straps
Almost as vital as the history, when dealing with second-hand child seats, you must actively check the belts, harnesses and connections for any signs of excessive wear. If you find fraying, cracks or tearing on any of the straps and connections, or on the seat itself, then walk away. This is certainly not something to disregard.
3. Car Compatibility
Last of all, make sure the seat is compatible with your car before you buy it! There is no point purchasing one that will not fix properly in your vehicle. If you are looking at a seat with an ISOFIX fitting, remember that not all older cars will accomodate it. Of interest is that Britax were the first child car seat manufacturer to install ISOFIX into their car seats from 1997, so if your car is older than 2000, check first. If you don't follow these simple steps, you may come to regret it and if it's second-hand, you can't really take it back!
As I pointed out at the start, when it comes to buying a second-hand child or babies car seat, you want to ensure you never make mistakes that wind up with you wasting money, or even worse, putting your child in danger. You are looking for safety, comfort and peace of mind, and these tips will help you accomplish that.
