I have a perfectly good (although old fashioned) Graco travel system car seat/stroller from 2004 when my son was born. The car seat was in great shape, even through 3 children's use. The stroller was in great shape, but old fashioned - didn't have a 5 point harness and the basket at the bottom didn't fold down so you could never get your stuff out of it without taking the baby out of the seat and lifting the seat up. Anyways....
It turns out that although I got the system in 2004, it was manufactured in 2003 and the expiration date printed on the bottom was December 2009. UGH. So, I know that they won't let me take my baby home in an expired car seat. We were at Babies R Us yesterday with my sister-in-law. She is expecting her first baby in March and my mom was buying them a travel system. (They bought our first travel system for us in 2004!) I saw they were doing a "trade in" for old strollers and car seats for 25% off of the new ones. So I decided to trade in the old stroller and got 25% off a new Graco system. I really like it - it has a kelly green plaid and black design on it and the stroller is a lighter model and has a self locking system instead of the old fashioned latch thing you have to fool with. (Those of you with an old Graco Metrolite will know what I am blabbing about.) Here it is on BRU: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3799989 I got it for $140 with my 25% off, so I think it was a pretty good deal. And it won't expire until 2015, so I can even fit in some more kids between now and then!! (JK!!)
So anyway, I'm excited, because with the 4th baby there really is very little reason to ever get anything new for him/her and this is fun because it is probably the only new big item we will get.
Erin
It turns out that although I got the system in 2004, it was manufactured in 2003 and the expiration date printed on the bottom was December 2009. UGH. So, I know that they won't let me take my baby home in an expired car seat. We were at Babies R Us yesterday with my sister-in-law. She is expecting her first baby in March and my mom was buying them a travel system. (They bought our first travel system for us in 2004!) I saw they were doing a "trade in" for old strollers and car seats for 25% off of the new ones. So I decided to trade in the old stroller and got 25% off a new Graco system. I really like it - it has a kelly green plaid and black design on it and the stroller is a lighter model and has a self locking system instead of the old fashioned latch thing you have to fool with. (Those of you with an old Graco Metrolite will know what I am blabbing about.) Here it is on BRU: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3799989 I got it for $140 with my 25% off, so I think it was a pretty good deal. And it won't expire until 2015, so I can even fit in some more kids between now and then!! (JK!!)
So anyway, I'm excited, because with the 4th baby there really is very little reason to ever get anything new for him/her and this is fun because it is probably the only new big item we will get.
Erin
Kerry- 34 
I should probably dig out our seat and check, though.
