Special Report: Expired Safety

Keeping your child in a car seat is a no brainer. But there's one thing many parents don't know. Just like the milk in your fridge, car seats have an expiration date.

Lisa Zurn, Parent

"I’ve never really thought that a car seat could actually expire."

Neither did this Westford couple, until another parent recently told them.

They did what most parents do. They used the same car seat from child to child. But it ended up being "too old" for their second son.

Vikram Venkatasubramanian, Parent

"There’s a recommendation that it's about, approximately about six years."

It’s the same story for Braintree mom Rita Stones. She’s also used the same car seat with her four little ones.

Rita Stones, Parent

"My one year old is in this car seat, which is, my oldest is 7 and 1/2 so this is 7 and 1/2 years old."

That’s about a year and a half past the recommended use.

Rita Stones, Parent

"I was aware that they expired at some point but when it didn't say it in the car seat, I presumed that the car seat is still safe."

The average time for a car seat to expire is six years.

Erin Christiansen, Injury Prevention Program at the Boston Public Health Commission

"After six years you should get rid of it. In a crash, it's not going to perform the way it's designed and that could have serious consequences."

That’s because manufacturers believe the materials used to make the seats can degrade over time.

Ryan Hawker, Dorel Juvenile Group

"If there's a great deal of exposure to sunlight or changes in temperature you can see some cracking. This might occur during a severe accident. Pulling the harness in and out, as you kind of continue on and continue on and you pull the car seat in and out, there is some additional degradation to the harness, the straps, and some other pieces."

And be extra careful if you're considering a used one.

Patricia Tang, Expectant Mother

"I had gotten this from my brother and sister-in-law and so I figured it should be okay. I didn't realize that it was not within the six year time limit."

Look at this one we bought online in March of this year. You can clearly see "do not use after December 2009" printed on the carrier.

Erin Christiansen, Injury Prevention Program at the Boston Public Health Commission

"Avoid car seats that are sold online, and any car seats you see at a yard sale, for instance, or a second hand store. Those should not be for sale."

The best advice, check the age of your car seat today.

Vikram Venkatasubramanian, Parent

"The decision on this is easy, right? We’ve got to change the car seat."

Lakshmi Puthanveetil, Parent

"It is very scary."

The expiration date is often imprinted into the plastic of the seat. For car seats that don't have the actual expiration date printed on them, check the manufacture's date on the car seat's sticker, then add six years, and that's the estimated expiration date.

Vikram Venkatasubramanian and Lakshmi Puthanveetil are hoping to join with other parents to collect information and educate each other and other consumers about day to day products and services that may have expiration dates.

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