when do car seats expire

As parents, we do everything we can to keep our children safe, especially in the car. We carefully research, install, and buckle them in for every single trip. But there’s one safety detail that often gets overlooked, tucked away in the fine print of the manual. It’s the question of when do car seats expire.

It might seem strange that a piece of plastic and fabric has an expiration date, but this isn’t about the seat wearing out from use. It’s about the hidden wear and tear that happens over time, which can seriously compromise its ability to protect your child in a crash.

So, Why Do Car Seats Have an Expiration Date?

Think of a car seat like a helmet for your child. Its materials are designed to withstand immense force, but they don’t last forever. Over the years, exposure to sunlight, extreme hot and cold temperatures in your car, and even just normal aging can cause the plastic shell to become brittle. In a collision, a degraded shell is more likely to crack rather than absorb the impact as intended. Safety standards and technology are also always improving, so an expiration date ensures a seat doesn’t stay in service long after newer, safer designs are available.

Finding Your Car Seat’s Expiration Date

Wondering where to look? The expiration date is almost always stamped directly onto the plastic of the car seat itself. Common locations are on the back, the bottom, or under the child’s leg area. It might also be on a sticker with the model and serial numbers. If you can’t find it, check your owner’s manual or look up the model on the manufacturer’s website. Most car seats expire between 6 and 10 years from their date of manufacture.

What to Do With an Expired Car Seat

Once a car seat has passed its expiration date, it’s time to retire it. It should not be passed along to another family or used for a younger sibling. The safest course of action is to make it unusable. Take it apart, cut the harness straps, and write “EXPIRED” or “UNSAFE” on the shell with a permanent marker. Many communities have recycling programs that accept car seats, so check with your local waste management facility to see if they can take the components.

Keeping track of your car seat’s expiration date is a simple yet powerful step in your child’s safety journey. It ensures that the vital piece of equipment you rely on every day is always ready to do its most important job.