You’ve probably heard the rumors. You walk into a store and see a Graco car seat for sale- but it says “Only for usentil 2020″ on the label. What does that mean for you? The short answer is that your Graco car seat is expired and must be replaced. Here are some more details about when your Graco car seat expires and what to do about it: Your Graco car seat expires three years from the manufacture date (not from when you first bought it). If your child has reached their third birthday, the expiration date on their car seat will start from the date of their third birthday, not when you first bought it. You can still use your Graco car seat until it no longer meets safety standards- this could be as long as 10 years after the manufacture date. If you have any questions about when your Graco car seat expires or whether it meets current safety standards, please contact the manufacturer.
When is my Graco car seat expiration?
To determine the expiration date for your Graco car seat, follow these simple steps:
1. Check the manufacture date on your car seat.
2. If your car seat was made in or after 2008, it has a 5-year lifespan and will expire in 2020.
3. If your car seat was made before 2008, it may have a 10-year lifespan and will expire in 2024.
4. If you don’t know the manufacture date, check the tag attached to the car seat. The expiration date should be printed next to “manufactured until” on the tag or on a label inside of the car seat.
How to check the expiration date
To check the expiration date on a Graco car seat, open the car seat and find the “Expiration Date” label. The expiration date is typically printed on a sticker located near the buckle or at the base of the car seat. If your car seat has a nylon cover, you may also see the expiration date written directly on the cover. Check your car seat for any damage that may have occurred since it was manufactured, such as tears in fabric or missing labels. If your car seat has been used or abused, it may not meet safety standards and could pose a health risk to your child.
What if my Graco car seat is more than 7 years old?
If your Graco car seat is more than 7 years old, it may no longer be safe to use. The Graco Savvy Stroller doesn’t have a built in expiration date and the car seat itself has a 7 year expiration date. You can determine the approximate age of your Graco car seat by looking at these three pieces of information:
-The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)
-The Date of Manufacture
-The Expiration Date printed on the car seat or stroller
What if my child no longer uses the car seat?
If your child no longer uses the car seat, it is time to remove it from the vehicle. Graco recommends that car seats be removed when the child reaches his or her 2nd birthday or when they outgrow the weight and height limits. When removing a car seat, always use caution and follow these steps:
1. Unbuckle the safety belt and remove the child from the car seat.
2. Ensure that all of the straps are tight so that no part of the child falls out of the car seat.
3. Make sure there is enough room in the vehicle for the car seat to be placed safely on the ground or a flat surface.
4. Place the car seat on a level surface away from any objects that could fall onto or hit it, including toys, books, luggage, etc.
What to do if your Graco car seat has expired?
If your Graco car seat has expired, it is no longer legal to use in the U.S. and Canada. It’s important to know when your Graco car seat expires so that you can safely remove it from use and replace it with a new one.
To determine the expiration date of your Graco car seat:
-Open the car seat and look for the manufacturer’s printed label which will include the model number, month/year of manufacture, weight and height of your child, as well as the expiration date.
-Check online at gracocarseatexpiration.com or call 1-800-4GRACO for updated information on specific car seats.
-The expiration date on most Graco car seats is 3 years from the month/year of manufacture.