Aubrey Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I can't find ours! :w00t: My best guess is that it's in a family member's garage in another state. That family member will be coming to visit 10/31. Baby is due 10/28 but will likely be here 11/1 (that's how late my others were, but I did have one come on her due date). Assuming the carseat IS in their garage, do I risk waiting? Fwiw, we bought it used about 3 years ago as part of a stroller travel system but were later disappointed to find out that it merely SITS in the stroller, doesn't actually lock in. My point being...I know carseats get outdated & therefore less safe than current standards. So...maybe it would be better to get a new one now anyway? :bigear: There are several children's consignment stores around here & sales in the paper...if we need to get one, I'd like to get that done today. It's a little aggravating, but not a huge deal. I just really don't want dh out shopping for one by himself after the baby comes. :lol: WWYD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KS_ Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I think I'd try to find one now, while you can pick it out, and then you won't have to worry about *if* the one you own is in the garage and when it will arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReader Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 The hospital won't let you leave w/o a properly installed car seat for baby to ride in (unless I guess you are not leaving in a car......). So......if there's any chance whatsoever that baby might arrive before the relative gets here......or if the one that they may or may not have in their garage is in bad shape (ie, will it be clean? easily cleanable? have all the straps and no fatigue or wear on the straps or plastic or buckle etc?)......then, yea, I'd get one before then. Sorry. I know the pain of spending money for something you already own and shouldn't need to spend money on, but....in this case, I would err on the side of caution rather than wait it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Yeah, I'd go ahead and buy a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiKC Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I'd buy a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DusksAngel Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I'd buy another one as you don't know how it was stored, etc. It may have mold or other icky stuff on it. I'd also be worried about how it had been cleaned. (Submerging straps in water damages them) Please DO NOT buy a used seat. You have no way of telling if it was in an accident or if it was properly taken care of. The Cosco Scenera can be found at most Targets and Walmarts and runs around $50-60. If you would like an infant carrier try to find a good deal on one that goes to 30+ lbs. The Graco MyRide 65 is another great option (runs $140-260 depending on features) and you won't need another seat til booster time. Or the TrueFit (which I have and LOVE) runs about the same price. The major difference is the MyRide is great for kids that need the extra weight, while the TrueFit is better for those that grow more in the torso. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 If you can, I would get a new seat. Most seats expire 6 years from the date of manufacture. It's entirely possible for the seat to have sit in distribution centers/store shelves for almost a year before it was purchased new, and I'm guessing you don't know how long the previous owner had it. The seat may have a manufacture date stamped on it if your family member is willing to search it out. Honestly though, I wouldn't use a used seat. I understand it seems wasteful, and I love buying things used, but with car seats I won't take the chance. If a seat has been in an accident, it needs to be replaced. Even if the person you bought it from seemed honest, you never really know. I didn't want to have to buy a new seat again after my LO out grew the infant seat, so we went right to the convertible seat. We got the Graco MyRide 65 for about $160. It rear faces to 40lbs, and you can use it forward facing up to 65lbs. It will last us a long time. http://www.target.com/p/Graco-My-Ride-65-Car-Seat-Preston/-/A-13478079 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I'd buy a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I don't know what Colorado does, but in Michigan, several car seat manufacturers have donated new car seats to the state police posts for unemployed and low income parents. All you need at our local state police post, is to bring the stub from your last unemployment check or your last pay stub. Unemployement automatically equals a new car seat. Pay stub - if they multiply it by bi-weekly, weekly, monthly...whatever pay period you have and it falls below a certain level, you get a new car seat...above that, it's a reduced price. They handed out 65 new car seats last year in our county. Also, the fire department had a "fit your car seat" day and if you came to the Walmart parking lot, the firefighters would examine your set up, tell you if it was installed properly in your car, and examine it for damage and the make and model to make sure it met current federal safety requirements. They had 100 car seats to hand out for those individuals whose car seats didn't pass muster. So, maybe ask around and find out if there is a similar program in your area. At any rate, if not, I'd maybe ask the relatives if they wouldn't mind going in together to buy you a new car seat now. It's important enough that I would risk offending my relatives if I couldn't afford one myself! Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 I don't want to make an issue of the cost, I just don't want to be wasteful. You guys are saying pretty much what I thought, but in case that was just pg tiredness talking, lol, I wanted to check. I'm looking through sales flyers now. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I would personally ask around in my network of friends & acquaintances to see if anyone had an infant seat I could borrow for a week or two. A lot of people probably have one in their garage/attic that they're saving for a future younger sibling. I've lent out baby gear to people in my church with visiting grandkids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 When my 2nd dd was born, the hospital gave new car seats to families who didn't own one. Maybe your hospital has a similar policy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Can you pick one out just in case? Then worst case scenario DH goes and buys it after you deliver at the hospital before he picks you up to come home. If you have it picked out at a local store, it should be quick and easy to buy if you need it, but money saved if your other one gets there in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 yeah I would try and get a newer one-and really do you know what condition the other one in the garage is in? that would be my concerns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseOwlKnits Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Get a new seat. You bought it used 3 years ago. Most car seats expire in 5 years. It could already be expired, depending on how long the other people had it before they sold it...or about to expire in the next couple of months. And you don't know how it's been stored - high heat affects the durability of the plastic. The Scenera is a great seat I've heard and cheap too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRG Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Definitely get a new carseat--why take the chance? I second the Scenera. I bought one a couple weeks ago for dh's truck. It's $39 at walleyworld. It's rear facing 5-35 lbs and forward to 40. It has great safety ratings, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 (edited) There are several children's consignment stores around here & sales in the paper...if we need to get one, I'd like to get that done today. It's a little aggravating, but not a huge deal. I just really don't want dh out shopping for one by himself after the baby comes. :lol: WWYD? If the option is a used one at a consignment store or yours stored in family's garage -- I'd wait for yours. If the option is new from a store or the one from a garage, I would be tempted to get one new from the store and keep the receipt -- take it back if your little one does not come before the family arrives with your used car seat. (this is assuming the car seat in the family's garage was purchased new by you) Basic rule of thumb: don't buy/borrow a car seat from someone who you would not trust your kids' life with. because that is what you are doing. (or from someone who you DO trust your kid's life, but know they don't really care about car seats so you can't trust how they treated the seat) Edited October 12, 2011 by vonfirmath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linguistmama Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I also would get a new one. We buy used diapers and used shoes, but new carseats. I would also check into what Faithmanor suggested. The health department in our area does car seat checks and gives out age/size appropriate carseats to low income familes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Tara~ Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Buy new, be done with it. History of the old seat was questionable, likely expired now anyway.... Just buy new. :) Check Albee baby, I think they had a sale going on this week, not sure when it ended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IdahoMtnMom Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I know here, if you don't have one for ANY reason (cost, baby came early, you were here on vacation, whatever) they hospital volunteer core give you a brand new Graco. If you can afford to, they ask for a donation to the hospital core in whatever amount you can spend... and if you can't, oh well! Baby is safe :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I don't want to make an issue of the cost, I just don't want to be wasteful. You're not being wasteful. The old seat is too old now, so have fun picking out a new one! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinaBlue Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 You're not being wasteful. The old seat is too old now, so have fun picking out a new one! :001_smile: I agree -- get a new one! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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