If you are considering purchasing a used child seat, are being given a used seat or are just wondering how safe the seat you already have is, go through our checklist below.
Do not place your child in an infant, convertible or booster seat if:
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the harness straps are frayed or torn. |
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the padded liner is torn or detached from the seat. |
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there are any cracks in the plastic shell. |
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the tubular frame is bent or rusted at the rivet points. |
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the CMVSS label is not attached. |
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It does not meet all CMVSS standards. |
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the manufacturer's instructions are missing. |
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the tether strap is frayed, torn or missing (convertible seat only). |
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the tether anchorage hardware is missing or incomplete (convertible seat only). |
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the seat is more than 10 years old. |
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you are unsure of the child seat's history. Note that some crashes may damage a child seat. (Even damage from a serious crash may be hard to see.) |
If the seat you are considering (or a seat you already have) meets any of these criteria it should not be used.
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IMPORTANT
Check Transport Canada's recalls and public notices to see if there are any problems or safety defects that apply to the used seat you are considering. |
Some seats are showing 5 to 6-year expiry dates. This is because manufacturers want to limit their own liability if labels defining instructions for use, compliance to CMVSS, dates of manufacture or model numbers are removed. Manufacturers are concerned that older child seats may not reflect the latest knowledge (e.g., air bag warning labels may not appear).
