As I worked in the garage recently, sorting through clutter that had magically appeared . . . I found this.
It was perfect, but useless.
In case your kids aren’t in the booster seat stage, I’ll explain. This is the top portion of a booster seat for the car. When the kids first move out of a car seat, this back portion of the booster helps keep the seatbelt in the right place and also allows them to rest their heads when they fall asleep.
As they get bigger and are too tall for the back, you take it off and just use the bottom of the booster.
All my kids are big.
We haven’t used the back portion in several years. And even though we’ll soon be done with even the bottom section, carseats aren’t supposed to be used for more than five years or so. I’m pretty sure we have already passed the five year mark.
So why keep the top half for another year just to throw it away at the same time we throw away the bottom half?
I know. The answer is obvious. There’s no reason to keep it.
But it still felt weird to stick something perfect in the trash.
--Nony
Traci says
We’ve got some of those darn things in the garage and I hate throwing them away. Ok, it’s garbage week – they are going!
Pat says
I’m curious.
I know this is going to come off sounding…so HOARDISH… (made it up, because I don’t know what else goes there)
But…I just saw an expiry date on the bottom of my grand daughters booster type car seat and wondered…where do old booster type car seats go to retire.
I immediately thought of movie theaters now days having boosters for kids near the ticket stands… you grab one and go, right?
But then I thought of flu season, germs, etc. (we all know car seats have germs, but at least they are in the family, right?)
But what about other venues where a child might be too short to be seated well enough to see?
I only thought of church.
I’m sure there are other places…where the child doesn’t need to be strapped in for safety; but for comfort instead.
I understand the need for safety dates… codes, guidelines, etc. These seats need inspections. But that is a lot of car seats going to the land fill.
Anybody else think about this? or is it just me and the crazies!?!
…I agree is seems weird to stick something perfect in the trash. Pat
Amanda says
I agree. I don’t have a solution, but I agree. :/ Stuff like this reminds to only buy what we really need, because even the stuff I really need will end up as trash eventually.
Amanda says
My husband and I debated about that very object this morning! I’m putting it out on the curb tomorrow. I’m done holding on to stuff that is of no value to me.
Kristy K. James says
I can understand that it’s tough to throw out perfectly good stuff … but I’ve done it with some of my clutter, too. It was just the easiest way to deal with it at the time.
The other ladies have good points, but I really have to wonder about expiration dates on booster seats. The way they’re made, unless the fabric is shredding, there are not really any moving parts to wear out, so what would expire? Of course if the place where the seat belt goes is getting worn, it would need replaced…but what else can wear out on it? Call me suspicious, but I tend to think some things are made up just to get the consumer to buy products they don’t need.
As for what to do with extra booster seats… If they don’t have the arm that goes in front of the child, I’d think places like daycare centers could use them for little seats in reading circles. They have to sanitize the things they use for kids, so germs shouldn’t be an issue there. But even at theaters, the owners don’t sanitize the regular seats anyway…
Colleen says
It’s that, over time, the plastic ages and stresses to the point where it may no longer is strong enough to hold up under the forces involved in an accident. Plastic becomes brittle with exposure to extreme temperatures, sun, stress, etc. Think about the conditions inside your parked car during the hottest days of summer and coldest days of winter. Think about all the micro-cracks that can develop as your child gets in and out, as the car seat is moved from vehicle to vehicle, as you make hard stops … it all adds up.
wilma says
The foam stuff inside the seat, that absorbs impact, also degrades over time. From a safety perspective, it’s very important not to use an expired seat in a vehicle.
Amy says
We have storage in the top of our garage and I just put 4 of those up there on Friday. When I did, I was thinking “this is a complete waste of time, I should just throw them away”. But I can’t. Yet.
Brittani A says
I have the hardest time letting go of perfectly good “stuff” too.
Wendy says
Check the bottom! Often the plastic is recyclable! We have curbside recycling where I live and they can just go out on the curb and maybe be turned into playground equipment someday? Makes me feel better about “throwing them out”. 🙂
Joanna says
I have to say, our boosters got “yucky” pretty fast.. My kids are sitting on the bare plastic- cleanup is a BREEZE with the fabric removed! I will consider donating them to a theater or church, because a conscientious parent might be comforted by the plastic surface! These are great ideas! Thanks!
Heather says
Ha, I just use the plain plastic as well! I told my daughter it was more sleek and modern to use the seat with the fabric off.
And, like somebody else, I picked up the plastic back yesterday and put it back down. Into the recycling it goes….
Charity says
Great ideas!!! You could also put them, after taking off the fabric, into the recycling bin! Then I don’t feel like I am “throwing” it away and it will be reused to make something else.
Brenda says
Check your local area for car seat recycling programs. They are often offered through children’s hospitals, large stores, or waste management companies. In many areas, Kohl’s stores have partnered with local waste and recycling companies to offer free recycling for carseats. It is part of Kohl’s Cares, and consumers simply drop the carseat off at the store during designated days and times.
Meg says
Love this idea! Thanks for posting this.
Pamela says
You could call your local Fire Department and ask if they would want any expired carseats for training purposes. My hubby uses them at his department for training and demonstrations often.
Robin B. says
I threw away my daughter’s booster seat the other day. It had an expiration date on it. I’m guessing the integrity of the plastic breaks down from having been in a hot/cold car. It just seemed like a waste to throw it away.
Angie says
Sometimes when I start to feel guilty about throwing away something perfectly fine, I break it before I stick it in the trash! It helps my slob/hoarder brain justify the action of disposal. I’m actually about to do that right now to a gigantic electric calculator that sits on my desk (the kind that will only work if plugged in). Although the calculator and I have had an 8 long year working relationship, I just bought a new portable calculator that is a quarter of the size and has the same exact functions. I’ll even be able to carry it around with me to meetings and stuff! I know if I stick the old calculator in the cupboard (which is my first impulse), it will sit there for another 8 years and I’ll just end up throwing it away at that time after I laugh at myself for keeping such a dinosaur of a machine, so I might as well do it now. But first, I’ll drop it on the floor a couple times and step on it!!
Melinda says
Angie, I like the way your mind works!
Anouk says
There are some (specialized) recycling places for car seats. (At least there was a facebook post on my wall a month ago about it!) The plastic is recyclable, and I know that where I live in Qc, Canada, usually non profit clothing centers recycle all the material that is not fit for sale. And to Angie- (and all others that I did not read their posts), again in my town there are Eco Centers where you can bring things that the trash wont pick up. Like branches, old electronic equipment, tires, anything! You just put it in the right bin, and off it goes to be reused!
Debbie says
I feel the same way about perfectly good shirts that are useless because they were printed for a specific event. Also, the cute things that are made with their handprint formed into a turkey or a reindeer or a beaded undershirt made into an indian costume with my child’s real name and his indian name on it. A t-shirt quilt would be good for some of these things. I’ve saved many of them with just that in mind but they are just taking up space. Other things are to delicate for that. They are so cute and in great condition. It is hard to throw away things that are in perfect condition.
Tine says
Do you still have those T-shirts? You could cut the to-be-used-for-quilts pieces out, and toss the rest. It would take less space, and give you a head start if and when you start the quilt.
Sharon says
I think it’s because somewhere in our subconscious we think we’ll donate instead of trashing, and the next person will need both parts. Once we stop and realise that car seats aren’t supposed to last forever (safety issue I know, but why can’t they be designed for a long life?) yeah it’s crazy to keep the pieces. I’m going to go find the harness straps I stored and bin them now…
Susan McVicker says
Use them as chairs in play houses, until the are in ‘good enough shape’ for the trash can. How about taking them to the Drive-in. We park in front so we have plenty of room and sit on the grass. It would be fun to set up the seats there. Would they work in a wagon?