Looking to buy a used car seat? Five things to watch out for!!

It was recently announced that the UK is now officially back in another recession and I know what is on every parent’s mind is how to save money and tighten budget, which brings me to the topic of buying a used car seat.
  
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says a child’s car seat suffers wear and tear especially if it is being used and taken out of the car constantly. RSPA recommends storing it away from direct sunlight and where it isn't likely to suffer accidental damage when not being used and also to replace it every five year or as manufacturer specifies.

As the law states, the following compulsory things must be in place when buying a car seat whether old or new and anyone looking to sell a car seat on MumsCentre will have to adhere to the list as well.

• It must be in good and safe condition.
• It must conform to the UN ECE R44.03 or a later R44.04 regulation.
• It must conform to the British Standard 7409:1996: Which is the specification for safety requirements for wheeled child conveyance.
• It must display an “E” mark, ECE R44.03 or R44.04 with a group number and the weight range of the child it is designed for.
• For American and Canadian car seat, it must have an expiry date.

ECE R44/04 Sticker

It is now illegal to sell or use any child restraint that doesn't meet these standards. Regardless of the hard times, as a parent my child’s safety is the paramount thing I will considered before price and budget, which is why I have drafted the list below.

A Child's Car Seat

Five things you should watch out for when buying a used car seat       

1. It conforms to the right regulation and it is fit for its purpose.
2. Check expiry date( If it is an American specification).
3. Make sure it’s in good, clean working condition.
4. It has not been in an accident:If it has this poses a potential danger to your child.
5. Finally it fits in your car properly as some manufacturers will tell you to check this first.

If you ask me, I would say avoid buying a used car seat all together as it poses some form of risk to your child since it has been previously used and people might not be completely honest about its history especially because they want to sell it.

For more information on buying good quality second hand children’s products visit Mumscentre

See video below for more Child car seat safety tips.