Any reason I can't reuse my Snugride from 2003?

[HallsofVA]

I'm expecting child #2 at the end of November. I'm planning on reusing DS' Snugride, but thought I'd double check to see if they're any reason I shouldn't be thinking that way.

The Snugride (Saratoga pattern) was purchased in Sept/Oct 2003, and used from January - June 2004. (We've had DS in Wizards ever since then.) We didn't have any problems with it, other than DS outgrew it weight-wise in less than 6 months. We also have 2 bases for the Snugride (one for each vehicle.)

Let me know if there's anything I'm missing that would mean I'm better off with a new seat, or if I'm okay with my current thinking.

Thanks!

[jeanum]

As long as the seat was never in a crash, has not expired, and the harness straps were never immersed or machine washed to clean them, then it's perfectly fine to use it again. Graco seats expire 6 years from the date they were manufactured and the date of manufacture would be on a label or stamped onto the seat. Immersing the straps or machine washing them could have weakened or stretched out the fibers in the straps, but you could order replacement harness straps from Graco if needed rather than replace the whole seat.

The only other reasons I can think of to consider getting a new seat would be if it doesn't have a front harness adjuster (which makes it much easier to loosen and tighten the harness straps each time you use the seat), if it only has a 3-point harness instead of a 5-point harness, or if you anticipate having a big/tall/long torsoed baby who may outgrow the seat during the winter in your area. Around 9/1/2005, new infant seats sold in the U.S. were required to have 22 lb. weight limits. Newer Snugrides and other infant seats on the market now go up to 22 lbs. max. weight or approx. 29" in height. There's another newer Graco infant seat, the SafeSeat 1, which goes up to 30 lbs. and approx. 32" tall.

Congratulations on baby #2. :)

[bethie_73]

I think its 6 years from date of manufacture. So as long as it hasn't been in an accident etc (which it hasn't), and it hasn't been 6 years since it was made, you should be fine.


HTH

[HallsofVA]

Thanks! The seat was fully loaded at the time we bought it. It has a 5-point harness and adjusts in the front. Hasn't been in any accidents. We still have the weather boot and the head support. Only downfall is the 20lb weight limit, but honestly I don't think I could carry around the extra 2 lbs if it did have the higher weight limit (unless the new seats themselves are a lot lighter).

[Joolsplus2]

Nah, the new seats aren't any lighter, you wouldn't be missing anything.
:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx