Updated 7/25/23

Mention a car seat, and you have our attention. We firmly believe that car seats and restraints should always be used for kids who need them.

In Arizona, this includes kids who are:

  • Under five years old
  • Ages five to seven who are 4’9″ tall or less

Children ages eight to 17 must be restrained by shoulder and lap belts. Read more about current Arizona car seat and restraint laws.

Are Used Car Seats Safe to Use?

Graco infant car seat carrier with box

Many people will only buy brand-new car seats. We encourage everyone who buys a new or used car seat to adopt our practice of regularly checking the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) website for car-related recalls. Click on the tab for Car Seats.

We sell used car seats that are not past the expiration date and have satisfied our consignment checks for damage such as rips, tears, holes, cracks, stains, and defects. We make sure all parts are securely in place and work properly, including straps and buckles. We reject combination car seats/infant carriers if the carrying handle is damaged. This has nothing to do with installing the seat, but everything about infant safety. And we reject items that smell or are dirty.

As we’ve said before, if we wouldn’t use it, we wouldn’t let it go to your home (or in this case, your vehicle).

Our consigners are thoughtful people. They know we won’t accept items that don’t look gently used or aren’t clean. They wouldn’t dream of offering us shoddy products. Many have saved instruction pamphlets and registration information with car seats, furniture, strollers, and other durable items they consign with us. These documents include information about proper installation, which can also be found on manufacturer websites.

We check the UPC code and other identification against recalls, using the USCPSC website. We do this with furniture, strollers, and toys as well.

Who Buys Used Car Seats Anyway?

Many of our customers who buy car seats are grandparents, other relatives, or friends expecting visitors, including a young child. Some parents also buy a car seat from us to have an extra one on hand for emergencies or to transport other children.

If a customer seems uncertain about buying a used car seat, we encourage them to buy a new one. We will never do a “hard sell”  for any item in our store. We don’t want any customer to be less than 100% satisfied with a purchase from AZ Kidz n More.

Make Sure Your Car Seat is Properly Installed

Regardless of where your car seat originates, you must make sure it is properly installed.

Too many people don’t understand how to install a car seat. It isn’t always easy or obvious. NHTSA’s website has a lot of information about different types of car seats and booster seats. We also recommend these videos:

And before you know it, those kids will be in line at the DMV to get a driver’s learning permit!

 


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