Car seat questions

The car seat questions nobody answers straight.

Expiration dates, the forward-facing switch, fender benders, hand-me-downs, winter coats. Each answer starts with the short version and links the public guidance it comes from, so you can check it yourself.

  1. Do Car Seats Expire?Yes. Every car seat has a manufacture date on its label, and the manufacturer sets how long the seat can be used from that date. The expiration date or the lifespan is printed on a label, molded into the plastic shell, or listed in the manual. Count from the date it was made, not the date you bought it.Read the full answer →
  2. When to Turn a Car Seat Forward-FacingWhen your child hits the rear-facing height or weight limit on their car seat, not on a birthday. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to keep kids rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the highest rear-facing weight or height the seat allows. Check the label on the side of the seat for those limits.Read the full answer →
  3. Do You Have to Replace a Car Seat After an Accident?After a moderate or severe crash, yes: NHTSA recommends replacing the seat. After a minor crash, not necessarily. NHTSA counts a crash as minor only if all five of these are true: the car could be driven away, the door nearest the seat wasn't damaged, nobody was injured, no airbags deployed, and the seat has no visible damage. Check your seat's manual too; some manufacturers say to replace after any crash.Read the full answer →
  4. Is a Used Car Seat Safe?It can be, if you know the seat's full history. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to avoid a used seat when you don't know its history. Before you use one, confirm it has never been in a moderate or severe crash, isn't expired, isn't recalled, has its labels and manual, has every part, and has no cracks.Read the full answer →
  5. Winter Coats and Car SeatsBulky coats and snowsuits shouldn't be worn under a car seat harness. In a crash the padding flattens, which leaves the straps too loose. Dress the baby in thin layers, buckle the harness snug enough that you can't pinch any slack at the shoulder, then put the coat or a blanket over the top of the straps.Read the full answer →
  6. Car Seat Accessories to SkipSkip anything that goes between your baby and the seat or the harness unless it came in the box with your seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics calls aftermarket car seat products unapproved and says not to use extra products that didn't come with the seat, because they can interfere with harness fit.Read the full answer →
  7. What Happens at a Car Seat Check?A certified child passenger safety technician checks that the seat suits your child, looks up recalls and the manufacture date, and then teaches you to install it yourself. Plan on about half an hour or more. Many checks are free, but call the station first to confirm cost and book a time.Read the full answer →

Dana’s prep list

Before you drive over

Bring

The seat and its base, the seat’s manual, and your vehicle owner’s manual. Bring the baby if they’re here; if not, go anyway, before your due date. Install it yourself first. The tech isn’t there to do it for you. You should leave able to redo it alone at 3am in a parking garage.

What they’ll look at

  • Right seat for your child’s age and size, facing the right way
  • Less than an inch of movement side to side or front to back at the belt path
  • Recline angle for a newborn
  • Harness height and snugness, and chest clip at armpit level
  • Open recalls and the seat’s expiration date

Call first. These listings don’t include hours, and many stations only check seats by appointment. Ask about cost too: many checks are free, but not all.

Still not sure?

Ask a certified tech, in person.

Browse 5,000+ inspection stations from NHTSA’s list by state and city, or search mapped stations by ZIP.

Find a station →

Still choosing a seat? Start with infant vs. convertible.

Dana is a parent, not a certified car seat technician. These pages explain public guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and NHTSA; your seat’s manual and a certified technician have the final word on your seat and your car.