Car Seat Expiration and Date of Manufacture: a Britax Guide

When you hear the phrase, “expiration date,” you probably think about food, or maybe even medicine or cosmetic products. You probably don't think about car seats — after all, car seats don’t “spoil” the way that milk or fresh vegetables do — or do they?  

While car seats are designed to last for much, much longer than a carton of milk or a loaf of bread, they do, in fact, have an expiration date. Car seat expiration is an often-overlooked part of child passenger safety, but it’s essential for protecting your precious cargo.  

At Britax, we're committed to helping ensure that parents and caregivers have the information they need to use their baby gear properly. So, we’ve put together this guide to help you understand car seat expiration and determine the expiration date of your Britax seat.  

Why Car Seats Expire

Over time, the materials that make up car seats can start to age and weather, particularly when the seat is exposed to a wide range of temperatures inside your vehicle. This natural wear and tear can potentially compromise the seat's integrity and effectiveness if it’s used beyond its expiration date — which is why expiration dates matter.

Britax Car Seat Expiration Dates 

Britax expiration dates are based on the seat’s date of manufacture (DOM), which can be found on the product’s serial label. It’s important to note that the DOM is not the same as the date of purchase.  The lifespan of Britax car seats varies by type. The latest Britax car seats conveniently display the expiration date directly on the serial label, making it easier for you to keep track. You can also determine the expiration date of your Britax seat by looking up the lifespan of your seat in the Safety Information section of your user guide. Look for the sentence that says, “discontinue use of this child restraint if it is older than...” Then, find the DOM on the serial label. Add the lifespan of the seat to the DOM to figure out the expiration date. 
 

Infant Car Seats With ClickTight®
Models: Willow®, Willow S, Willow SC, and Cypress® 

• Expiration: 6 years from date of manufacture

• Serial Label Location: Underside of the seat, next to the harness adjustment slots 

  

Infant Car Seat Bases With ClickTight® 
Models: Aspen®, Alpine®  

• Expiration: 6 years from date of manufacture

• Serial Label Location: Inside of the lower connector storage compartment

  

ClickTight Convertible Car Seats
Models: Poplar® and Poplar S

• Expiration: 10 years from date of manufacture

• Serial Label Location: On the back of the seat under the tether hook

  

All-In-One Car Seats
Models: One4Life® and One4Life Slim 

• Expiration: 10 years from date of manufacture

• Serial Label Location: On the top side of the ClickTight® compartment, under the car seat cover (lift the positioning layer, open the ClickTight, and pull back the car seat cover to view)

  

Harness-2-Booster Seats
Models: Grow With You™, Grow With You ClickTight, and Grow With You ClickTight Plus 

• Expiration: 9 years from date of manufacture

• Serial Label Location: On the outside of the headrest

  

Belt-Positioning Booster Seats
Models: Highpoint­™ and Skyline® 

• Expiration: 10 years from date of manufacture

• Serial Label Location: On the top of the front corner of the seating area, under the car seat cover.

  

Strollers 

• Britax strollers do not have an expiration date. However, it’s still important to know the location of the serial label. This label contains important information that you’ll need if you contact customer service with a question about your product.

• Serial Label Location: On the inside of the stroller frame, just above the storage basket. It may be on the front or back part of the frame, depending on the model.  

  

  

Don’t see the product you’re looking for? We’re here to help. Contact customer service for assistance locating your serial label and expiration date on your Britax product.

What to Do With an Expired Car Seat

As your child's faithful travel buddy reaches its retirement, it's essential to ensure that it is retired correctly. Sarah Tilton, our Director of Consumer Advocacy, offers the following helpful advice on how to retire an expired car seat responsibly:  

• Cut the webbing and cover to deter further use.
• Remove the serial number and manufacturing date or make them unreadable.
• Clearly mark the car seat shell with "EXPIRED - DO NOT USE!" and responsibly dispose of it.

Check with your local waste management department to find out where you can dispose of expired car seats in your area.

Prioritizing Car Seat Safety 

At Britax, our number one priority is keeping little ones safe on the road. By taking the time to check the expiration date on your child’s car seat—and discontinuing use of expired seats— you’ll be taking steps to help ensure the well-being of your child. 

For any questions about your Britax car seat’s expiration, our customer service team is here to help.