1. The used child seat you purchase may have been involved a crash. The seat may appear okay, but may not function correctly in another crash. All child seat manufacturers recommend that child seats involved in crashes be replaced.
2. A used child seat may be missing parts and instructions. Without an instruction book, you may not know how to properly install the seat. Even if you were to locate an instruction book, there may be parts missing and you wouldn’t know it, because you never saw it come out of the box brand new. One missing piece could be critical in a crash.
3. A used child seat could be recalled. Many child seats have been recalled over the years, for a variety of reasons. Many cannot be fixed, and should not be used.
4. The child seat may not meet current safety standards. Only those child seats manufactured after 1981 meet the current federal safety standards. Any child seat made prior to then should be destroyed. Most manufacturers now recommend not to use a child seat that is over 6-7 years old. In Illinois, after several years of being subjected to the heat in the summer and bitter cold in the winter, the strength of the plastic shell could be compromised. If you have an old seat – please contact us for proper disposal.
If you cannot afford a child seat, please contact the Hoffman Estates Police Department Traffic Section at (847) 882-1818 and ask about our child seat program.
If you are having difficulty installing your seat, or would like us to check it for proper installation or for recalls, please call us at (847) 882-1818 and ask about our child seat program
Remember: Always buckle up EVERYONE in the car on every trip, no matter how short. Kids under 12 years old belong in the back seat. Infants need to ride rear-facing in a child seat until they are both 1 year old and 20 pounds. |
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