What baby items to buy secondhand? What to avoid?

[englishteacha]

Well, with 19.5 weeks to go we're starting to hunt for baby bargains. What should we look for secondhand and what should we avoid? We're being given some hand-me-downs that are like new (hooray for friends!), but will need much of the "big" stuff like a crib, stroller, pack and play, high chair, etc. Our baby is the first girl in 19 years in our family, so I'm SURE baby will be well dressed in tons of pink and frilly clothes by her grandma and aunts! It is unlikely that we will receive any of the bigger/more expensive items for our baby shower so we will need to purchase those items on our own.

Where would you look? What should we look to buy used? What should we only buy new? Where are the bargains in the baby gear world?

 

[akcire]

I would only buy a crib, crib mattress, and car seats new or from someone I know personally. If you buy a second hand crib be certain it is not a dropside--they are now illegal.

The pack in plays are so inexpensive, I have seen new ones for $30-40.

I wouldn't buy a high chair for a while. I got one at my shower and basically tripped over it for 5 months. Until your daughter is 3 months don't worry about it.

I would look for a gently used bouncy chair and exosaucer. They are expensive and huge so people get rid of them quickly

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Honestly, the only thing I would avoid secondhand is the crib and the car seat. The crib, because there are so many recalls, so unless you know the EXACT info on the crib (like, down to the date of manufacture), I would avoid it. The car seat, because you don't know if it's been in an accident, or how it's been treated or stored.

We bought our bouncer and swing (it was actually a two-in-one type unit), high chair, jumperoo, and lots of clothing and toys secondhand. Look in your area for children's consignment stores - a lot of these stores will also give you extra when you sell (when you get to that point!), if you agree to take store credit instead of cash. Use your store credit for clothing and toys you would have bought, anyway!

We bought a couple things (a crib aquarium and some clothes) from Craigslist and we got a good deal on those items, but it was always a big hassle. The consignment store near our house sold the same items for $1 or less more per item than I paid on Craigslist, so it wasn't worth it to me to scan all the ads and drive out of my way. If you put the effort into finding a good children's consignment store, it's totally worth it!

Oh, and I would definitely wait on things like the high chair and jumperoo/exersaucer until you need it, because they just take up space for months. I would also wait on the pack and play unless you plan to use it as a vital part of your baby routine (like using a p-n-p instead of a bassinet in your room). We bought ours before our son was born and I think it's only been used two or three times in his life. We planned to use it for naps, but DS would only nap in his swing when he was a newborn, so it just never got used.

Contrats on your pregnancy! I'm also pregnant with a little girl and I'm also 20 weeks, so we must be due around the same time!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

i was infant room teacher for almost 3 years (in total). We got pretty much everything second hand. I agree on the cribs and carset being new though. I know our favorite peice of equipment is one of those vibrating seats you strap the baby in. Our babies seem to love to be up off the floor and able to look around.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Car seat I would buy new as you have no way of knowing if it was in an accident. Crib I would buy from someone I knew if it was within a couple years old and not recalled. (You can check http://www.cpsc.gov/ for recalls.) Other stuff, aside from teethers or pacifiers or something (things that arent' made to hold up to more than one baby!), I'd consider used.

High chair- with my second, we just skipped the stand on the floor (take up alot of space) high chair. Just get the kind that straps to a kitchen chair.

ETA Re: where to look- I forget if you're anywhere near Portland. Lots for Tots (Scarborough and Falmouth) is good. Prices might be a little more than other places, but he only takes good stuff (and I am pretty sure screens for recalls.) I would actually consider a used crib from them. Goodwill in Maine does not sell baby stuff and Salvation Army is pretty iffy with what they accept. Usually dirty and I'd not trust it's not recalled.

Once it's warmer- always stuff at yard sales as well.

Put the word out at church/around town for what you need. Seems there is always someone looking to unload their baby stuff!

 

[goldies 5]

I am probably the odd one out, but we never really used a pack n play that much. Only when we traveled as a bed. Our swing was bought brand new over 9 years ago and also our bouncer and both are being used still today. So if you can buy those gently used, I would. You may want to think about what kind of highchair you realy want. We have had many different types over the years. My favorite by far is the last one we bought 3 years ago, because it is less bullky and straps into a chair. It was also the cheapest one I ever purchased. I personally would buy this item brand new. Baby stuff can take up a lot of space fast. Congratulations! It took us 15 years to have our second girl and now we have 3 of each. Love the pink!!

 

[jmartinez1895]

You may be bale to find a second hand crib that is safe, but it will take a little homework. If you find one that you like, make a note of the make and model number ( It should be on the head board section). Get online and check for recalls and other safety issues. If you have internet on your phone that will make it easier. When we sold out crib at a yard sale we had a lady do this and I thought it was ver ysmart.

 

[englishteacha]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Promomx2]

woot.com has a Graco packnplay today for $119

 

[sherry7]

I personally would never buy a used crib (or mattress), no matter how new it is. I bought my daughter's crib in February 2010 (fixed side, not drop) and due to new crib regulations that came out since then, it's already considered illegal to sell. Walmart.com usually has very good deals on cribs. I found the one I wanted at Babies R Us, and found the same exact model on Walmart.com for almost 1/2 the price.

Things that I did buy used were: exersaucer, bouncer, Bumbo (still a waste of money though), and a Tiny Love playmat (fully washable).

Get the most recent edition of the Baby Bargains book. It's only around $10-$12 on Amazon. If you read it and take some of the advice, you'll save LOTS of money.

 

[chimilady]

The only thing I would buy new is the crib/crib mattress and car seat. Everything else can be second hand. Oh, and if you are buying a pump, that should be new, unless you are buying a hospital grade, which can be bought second hand. (This is great if you are goign to pump. I bought a hospital grade for $250, used it for a year, and then re-sold for more than I paid)

When I think of the money I wasted buying new... PLASTIC things no less that could have easily been wiped down with a lysol wipe! Today I saw a bumbo for $3 at a yard sale. I spent $50 on 2 of them. Don't even get me started on clothes I bought that they immediately stained.

Things you should second hand:

swings
playmats
exersaucers
bouncy chairs
high chairs
and whatever else you can....

Congrats!

 

[SandrA9810]

Don't rule out Goodwill for a car seat. Many retailers work with donation stores for slightly damaged boxes. Some one on here a while ago posted about finding a brand new car seat for half the price of what Target had it for.

The local goodwill here has lots of Target items, some clearance items, some damaged boxes. But nothing wrong with the product.

 

[marthachick]

My sister-in-law is expecting next month. My sister called me yesterday from Babies R Us. She had found a $150 stroller for $40. And a $50 exersaucer for $15.

So check stores first before looking for used. You just never know what might be on sale!

And CONGRATS on your new baby.

 

[candielips]

One thing I would pick up used, not mentioned yet, is a pair of Robeez. Those things are about the only things I could ever get to stay on my kids feet. You can pick them up so much cheaper gently used.
For ex. I picked up a pair of the Robeez boots last winter for $8 and they retail here for $40!

 

[bumbershoot]

First thing to do is get yourself signed up for recall emails here: https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx

Everyone with babies, and everyone with children, and everyone who buys and uses products of any kind, should be signed up for those emails.


We started with a "baby papasan" and a carseat and that was IT, as far as "gear" went. And along with a sling, those were the ONLY gear type things we actually ever needed. Highchair was only used a brief period of time; we delayed solids, by the time he was eating foods he was *eating*, and as soon as he started climbing up the highchair (maybe a month after we started using it) it was GONE. Much much easier to hold him on a lap or just have him on a chair. Never used an exersaucer b/c I don't feel they are healthy for spines and pelvises, and there's just no *need* for a child to have something to help them make those movements...DS would hold onto a table and do deep knee bends like I've seen kids do in those things...why have a thing to plop him in for something he'd do on his own? Never had a swing; that's what my arms were for.

So basically, I think it's best to meet the child before making lots of purchases, and whatever you do buy second-hand, check that recall list FIRST.

Heck, DS was tremendously LONG, and was out of his infant carseat inside of 4 months by height...if we'd realized how tall he was going to be, we would never have bought that infant carseat! We also found it incredibly awkward, heavy, and difficult, along with being useless, to carry the seat with him in it; each of us did it once time, and after that, the thing stayed in the car. Until we got the Roundabout and sold the Graco at a consignment store (not all secondhand carseats are junk; ours certainly weren't! though I personally wouldn't have bought one), that is!

 

[NYEmomma]

We got everything new for our first child (most of it was bought for us by friends or family, so the investment for US was very minimal) and I had planned on reusing everything for our second. But then I found out that we're having twins so I've had to go and pick up seconds of a lot of things. I've been trying to get used items to save money and a lot of friends & family have been so thoughtful to us and just given us their hand-me-downs. It has saved us SO much money.

The only things I'm buying new are a crib mattress, a breast pump & a nursing pillow (need to get a kind that'll work for twins).

I got a car seat & crib from my cousin so I know the items have been well cared for & haven't been in an accident. I've also checked out the crib & there's no recalls on it.

Other things I have gotten used so far are bassinets (FP Rock & Play Sleeper), swing, extra bouncy seat, changing table (needed a smaller one to squeeze a 2nd crib into the room), Moby wrap, twin stroller.

Most of the things I've bought so far have been from a local consignment store that I love and a FB swap group that is exclusive to only people who know each other -- so we all can vouch for other swappers.

 

[auger]

Keep in mind, all car seats have an expiration date printed on them.
Be sure to check the date whether you buy new, used, or someone gives you one.
I am thinking they are good for about 6 years.
You can Google that to be sure.
My experience is that most people don't even realize there is an exp date on car seats.

 

[mdsouth]

I will repeat, do not use a second-hand crib. This is even if you know who it comes from and that is has not been recalled. I say this because some part might come undone or lost in the move and then that will effect the structure's safety. So, buy a new one and check for all parts and follow the directions to put it together carefully.

My cousin used a second-hand crib and tragically, his infant son died because there was a piece loose (mssing, not sure) and the bottom dropped out and strangled the baby on the side rails.

 

[tink2dw]

Buy a Brand Spanking NEW Humidifier!! DO NOT Let ANYONE Give you a Used One!!! No one!! You MUST blow clean fresh Air on Baby!! DH just bought his Sister a new one. She was using a 13 year old one someone gave her and her Baby had to go to the Dr. today and was test for RSV, a respiratory virus. With an old Humidifier you just don't know what you are blowing at your precious baby??

 

[tink2dw]

Buy a Brand Spanking NEW Humidifier!! DO NOT Let ANYONE Give you a Used One!!! No one!! You MUST blow clean fresh Air on Baby!! DH just bought his Sister a new one. She was using a 13 year old one someone gave her and her Baby had to go to the Dr. today and was test for RSV, a respiratory virus. With an old Humidifier you just don't know what you are blowing at your precious baby??