We probably don’t have to tell you why Target is awesome for busy moms. But, let me tell you anyway! Target is great for snagging almost any item, whether you’re grabbing a household staple or a thoughtful wedding gift. Not only do they carry tons of products, they’re also committed to quality, safety, and sustainability. These famous traits of Target make it one of the best places to purchase anything baby or kid-related!
One way Target supports the environment and your family is by having a car seat trade-in program. They host an annual event where you can turn in an old car seat in exchange ‌for a hefty coupon! This event seeks to reduce waste and save you money by accepting and recycling your unwanted seats and rewarding you for participating. If saving money and the environment interests you, this is an event you don’t want to miss!
So, today, we’re dedicating a post to the Target car seat trade-in event! Read now and bookmark this page for later! We’ve got all the details and information you need to make the most of these events. Let’s dive right in.
Target Car Seat Trade-in Event
Target’s car seat trade-in event takes any type of car seat in exchange for a 20% off coupon on select baby gear! (You get an additional 5% off and free shipping as well when you use your Target Red Card!) Target will let you use this coupon on a new car seat, car seat base, travel system, stroller, or select baby home gear. Select baby home gear includes playards, high chairs, swings, rockers, bouncers, walkers, entertainers, and jumpers. And, as most parents know, that is a great discount if you’re buying any of these pricey big-ticket items!
Plus, we particularly love that this event encourages recycling AND car seat upgrades! It’s a great reminder to check your car seat manual and see if a new seat is in order. And, if your child has outgrown their seat, this trade-in event will give you big savings on the next purchase in your car seat journey!
The next event is scheduled for April 2024. So it’s a good idea to start thinking about what you’ll use your coupon for. You’ll have about a month to use your coupon after you turn in your seat, so feel free to research all your favorite products. Take a look at our articles on the best way to choose an infant or toddler seat that’s right for you, browse Target’s website, and prepare for the trade-in event!
Target takes these crashed, damaged, expired, and unwanted car seats and safely recycles them with a partner company to make pallets, plastic buckets, and construction materials. This keeps unusable car seats out of resale shops and donation bins as well as out of landfills! Really, it’s the best of both worlds!
When is Target’s Car Seat Trade-in Event?
The next Target Trade-in Event will be in April 2024 and will last about two weeks. And you should use the coupon you receive by a certain date. Target has been hosting this event since April 2016, and in that time, they have accepted 2.19 million car seats. This means they have recycled 32.9 million pounds of material! Wow!
According to Target’s website, guests will have the opportunity to recycle an old, expired, or damaged car seat and redeem a coupon on their Target app or Target.com/circle for 20% off one car seat, stroller, or select baby gear. Target’s partner, Waste Management, will be responsible in recycling materials from the old car seats.
What Type of Car Seat Qualifies for a Trade-in?
Target will recycle all types of car seats, including infant car seats, convertible car seats, harnessed, and booster seats. Yes, even a booster seat! You can even turn in car seat bases or that terrifying old seat you used in the 90s that your mom has kept in the attic for some unknown reason. And it doesn’t matter if these items are expired, damaged, or stained – they’re getting recycled anyway!
Where Do I Bring My Old Car Seat to Trade in?
To participate in this event, you’ll need to go to a Target store! Luckily, every store is taking part aside from a few small specialty Targets. You can check participation here – just to be safe! When you bring your car seat to trade-in, head over to guest services. They’ll have large boxes for your car seat – you can’t miss them! Then, they’ll add your coupon to right your Target Circle account!
How to Know if Your Car Seat is Expired?
Car seats expire. Just like any other product, the materials break down over time. And safety standards change with technological advancement in the industry. If you’ve already used your car seat for a couple of children or got it as a hand-me-down, always double-check the expiration date! You definitely do not want to be using a car seat that has expired. And this is the perfect event to exchange it for a new, safe car seat at a bargain price.
Every car seat manufacturer puts their expiration date in a different place. Usually, the manufacture date is on a white sticker stuck to the bottom or back of the seat or on the base. If you’re lucky, the expiration date will be right there on the same sticker, but if not, cross-reference your manual to find the car seat’s usable lifespan. Having trouble finding the expiration date? Don’t give up! You can always call the manufacturer for help finding this information. It’s essential to know that important date to keep your kiddos safe in their seat!
Should You Reuse or Recycle Your Child’s Car Seat?
If you have a car seat that you’ve been looking to get rid of, maybe a car seat trade-in event wasn’t exactly what you had in mind to get the gear off your hands.
Maybe you were hoping to sell it at a garage sale, give it to a friend, or donate it to someone in need. Or perhaps you weren’t planning on ditching it at all, and you were going to reuse it for the next baby! These can all be great options – but not for every seat.
There are lots of factors that go into deciding whether you should recycle or reuse that pricey car seat. If your car seat is expired, damaged, or missing any parts, it should definitely NOT be reused for your next baby or given to a friend. Additionally, if the car seat has ever gotten into a crash, traveled under a plane unprotected, or is soiled beyond cleaning, you should choose to recycle in a car seat exchange like this one (after you consult your manual to confirm that your seat isn’t usable anymore!).
Remember, if your car seat is not safe for your child, it’s not safe for anyone else’s either!
But if you still feel a twinge of guilt about getting rid of an unsafe seat, and you don’t need that prized Target coupon for your own upcoming baby gear purchase, you can always use the coupon to purchase a brand-new item to donate locally or pass that discount code directly to someone who needs it.
If you have realized that your car seat can’t be used for your next child, don’t worry! Buying a new car seat doesn’t have to be a hassle with our car seat buying kits! This kit will also help you pick the perfect seat for your family and your goals! You can even gift a kit to friends or family who may be in the market for a seat so they can confidently choose the right one!
Once you have that car seat nailed down, check our courses, The Infant Course, The Convertible Car Seat Course, or Wheels Up: Airplane Travel Course.
Target’s Car Seat Trade-In program makes a positive impact on both children’s safety and the sustainability of our environment.
If you don’t live in a country or area with Target, you can recycle your seat yourself! There are a few steps to take that you can follow here. This will make sure no one pulls the car seat out of the trash to use it. (Seriously, people have told us horror stories about this on Instagram!)
Ok – one last time to make sure you’ve got it – Car seat buyback is good for you, your baby, and the world – so why not give it a try? Consider whether your car seat is expired, damaged, or just in need of replacing. If recycling is your choice, drop off the seat and collect your coupon! Then, buy a new car seat with the help of Safe in the Seat or snag some other much-needed baby gear. It’s that simple!