Why do car seats have expiration dates?
A. There are several reasons why car seats have expiration dates: • The materials that compose the seat (plastics, fabrics, webbing, etc.) all degrade over a period of time due to environmental factors, such as sunlight and heat. • Car seat manufacturers have the ability to perform “life cycle testing” in an environmental chamber. This chamber allows us to perform tests replicating an expected life span of the seat. Several factors come into play during this life cycle testing, including the materials the seat is made from, the process by which the seat was made, the design of the seat, and the size and weight of the child using the seat. Without an expiration date, a car seat would be good forever; however, it would be impossible for a car seat manufacturer to test a car seat and guarantee that it will work forever. • A car seat has to meet government standards that are in place at the time the seat is manufactured. These safety standards are constantly changing as new research is con
