It is absolutely imperative that children sit safely and securely in vehicles, and it is therefore important to carefully consider your options when purchasing a car seat. Eco-consciousness, a sharing economy, and buying second-hand are, of course, positive and necessary in today’s world. We only have one planet, and we need to take care of it. But here at Axkid, we feel there are too many uncertainties when it comes to buying a car seat through the second-hand market. We’ve detailed below the four most important reasons why you should never buy a used car seat.
Car seat service life
A child safety seat has an approximate service life of ten years, and Axkid recommends using the car seat for no longer than eight years from the date of purchase. A car seat may be stocked at a store for up to two years before it is sold, which is something we calculate into the service life as an additional safety factor. If you buy a used car seat, you do not know precisely when it was first sold or for how long it was used. Over time, the materials in the car seat undergo wear and tear. That’s why we recommend discarding the car seat after eight years.
Testing and safety evolves
Development continuously progresses and stricter requirements are placed on new child safety seats. The standard against which a car seat is tested and approved in 2008 is vastly different to 2018. Today’s car seats are produced according to very strict requirements and are of exceptionally high quality. A car seat produced today has, unlike a second-hand seat, been subjected to testing similar to that which a newly produced car undergoes. If you buy a brand-new car seat from a retailer, you can rest assured knowing that it satisfies the stringent requirements in place today.
The car seat’s history is unknown
Car seats that have been involved in accidents or are too old may conceal defects that cannot be seen with the naked eye. You seldom know the seller when buying second-hand. This makes it impossible to guarantee the condition or history of the car seat, which reduces the safety level drastically. If a car seat has been involved in an accident, it should be discarded immediately, no matter how good its condition may appear. You receive a warranty when purchasing a brand-new car seat, and, in the event of an accident, the car seat is often covered by your insurance, which is not the case with second-hand purchases.
Spare parts no longer manufactured
As with everything else, the evolution of child car seats and safety constantly progresses. Older car seats may have been discontinued, which means that if something breaks it is not possible to get spare parts. And if the user manual has gone missing, it can be difficult to install the car seat correctly. Safety must come first – in every way. By purchasing a new car seat and avoiding used ones, you don’t have to worry about any of these problems.
Sources: NTF, ReSeat, Trafikskyddet, Bonti.se
Photo: @mujfialovysvet
Read more:
- Plus Tested car seats provide more safety for your child
- Rules and recommendations – what is what?
- The future is rear-facing
