older car seats

can older (say 5 years) car seats be rear facing? or are only the new ones designed for it? I am going to be traveling to TX to see my sister this week and we will be borrowing her car seat while we are there. I currently am still using the infant seat with base in my car. DS is over a year and 29 1/2 inces long so if need be I can use it forward facing right?

Re: older car seats

First I want to say...if the car seat is 5 years old, it might be expired and I would be afraid of using it.

And about it being rear facing or forward facing, you would have to know what type of car seat it is. If it is a convertible, then probably go either way.

Re: older car seats

Re: older car seats

Ask your sister for the date of manufacture and if there is a "do not use by" date stamped on it.

Most car seats expire after about 6 years from date of manufacture, some 7, a few longer.

Older convertibles will most likely have lower RF weight limits, some as low as 22lbs.

It is recommended to keep children RF to their 2nd birthday.

There are seats available that are inexpensive and good for travel, like the Cosco Scenera and Evenflo Titan

Message edited 5/10/2011 1:03:01 PM.

Re: older car seats

Definitely check the expy date. DS had a convertible carseat 8 years ago (Britax Wizard, which predated the Boulevard), and that was rear-facing, with a top tether in the RF position, with a 33 lb RF weight limit.

Message edited 5/10/2011 1:13:42 PM.