The expenses keep on coming when you have a baby, which makes it tempting to consider buying a few used items to keep the cost down. You might argue that babies don’t stay in things for long so you might be tempted to buy something that is almost like new. And with social media making second hand baby items more affordable than ever, it is no wonder why so many young parents are making the switch. However, there are reasons to stop and think about before you decide to get some used items.
Here is a look at what is fine to use second time around and what items should be new out the box. We also find out why some clothes and toys might be ok to reuse, and get the lowdown on why cribs and car seats are a far riskier the second time around.
They grow so quickly
It is worth bearing in mind that your baby will grow so quickly that any item of clothing you buy them probably won’t even fit them a few months later.
The average baby grows by about an inch each month and they are putting on weight at an equally impressive rate, which is why it makes sense to consider the idea of used clothes.
Reusing clothes makes a lot of sense. As the clothes won’t have been worn much and you will be saving money by reusing items you get from a trusted source.
Take the usual precautions and check the labels to be sure that any sleepwear used is flame-resistant.
Safety first with car seats
It is not common knowledge that car seats have expiration dates. This reason alone should persuade you it is not a good idea to put your child in a used car seat.
The average life of each car seat is often a maximum of six years. If the used seat is close to that date or has already had a fair amount of wear and tear, it might not perform to the same crash-safety standards you would expect from a new one. Like bicycle helmets, baby car seats should never be reused after any crash or impact. The problem with a second hand car seat is that you can never be sure if it was ever involved in a collision.
There is no point fussing over the safety features of modern vehicles only to use substandard child seating. Many modern cars like the Jeep Compass have plenty of safety features that come as standard, such as anti skid brakes and multiple airbags. Don’t compromise on that safety by putting your child in a car seat you are not 100% sure about. Get a new one, and if it does its job only once, you will be glad for the investment.
Toys that pass the test
You might have already discovered that it is hard to predict what toys your child will like and want to play with. That is why it is worth thinking about saving some money and giving them some selected reused toys.
Not all toys are going to be suitable. Check for any loose parts or chipped paint. Be sure to give toys and books a wipe over to get rid of any potential bacteria. Simple toys with no loose parts are a reasonable choice. Give them a yank and apply more pressure than a child is capable of applying. If they past this test then used toys are worth considering and they can keep your costs down.
Keep away from old cribs
You need to be aware that drop-side rail cribs were banned a few years ago due to safety concerns. Federal safety standards have been updated to reflect the problems with these older style cribs. New cribs are now subjected to more stringent safety requirements, including stronger crib slats and mattress support.
The best advice would be to steer clear of borrowing or buying any secondhand crib, car seat or other protective equipment. It is not worth taking the risk with your child’s safety.
Mary Gold is a mother of two pre-schoolers. She also runs her own online business, Mary enjoys sharing her ideas online through blogging.
