Whether or Not to Replace Baby's Car Seat After a Crash
by Sami Cone
Dec 05, 2017
One of the most important safety questions a parent can ask is regarding whether or not to replace baby's car seat after a crash. Emotions may lead you to want to immediately get rid of anything associated with the trauma of a car crash, but that's not always the case.
There are many factors that go into deciding whether to keep or replace a car seat following an auto accident, but one thing you may not realize is that the specific car seat manufacturer's instructions trump your individual state's law.
As a rule of thumb, most car seats should be replaced after a car crash, even if your child was not even riding in it at the time. Safercar.gov is an incredible resource when it comes to all things regarding car safety and we also want to equip you with a resource to contact your child's car seat's manufacturer (original list found on CSFTL.org):
Car seat manufacturers
BabyTrend
Replace after any crash.
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www.babytrend.com
1-800-328-7363
Britax
Follows NHTSA’s minor crash criteria. Replace after a moderate or severe crash.
www.britaxusa.com / www.britax.ca
1-800-427-4829 / 704-409-1700
BubbleBum
Replace after any crash.
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Canadian service center 1-800-667-4111
Clek
Replace after any crash.
www.clekinc.com / www.clekinc.ca
1-866-656-2462 (same US / Canada)
Combi
Check your manual and contact the manufacturer.
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www.combiusa.com
1-800-992-6624
Cosco (Dorel Juvenile Group)
Replace after any crash.
1-800-544-1108
Cybex
Replace after any crash.
www.cybex-online.com
1-800-593-5522
Diono
*UPDATE August 2016*
Check your manual and contact the manufacturer.
1-855-463-4666
Evenflo
Replace after any crash.
US: 1-800-233-5921
Canada: 937-773-3971
Graco
Replace after any crash.
US: 1-800-345-4109
Canada: 1-800-667-8184
Harmony
Replace after any crash.
1-877-306-1001
KidsEmbrace
Replace after any crash.
www.KidsEmbrace.com
1-866-947-3287
Maxi Cosi (Dorel Juvenile Group)
Replace after any crash.
www.djgusa.com
1-800-544-1108
Nuna
Replace after any crash.
www.nuna.eu
1-855-686-2872
Orbit Baby
Replace after any crash.
www.orbitbaby.com
1-877-672-2229
Peg Perego
Check your manual and contact the manufacturer.
www.pegperego.com / www.pegperegocanada.com
US: 1-800-671-1701 / Canada: 800-661-5050
Recaro
Check your manual and contact the manufacturer.
1-888-973-2276
RideSafer (Safe Traffic System)
Check your manual and contact the manufacturer.
1-847-233-0365
Safety 1st (Dorel Juvenile Group)
Replace after any crash.
www.djgusa.com
1-800-544-1108
The First Years (Tomy International)
Replace after any crash.
1-888-899-2229
UPPAbaby
Follows NHTSA’s minor crash criteria. Replace after a moderate or severe crash.
1-781-413-3000
This post is also a great resource in helping determine whether it's necessary to replace your car seat after a crash.
You can also find great baby car seat resources on our own page, including everything from age-appropriate car seat suggestions, safety-guides and individual state laws. Another important read: How sure are you that your children are traveling safely in their car seat?
Sami Cone
Best-Selling Author & Speaker
Sami Cone is the best-selling author of "Raising Uncommon Kids", is known as the "Frugal Mom" on Nashville's top-rated talk show "Talk of the Town" and educates over a million listeners every day on her nationally syndicated "Family Money Minute". She is proud to call Nashville home with her husband, Rick, and their two ‘tweenage' children.
