Saving a seat for a later baby makes sense when it still has years left, and not when it will be at the end of its life by the time you need it. This guide is about that arithmetic and about what to ask before you put the seat in a closet, attic or garage. We did not find a government or maker source with storage temperature numbers, so we do not give any, and we say how to get the answer for your seat.
Step 1: read the date, then do the math
The AAP's page on car safety seats tells parents to check the date of manufacture on the label and to ask the manufacturer how long the seat should be used. The label usually shows the manufacture date, and the manual states the lifespan. Add the lifespan to the manufacture date and you have the expiration date. If you cannot find either, our guides to reading car seat labels and how long car seats last explain where to look.
Because the lifespan is counted from manufacture, not from the day you bought or first used the seat, months or years in a closet generally still count against it. Confirm that with the maker if the date is close, since manuals differ. Then compare the expiration date with the date you expect to need the seat. A seat that expires within the next baby's first year may not be worth storing.
What the maker may say about storage
Some manuals include storage instructions and some do not. Look for a section on storage, cleaning and care. If it is silent, ask the manufacturer in writing what conditions they advise for a seat kept in storage, including temperature and humidity, and keep the answer with the manual. We have not read any specific seat's manual, so we cannot say what a brand advises.
Do not assume an attic or garage is acceptable because the seat looks fine afterward. Heat, cold and damp can affect plastic, foam and webbing in ways you cannot see. The maker is the authority on how your seat should be kept.
How to pack it
- Clean it first, the way the manual says. Crumbs and spills attract pests and mold. Our guide to cleaning a car seat is a starting point; the manual overrides it.
- Dry it fully. Do not store a seat with a damp cover.
- Keep every part together. Harness, buckle, inserts, lock-off, clips, base and the manual belong with the seat. Parts from another seat do not belong with it.
- Keep the manual attached. If you lost it, ask the maker for a copy before you store the seat, not after.
- Keep the label visible or photographed. Take a picture of the model name, model number and manufacture date for your records.
- Choose a protected spot. Pick a place the maker's instructions allow, if they say.
When you take it out: a checklist
- Read the manual again; the child, the vehicle or your needs may have changed.
- Check the label for model number and manufacture date, and confirm the seat is still within its lifespan.
- Check for recalls using the model name and date. Our recalls guide explains where. Register the seat, or update your contact details if you already did.
- Inspect the shell, harness, buckle and any parts for damage, wear or damp. Ask the maker about anything you are unsure of.
- Check that no part is missing.
- Ask a certified technician to check the installation; see our CPST guide.
- Will the seat still be inside its lifespan when the next child needs it, with a margin?
- Do I have the manual and every part, and can I get the manual from the maker if not?
- Has it been in a crash of any kind, and do I know what the maker says about that?
- Is it the right type for the next child, or will I need a different stage anyway?
- AAP HealthyChildren.org, Car Safety Seats: Information for Families: check the date of manufacture on the label; ask the manufacturer how long the seat should be used; never use a seat that is too old. The page does not discuss storage.
- NHTSA, Car Seat Use After a Crash: do not use a seat after a moderate or severe crash.
- Not verified: storage temperature or humidity ranges, any maker's storage rule, and whether a particular maker counts lifespan from the manufacture date. We say to ask the maker for each.
If the seat has been in a crash or has an unknown history
A stored seat that was in a crash is a seat you should not use again if the crash was moderate or severe. Our guides to a seat after a crash and used seat safety cover the history questions.
When it is time to let it go
If the seat is past its expiration date, damaged or recalled with no remedy, do not use it, and do not pass it to anyone else. Our guide to recycling an expired seat covers disposal. Hand-me-downs between siblings or friends should follow the same rules, so read the label and manual again before you give a seat to someone else.
Decide before you store
Storing a seat takes space, effort and a few risks, so ask these first:
If the answer to the first question is no, selling or donating the seat is not an option either, and the better choice is to retire it properly. A seat that is within its lifespan and in good condition is a fine hand-me-down to a family member or friend, as long as you give them the manual, tell them its history and let them check the label for themselves.
Sources and verification