Baby Items

Question: What baby items should i not buy used?

(Posted by: Anirbas on 2010-07-19 17:48:22)

I& #039;m buying baby items and I know that some things are fine to purchase used; a crib and stroller are 2 that I& #039;ve already picked up. But, what are some things that I should just spend the extra cash and purchase new, and why? Thanks

Posted by: Mz Lokita on 2010-07-19, 17:51:00

Click on this link it has a lot of good information!

Posted by: Mrs. D Jake's Mommy 3/11/10 on 2010-07-19, 17:51:02

A car seat & mattres for the crib.

Posted by: Poppy: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? on 2010-07-19, 17:52:23

Car seat --- if a car seat is involved in an accident it compromises its integrity. It is impossible to know whether or not a used car seat was involved in an accident. Cribs can be ok used --- but double check they have all their hardware. If they do not contact the manufacturer.

Posted by: ODP on 2010-07-19, 17:54:00

I would purchase a new car seat new...first of all for safety reasons, second of all they can get GROSS...think spit up, poop, crumbs, drool, pee...yep mine have had all those on them! Also high chairs can get pretty nasty. Just make sure it is super clean. I would check the crib out for recalls for sure! Boppys can get gross, saucers if they are super clean are okay used, same with bouncers. Swings can get worn out but they are expensive. Mine has been through three babies and I just passed it on! Just make sure whatever you purchase is clean, sanitize it yourself and check for recalls!

Posted by: Maman à Zoë-Anne ♥ on 2010-07-19, 17:54:09

Car seats. you never know if it has been in an accident, someone could just lie about that, after a car seat has been in a collision it is no longer usable for safety reasons. Also the expiry date is an issue, car seats do expire. Pretty much everything else is fine to get second hand, just watch your crib because of the recent recalls on Storkcraft dropside rail cribs. When you buy second hand make sure to inspect it first. Congrats :)

Posted by: Melissa on 2010-07-19, 17:56:50

You should never buy a car seat used. In fact, in most states it 's illegal to sell a used car seat. Theres no way to tell if it 's been in a crash, and if it has been, it won 't work properly. Plus, you can pick one up from walmart for around $50, which is pretty reasonable. Breast pump, baby bathtub, and any kind of bottle stuff or linens I wouldn 't buy used, just because it 's gross to me. I would also get a new crib mattress.

Posted by: I ﾚo√乇 Mason! ☮ My 9.9.09 Baby! on 2010-07-19, 17:59:09

Do not buy a used crib mattress. They increase the risk for SIDS. Do not buy a used carseat. Always invest in a new carseat. If the carseat you buy has ever been in a car accident before and the seller neglects to tell you that then you have a very unsafe carseat on your hands. Carseat 's also expire after I believe it 's 6 years from their manufacture date. There are safety recalls all the time on carseats so it 's best to buy a new one from the store to be sure all your bases are covered. I can 't think of anything else that you can 't buy used though.

Posted by: chaunte on 2010-07-19, 18:01:10

Car seat, cloth diapers

Posted by: Tit for Tat on 2010-07-19, 18:01:27

Car seats-Even if a used car seat looks OK, damaged car seats aren 't uncommon. Consider that safety technology improves every year, and car seats even expire. Last around 6 years bath seats- Just unsafe. Many babies die in these every year because they are left for "just a moment " crib mattress- could have holes, bacteria or mold growth. might not fit right in the crib Old or vintage painted metal toys: they may contain lead paint • Sippy cups, pacifiers, plastic baby bottles: older models may contain BPA and phthalate • Bath toys: most are hard to clean and can become infected with mold Be careful with cribs and playpens they are often recalled because of safety issues

Posted by: stevie on 2010-07-19, 18:19:04

Basically people say not to buy a used car seat b/ c you don 't know the history like if it 's been in a accident but I believe it 's ok to buy a used car seat if you are able to trust the person selling it to be honest about it being in a accident. Most of the time if the seat has been in a accident the parents are told to get rid of it and insurance will usually include replacing the seat in their reimbursement. If you do find a nice seat from trustworthy people be sure to locate the date it was manufactured, you don 't want to buy one that is over 4-5 years if it 's a infant seat. Another good option is to call your local sheriffs department and ask if they do the car seat program, this is done in most parts of NY. They will give you a brand new car seat if you need one. Sometimes the WIC program will also provide a new car seat for you. You will not have to prove your income eligible for the free car seat and they will help you install it in your car. As far as a crib and mattress you should only use a used one if you know the person who has it personally. You will need to get the model number from the crib and the brand and call the company to make sure there hasn 't been any recalls on it. As far as the mattress goes you need to make sure it isn 't more than a few years old and again try to find out what brand and check for any problems associated with it, sometimes there aren 't any labels to give you the information, in that case you can look them up using images to look for recalls but honestly any mattress that has been manufactured in the last several years will meet the safety guidelines. Most of the cribs that have been recalled have the option of getting a free repair kit from the manufacturer which will fix the problem. If you are trying to save money you can get a really nice crib for what you would pay for a cheap crib at Walmart. Even if you have to get a new mattress it is worth it as long as you check for the recalls.

Posted by: BB*Carson Elizabeth's Mummy* on 2010-07-19, 18:19:13

Car seat should always be new. Some car seats don 't have the expiration date listed directly on them, only the date of manufacture. The expiration date of the seat will vary from company to company, so you really have to do your research. Not only that, but you never know if a seat has been involved with a car crash. Even a fender-bender is enough to put a stress crack in the plastic of the seat. A stress crack can, if involved in another crash, kill hour baby, since its strength is weakened and the seat can be damaged even further. Plus the instruction manual is almost always missing from second hand car seats, and that 's something you really should have to install correctly...a minor issue since you can get a car seat tech to install it instead, but something to think about. A new mattress is something you 'll want to look into as well. Old mattresses can have worn-out springs and unnoticeable rips and tears...both are causes for concern as far as SIDS is concerned. You will also want to get a new baby monitor, unless a second hand one is very new. Anything electronic can wear out very quickly, and since it 's something you 're using to keep tabs on your baby, it 's not something you want to take a risk on. Personally I would have bought a new crib as well, unless you know the history of the one you 've picked up. Why? Looking at all the crib recalls lately, can you safely say that it meets all of the safety standards of today? Are the crib slates the proper width apart? Is it painted with led-free paint? Are all the hardware pieces in tact, and, if applicable, are the replacement parts included for the drop-down sides? Is it sturdy when put together, or does it wobble loosely if you shake it (keeping in mind it will soon have a baby standing up and shaking the sides of the crib). Really, the safety of your baby is the reason why you should purchase all of these things new. It 's not that it 's a matter of "oh, new will look much nicer "...it 's a matter of "New will possibly save my baby 's life ".

Posted by: mommy2angelbaby on 2010-07-19, 22:40:03

Personally I would not buy or use anything used unless you know the previous owner very well. You never know what kind of person has used it before you. They could have been smokers or have nasty hygeine habits or did not take care of the item. If you still decide to buy used things then be very selective. Things to definitely buy new are:car seat, crib mattress, bedding such as blankets and crib sheets, bottles and nipples, other feeding supplies, high chair, anything that has a cloth cover on it that you can not wash, pacifiers, breast pump if you are going to breast feed, changing pads, plush or cloth toys.