From Sept. 21–Oct. 4, Target will take old car seats — expired, damaged, or outgrown — and give parents a 20% coupon for new baby gear, according to Target’s Car Seat Trade-In FAQ. Here’s how it works, what it covers, and why it matters.
Plan It
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When: Sept. 21–Oct. 4
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Where: Nearly all Target stores (drop-off at Guest Services), according to Target
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Discount: 20% Target Circle bonus, usable twice through Oct. 18, Target states
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Ages/Fit: Applies to all car seats, no matter age/condition (infant, convertible, booster)
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Cost: Free to drop off
Target’s Car-Seat Trade-In program returns Sept. 21–Oct. 4, 2025. Parents can bring in an old, expired or damaged car seat to a participating store and get a 20% Target Circle bonus toward a new seat, stroller, travel system or other select baby gear, according to Target.
To join in, drop your car seat in the designated box near Guest Services, scan the QR code with the Target app, and the bonus will appear in your Circle wallet. Families can use it twice, in store or online, through Oct. 18, Target explains.
The trade-in program has recycled more than 3.5 million car seats since it began in 2016, keeping over 53 million pounds of materials out of landfills, according to a 2025 report from ClickOnDetroit. Target says much of that plastic has been turned into products in its Brightroom, Room Essentials and Pillowfort lines.
This year’s event covers a wide range of gear from brands like Graco, Evenflo, Cloud Island, and up&up. Parents can use the discount on items across nursery furniture, high chairs, swings and more. Some exclusions apply, such as clearance and third-party marketplace items, according to Target’s FAQ.
Alongside the recycling effort, Target is offering new support services for parents. Its Baby Concierge program, powered by Tot Squad, provides free one-on-one guidance — either online or in select stores — on everything from comparing car seats to creating a registry, according to Tot Squad. Target has also teamed up with Cara of Taking Cara Babies, a neonatal nurse and baby sleep expert, to develop a curated registry list.
For families, the trade-in means more than just savings. It’s a chance to safely upgrade car seats, keep waste out of landfills and get support during the early stages of parenthood.
Accessibility/Fit:
Any family can participate, no matter what kind of seat they have or the condition it’s in. This is a stroller- and kid-friendly errand, since many families bring children along when shopping at Target.
Pricing Clarity:
A 20% coupon can make a real difference. For example, a $200 car seat purchase would drop to $160 with the trade-in discount.
FAQ:
What qualifies for trade-in? Infant seats, convertible seats, boosters and bases, no matter the condition.
What can I buy with the coupon? New car seats, strollers, travel systems and select nursery and baby gear.
How long do I have to use it? Through Oct. 18, 2025, and you can use it twice.
Why it matters
Beyond the savings, the trade-in helps reduce waste. By recycling millions of seats, parents are keeping plastics out of landfills and helping them get reused in new products, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Updated September 2025
