A Parent's Guide to Walmart's Car Seat Trade-In Program
If you love Walmart's car seat trade-in event, we've got the details on new car seat trade-in programs for 2024. Find out when to trade in your seats, what you can trade in, coupons you will receive, and more.
Did you know that car seats expire? If you have an expired car seat or even just an old car seat your child has outgrown, hang on to it so you can bring it to stores like Walmart in time for their next car seat trade-in! At the 2019 car seat trade-in event, parents were eligible for a $30 Walmart gift card with every car seat trade-in.
Note: Parents who participated in past Walmart Car Seat Trade-In events can now recycle car seats through Target's Car Seat Trade-In Program and TerraCycle after Walmart's program concluded in 2019.[1]
More: 8 Tips to Minimize Distractions When Driving with a Newborn
Walmart Car Seat Trade-In Details
Walmart’s first-ever car seat trade-in program happened September 16th - 30th, 2019, and they are gearing up for another, due to the overwhelming response at their last car seat recycling program, where they reached capacity in less than a week! Walmart collected nearly one million car seats, which is the equivalent of diverting over 200 million plastic bottles from landfills, according to their partner, TerraCycle.
Walmart teamed up with TerraCycle to recycle used car seats. The extra $30 Walmart gift card is definitely a bonus, but you can also feel good knowing that your car seat is avoiding landfills.
Here’s How Car Seat Trade-Ins Work
Trading in your old car seat is easy with the following steps.
- Find a participating Walmart Store - a super fast search will show you all local stores accepting car seat trade-ins.
- Bring your seat to the Customer Service Desk to be recycled
- Receive a $30 Walmart Gift Card that can be used in-store or online.
It’s really that simple! Many Walmart locations will also be hosting free events in honor of National Baby Safety Month, although it's definitely possible that these events will be virtual for the time being, as long as COVID-19 is still in our midst. In the past, we saw everything from diaper challenges to stroller testing, and we are excited to see what they offer next. Although we hope the COVID pandemic will finally have passed by the next car seat recycling event, whatever the format, these informative and fun events are a great way for parents to learn more about their child’s safety and test out the latest gear.
For additional details, check out the Walmart event page. If you aren’t sure when your child’s car seat expires, now is a great time to find out!
The Fine Print
As always, there are some small details associated with trading in your old car seat, including:
- Limit two trade-ins per household (limit two gift cards).
- Booster Seats are not accepted.
How it Compares to the Target Car Seat Trade-In
Target also offers a car seat trade-in program, with their partner, Waste Management. Here's a quick comparison of the two retailers’ car seat trade-in events:
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Check out all of the details for Target's trade-in program, plus information on car seat expiration and safety.
Car Seat Trade-In
Walmart's car seat trade-in program is a sustainable initiative designed to give old car seats new life. The program encourages parents to bring their expired or outgrown car seats to participating Walmart locations, where they can be recycled responsibly. In exchange for their used car seats, customers typically receive a Walmart gift card or a discount on a new car seat, making this event both eco-friendly and cost-effective for families. This initiative not only supports environmental sustainability by preventing plastic and metal from ending up in landfills but also promotes the safety of children by encouraging the timely replacement of car seats.
Looking to save on baby items? Consider buying used, but first check out Buying Used for Baby: What’s Okay and What’s Not.
