Purchasing a car seat for your little one is important because it makes transportation better and safer.
However, there are safety measures required of parents when using car seats – one of these safety measures is knowing when the car seat expires.
If you own a Chicco car seat or are planning to buy one, you’d want to be sure whether the car seat has an expiration date. Knowing a product’s expiration date would guide you on when to stop using the product.
In this short write-up, you will see whether you should bother about your Chicco car seat getting expired. You will also learn why it isn’t advisable to continue using a car seat that has exceeded its useful life.
Related: Are Chicco car seats safe? (Find out!)
Table of Contents
Do Chicco Car Seats Expire?
Yes, Chicco car seats expire, and the expiration date of Chicco car seats is between 6 and 10 years from the date of manufacture.
Most infant car seats have 6 years of useful service, while most all-in-one car seats have 10 years of useful service.
Usually, there is a manufacturer’s label beneath Chicco car seats or on the car seat base. That’s where to find the expiration date and other information about the seat.
There’s hardly any baby car seat manufacturer that makes car seats without including the expiration date of the seat. The reason for these dates is to ensure that babies and juveniles get maximum protection when riding in car seats.
Related: Chicco car seats and stroller compatibility
Why Do Chicco Car Seats Expire?
There are two major reasons why Chicco or any other car seat expires:
- The baby and Juvenile Products industry is guided by dozens of safety standards and regulations. These regulations are constantly reviewed and updated if need be.
To help all car seat manufacturers comply with the updated regulations, expiration dates are important. That way, all older car seats with outdated safety standards would be fazed out.
- Over time, environmental factors such as UV rays can affect the integrity of car seats. This could also cause the car seat materials to degrade and may expose your child to harmful chemicals.
To save your child from the negative effect of degraded car seats, placing an expiration date on car seats is the best way to go.
You might want to read: How much do Chicco car seats weigh?
How To Know When Your Chicco Car Seat Expires
Whether you own a Chicco infant car seat, a Chicco convertible car seat, a Chicco all-in-one car seat, or a Chicco boost seat, there is always a label on the car seat that tells you the useful life of the seat.
In most cases, Chicco car seats expire between 5 and 10 years from the date of manufacture. To find the manufacturer’s label that carries the expiration information, check beneath the car seat or on the car seat base.
Since all-in-one car seats are meant to be used for a longer period (up to 10 years), they tend to have an extended useful life than infant car seats.
Which every type of Chicco car seat you choose to buy, make sure you check the label for the exact expiration date. Once the date is reached, you should discontinue the car seat for your child’s safety.
Recommended: What you need to know about Chicco car seat base
What You Should Do With Your Expired Chicco Car Seat
An expired car seat should be discontinued. You don’t have to sell it or give it out to charity because doing so means you are endangering the lives of others.
If your car seat was involved in an accident or has reached its useful lifespan, you need to get rid of it. To get rid of an accident or an expired car seat, you must do it such that no other person can use it.
Cut the harness straps and seat cover, and boldly write on the frame “NOT GOOD FOR USE- EXPIRED” with a marker. Thereafter, you can wrap it in a garbage bag for disposal.
Better yet, you can check for a recycling firm in your vicinity that accepts expired car seats.
Note: If a part of your car seat is worn out, you should check with the car seat manufacturer to see if they sell replacement parts. In most cases, you should find a replacement part for your car seat.
Related: Where are Chicco car seats made?
Conclusion
Chicco and other car seats have expiration dates or useful lifespans. You can find the expiration date at the back or under the seat. The expiration date starts counting from the date of manufacture (in some cases, from the date of purchase).
As parents, sticking to these expiration dates would eliminate any safety concerns. Car seats are tested by safety experts and they know when car seat materials would start degrading.
If your car seat reaches its expiration period, cut the harness straps and write on it that is expired before disposing of it. DO NOT USE, SELL OR GIVE OUT AN EXPIRED CAR SEAT. That way, you are saving your child as well as other kids.
