Kids grow up quickly and while they are transitioning from baby to teenager, they will need a car seat. You may be curious as to using the car seat that your sister is offering you. Should you consider it or should you buy a new one?
Using a handed down or used car seat
Using a car seat that has already been used can pose some safety measures that you will need to check out first. You will need to find the instructions of the car seat before you go any further. New or used, there should be a label somewhere on the car seat that has a model number on it. Click the model number online to find out if that particular car seat model has been recalled for any reason. If you cannot find the model number on the car seat, you will need to pass on the free car seat.
You will also want to ensure that the car seat you have been offered is not more than six years old. A car seat older than that may be too old to function correctly or may have some weaknesses that may not be visible to you and not show up until you have an accident.
If you do use the car seat, you will want to follow the manual that states how to safely install it in your vehicle. You don’t want the car seat to be too loose or too tight. Car seats are commonly installed incorrectly and this makes it difficult for baby to be protected while riding in the vehicle. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to learn more about how to safely install a car seat based on the make and model of your vehicle. A step-by-step guide can ensure that the car seat you use for your baby is safely installed.
Reusing a car seat after an accident
If your car seat was involved in an accident, even if it was a very small accident, you may want to determine if using that car seat in the future should be the right decision. If you are not sure of the accident, your vehicle was involved in was minor, here are some factors that the personal injury lawyer in Milton can make it minor:
• The vehicle that was in the accident can still be driven after an accident
• The vehicle door that was nearest to the car seat was not damaged
• No injuries occurred during the accident
• The airbags did not deploy as a result of the accident
• No visible damage was done to the car seat
It is important to do your own investigation to determine if the car seat you are about to inherit is going to be beneficial for your baby. You want to make sure that you protect this precious bundle of joy the best that you can.