With the presence of warm weather, garage sale signs are popping up on every corner. Although garage sales and online classified sites can be a good place to find great deals, purchasing a used car seat could mean compromising safety. Car seats must never be used once they’ve been in an accident and, by purchasing used, you can’t be sure of the seat’s crash history. You can’t always tell that the seat has been damaged or abused - it could have stress or structural weakness that isn't visible from just looking at the seat.

What about hand-me-down seats from a child’s sibling or from a relative? Even if you’re sure the car seat hasn’t been in an auto accident or misused, you need to check the car seat’s expiration date. Each manufacturer sets an expiration date for its car seats that should be visible on one of the labels on the seat. Most car seats should be replaced every six years, with the exception of car seats made with extended use periods such as the Evenflo Symphony. You also need to be able to find the car seat’s model number so you can verify with the manufacturer that the model number is not under a recall.

How to locate model number and expiration date on  a car seat:

Keep in mind, a used car seat could be missing some of the original parts needed for safety. Do not use a car seat that shows any form of cracks or damage, nor those with missing labels, model numbers, manufacture dates or parts. Make sure you locate or request from the manufacturer the instruction manual for the seat, as installation and use information is specific to each model of car seat. You should also check with the manufacturer to make sure the car seat has all the correct parts. If you cannot verify all of these safety points, the car seat is considered unsafe for use, even if it appears to be in good condition.

Evenflo does NOT recommend purchasing used car seats. It is almost always safer to choose a new car seat for your child. Please don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer if you have any questions or concerns about a new or used car seat. Our ParentLink team is available to help you with any questions and can be reached at 800-233-5921 (U.S.) or 800-265-0749 (Canada).

When our first baby, Casey, came along, my husband and I were determined to make sure she assimilated into our life, not the other way around. We were pretty active and keen on keeping it that way. But there were a lot of things to think about when our duo became a trio, and in the forefront of our minds, like all parents, was safety. I was thinking about this since September is National Baby Safety Month. Keeping baby safe is really sort of all encompassing.  In those early days, what I thought most about was keeping Casey safe in transit for those trips around the block, when I would strap her in the car seat and pray she would go to sleep. Yeah I did that. With this in mind, here are some of my top safety tips from one good enough mother to another.

THE CAR SEAT:  Ahh yes…car seats. For the record, they’re much easier to install now, than even a few years ago. I wish I had a nickel for each time I spent struggling and sweating to make sure the car’s seatbelt was tight enough, then tugging to make sure the car seat itself didn’t move or rock if I took a sharp turn, or God-forbid, worse. Now, with bases that click and lock, you know it’s in there to stay. Bonus: you can get them in and out quickly, provided you know what you're doing. My recommendation is to find one you are really comfortable dealing with, since your baby will spend quite a bit of time in it. Ask around and read product reviews and make sure you find one that will give you the most “bang for your buck,”  and always read the entire instruction manual before using the car seat.

BABY GATES: Now if you’ve driving over the river and through the woods to let’s say Grandmother’s house, everyone, including your toddler, is going to be itching to get out and stretch their legs. And that’s good. But if you’re at grandma’s house, a baby gate is going to be a must, seein’ as it may have been a while since a little one’s been tooling around her house. The gates nowadays are lightweight and sturdy, which translates to peace of mind for you. You need this because having a little one who’s mobile is the very definition of a “game-changer.”

BABY-PROOFING: And then there’s this, catchall term. You know you need to do it, but what is IT exactly? You’re probably aware of the usual things, like covering electrical outlets. But also take extra care in the kitchen. If you’re still at Grandma’s, ask her to turn down the hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and keep all medications out of reach of little hands.

Here’s one more trick I used. I loved being on the floor with my kids. So while I was down there tickling and loving on them, I would take a good look around so I could see the world from their perspective. What’s at eye level? What’s brightly colored and dangling off the counter, just waiting to be tugged on? What little tiny objects did the vacuum miss, that are now tucked away in the corner, just waiting to be popped in a mouth? You might be surprised what you find. Of course, it means finding the fun in putting stray pieces of string in your mouth, but if it will help keep baby safe, get on down there and take one for the team! A little planning and forethought can go a long way to making sure your baby grows up happy and healthy.

By Evenflo Savvy Parenting Expert Rene Syler, founder of Good Enough Mother