Car seats are essential for your child’s safety, but eventually they expire or your kid will grow out of them. Target’s yearly Car Seat Trade-In Event, taking place from April 14 through April 27, 2024 offers a fantastic opportunity to get rid of your old car seat sustainably and save on your next purchase. Target guests can trade in any car seat and receive a 20% discount on a new car seat or select other baby gear. Since its introduction in 2016, the popular event has led to the recycling of 2.6 million car seats, making it a win-win situation for both your wallet and the environment.
Target’s annual car seat trade-in event makes it easy to recycle expired and unwanted seats.
All car seats have a manufacturer’s sticker on the base of the seat, which is required to include the expiration date. Dates vary from six to 10 years from the manufacture date, and there’s no reason to hang onto these bulky seats past their expiration dates—in fact, it’s unsafe. However, it can can be hard to recycle them. Many recycling centers and donation services won’t accept car seats, but sending car seats to landfill isn’t good for the environment. Thankfully, Target makes it easy to recycle old car seats during the trade-in event, which overlaps with Earth Day.
You must bring the old seat to a Target store for the trade-in (there’s no mail or pickup option). It’ll be helpful to bring your mobile device and sign up for Target Circle, Target’s free loyalty program, ahead of time. Starting on April 14, 2024 pretty much all stores (except for a few small-format Targets), will have drop-off boxes for car seats near the Guest Services department. Simply drop your seat in the box and scan the sign from your mobile device. Once scanned, you’ll receive one 20% off offer in your Target Circle account. The offer will stay in your account, and you can use it twice or until it expires on May 11, 2024.
Target will accept any car seat for recycling. That includes even damaged or expired car seats, as well as infant seats, convertible car seats, car seat bases, harness or booster seats. The 20% off bonus applies to various baby gear, including a new car seat, car seat base, travel system, stroller and some baby gear for home such as play yards, high chairs, swings, rockers, bouncers, walkers and jumpers. The trade-in event takes place only in-store, and store associates will be on hand to help with any questions or technical issues or to help clarify the items the discount applies to. The discount can also be stacked with other offers.
What To Shop For During The Target Car Seat Trade-In
Target carries many of the car seats and strollers we recommend. If you’re trading in a car seat during the 2024 event, here are some of our recommendations and top products to purchase with your discount.
