Where Is the Expiration Date on a Car Seat?
Quick answer: The expiration date on a car seat is typically printed on a white rectangular paper label (often called the serial label) located on the bottom or back of…
How to Find the Expiration Label on a Car Seat
Every child car seat sold in the United States must have a manufacturing label, commonly referred to as the serial label. This label is typically a white or silver rectangular sticker…
Calculating the Expiration Date (Date of Manufacture + Lifespan)
If the label on your car seat only shows the Date of Manufacture (DOM) and does not state a clear "Do Not Use After" date, you must calculate the expiration date manually. The standard…
Why Do Car Seats Expire? Material Decay and Safety Upgrades
It might seem unusual that a hard plastic safety device has an expiration date, but car seats are subject to harsh conditions. Car seats expire primarily due to material degradation an…
What to Do If You Cannot Find the Expiration Date
If your car seat's label has peeled off, faded, or become unreadable, do not guess the expiration date. Take these proactive steps to verify the seat's safety: Check for Embossed Dates…
Safety Guidelines for Expired or Unknown-History Car Seats
Using a secondhand car seat from a thrift store, garage sale, or an online marketplace is highly discouraged. You cannot verify if the seat has been involved in a prior crash, cleaned…
Do all car seats have expiration dates?
Yes. Every reputable car seat sold in the U.S. has a designated lifespan established by the manufacturer, typically ranging from 6 to 10 years, based on material durability and crash t…
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