On a previous post, I talked about how long car seats are good for. Why they expire, how to get rid of them if they are, and the risks involved in using an expired seat — all of these topics were covered to give parents like you, vital information about using child safety seats.
But other than the car seat, there is one other baby gear that our little ones get a lot of use out of — the stroller. Your bundle of joy won’t be using his stroller as long as he would a car seat. But, it’s still considered by almost all parents a must-have.
Similar to car seats, I’ll be answering the same important question — do strollers expire? And if they do, how do you get rid of them?
A Quick Strollers Refresher
Before I answer the two questions at hand, let’s have a quick look at what strollers are in general.
Terms such as pram, buggy, or pushchair, are also used to refer to strollers. It’s true that there are differences between each of them depending on how they’re called. For instance, prams are for newborns while a pushchair is more for an older baby that can already sit. Strollers are for toddlers and young children while a buggy is a general term for either a pushchair or stroller.
There are also different kinds of strollers out there like full-sized strollers, umbrella or lightweight types, jogging, double strollers, travel system, and car seat carrier. Each one is used to fulfill a specific function.
However, they all follow the basic definition of what a stroller is — a chair on wheels that can be folded (almost all the time) where a baby or a young child can sit on and be pushed along. Most of the benefits that strollers provide revolve around convenience which is something that all parents will appreciate.
Remember: the best baby strollers will give you the following benefits and many more.
- It gives parents the convenience of not having to carry their little one all the time.
- A stroller provides extra storage for things that the baby (and sometimes even the parents) needs.
- Having a stroller means your hands are not tied to just your baby. This gives you the freedom to do other errands while still keeping an eye on your little one.
- It makes exercising like walking or jogging possible together with your bundle of joy.
- Aside from keeping your little angel comfy, a stroller also protects him from harmful UV rays and other elements.
- In the case of double strollers, walking with your little children is possible and easier at the same time. There are even certain strollers that can accommodate up to three kids!
To Answer The Questions…
The good news, especially for those parents who don’t know, is that strollers don’t expire. Strollers have features that are meant to keep babies safe. However, the primary reason why strollers are used is to make the transport of babies from one place to another so much easier and less of a burden.
Unlike car seats, you won’t find any sticker or information on the stroller indicating its expiry date — it doesn’t have one. For instance, one of the wheels of a stroller may have gone bad, but it will still work for sure. It may not be as comfortable as it once was for your little one and for you who are pushing it but the fact remains that it will still function.
If anything, what you should be more worried about as a parent is the car seat that goes along with the stroller. Although it will still work when used as a part of the stroller, it’s a whole different story when the safety seat is inside your car. You will have put your child at risk of getting injured or worse during an accident so you should replace it ASAP.
But even though strollers don’t expire, it’s still advisable that you check the Consumer Safety Product Commission for possible recalls.
How To Get Rid Of Used Strollers?
So how exactly can you get rid of strollers now that you know that they don’t expire?
If you plan to have more than just one child, you should consider saving the stroller of your firstborn for your next child. See to it that you store it properly and that it’s still in a good working condition if you do, however.
The money that you would have saved from buying your next child a brand new stroller can be used for other important items. Obviously, you wouldn’t want a stroller to use storage space if you don’t have any plans of having another child.
You may also want just to get rid of a stroller if it looks like it’s already passed its usable life. It could also be that you want to have another bundle of joy, but you want his or her stroller brand new. Whatever the reason is, there are different ways that you can dispose of a stroller.
Sell It
Selling an old stroller instead of letting it gather dust is hitting two birds with one stone. Not only do you accomplish your task of getting rid of it, but you also get some extra cash. There are a lot of ways that you can do this such as putting up a yard sale along with other stuff that you don’t need.
You can also see it online using platforms such as eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook (groups). There are also other websites that let people ‘buy and sell’ that you can utilize. It only takes a minute or two to search for them on the web.
Donate To Charities
This should come in handy especially if you’re in a hurry to get rid of an old stroller. There are many parents out there who, as much as they’d like to, don’t have the means to provide their little one’s things that they need.
If you do, want to go this route, make sure that the stroller still has most (if not all) of its parts intact and is in a good working condition. It’s worth checking your local area first if there are any nearby charities where you can donate yours. Considering how many kids are in need of many things such as a stroller, it shouldn’t be hard to find a new owner for yours.
Go To A Trade-In Event
These are places where you can trade-in your baby essentials (not just strollers!), and you usually get a discount on your next purchase in return. This requires a bit of research and regular checking though as these events happen for a limited time during the year only.
Target, in partnership with Waste Management recently held another trade-in event for baby items in exchange for a 20% off coupon for your next buy. Babies “R” Us had similar events for the last couple of years, but they’re already shutting down their stores. You can still check with them though as they’re offering huge discounts as part of their closing-down sale.
Recycle
Whenever possible, it’s a lot better to recycle everything instead of just throwing them away — that includes strollers. For the most part, it’s all about doing what you can to help save the environment in your little way.
The first thing you should before you proceed is to check if there are any recycling centers near you. If there is one, contact the center first to ask if they will accept old strollers. You don’t want to waste your time and effort (and probably gas) only to find out that strollers are not on their list when you get there.
Once you’ve confirmed that strollers are allowed to be recycled, you’ll need to put in some work. To the best of your abilities, dismantle the stroller and separate the fabric from the metal and fabric parts. If you don’t know how to do it, instructional videos online may prove useful. You can also check with the manufacturer, but there’s no guarantee that they’d be able to help you out so keep that in mind.
