PSA car seats do expire!

I know they have a lifetime... but I’ve used one Britax convertible for 3 kids all close in age. They each move on to a 5 point harness so the use wasn’t long per kid. The 3rd is beyond forward facing age... but wasn’t complaining, so I kept her in it a little longer than her siblings.

Went to wash the seat after a potty accident and notice that the styrofoam was totally broken on one side of the headrest. I touched the other side and it broke as well.

I checked and of course, the darn thing is freshly expired (received at my baby shower before I actually started to use it).

Silly thing... but I was surprised by the way that styrofoam broke. It would not have been safe.

This is just a PSA for anyone that may be like me!

Re: PSA car seats do expire!

Yes ,I never really thought about it either, but if you do think about it, it is sitting in your car in extreme heat in the summer- we all know how hot the inside of a car gets on a hot day- and extreme cold in the winter.

It's easy to see how Styrofoam and such can break down in those conditions after a few years

PSA car seats do expire!

How old was the seat? I would think the expiration would be conservative - that if it's breaking right at the expiration date, they should have probably set the expiration sooner. My oldest seat is 4 years and I think it lasts 7 or 10, not sure, but maybe I should buy new seats for DD3 instead of handing down...

PSA car seats do expire!

same thing happened to our first Britax. didn't make it to the third child because the Styrofoam broke and it was close to expired. i was a little annoyed to see the manufacture date (which affects the expiration date) was so much earlier than when i bought it (by like a year!)

PSA car seats do expire!

I had the same thing happen with a not very old Britax. I had to order a new headrest from the company. It cracked in half when I was (carefully, mind you) trying to get the cover off to wash it.