Baby Items

Question: Used vs. new baby items? opinions?

(Posted by: Maddi, Jackson and Kaylee's Mommy on 2010-08-03 13:14:21)

What items are you comfortable getting used and what do you prefer to be new? Ex: clothes, car seat, crib, toys, bottles ect.

Posted by: Willow O on 2010-08-03, 13:22:32

The only must have NEW is a car seat... and crib mattres everything eles SHOULD be gotten used i have spent less on my 2 kids who wear nice clothing we use a double stroller, have 3 extrea siglton strollers and 2 umbrella strollers, we have so much stuff, jumpers bouncers bassinets high chairs we are drowning in baby/ toddler stuff then my friend who bought new EVERYTHING for her 1 child, (was bad for her becuse she "couldnt reuse " for her second as it was a girl. and she is always complaing that she dosnt have a high chair for her second or a double stroller becuse there to much ... so she has a hard time managing EDIT: didnt think about bottles or pacis, my kids didnt use a paci and we got walmart BPA free bottles that were like 3$, so if you use bottles (we 90% brestfed) or pacis, get those new, there cheap enough

Posted by: CD on 2010-08-03, 13:17:49

Car seat, mattress NEW and obviously teething toys, bottles NEW, all the rest (clothes, jumpers, play pen... can be used but I would only take them from family members or close friends.

Posted by: ODP on 2010-08-03, 13:18:10

Buy a new carseat, maybe bottles. Furniture is fine used as long as it has no recalls. LOVE used clothing...especially for babies because it gets used so little. Just make sure it all looks very clean and in good working order, then scrub it again when you buy it.

Posted by: Leah~Ari's Mommy 10/23/09~ on 2010-08-03, 13:18:19

I bought my own crib, travel system and bottles. But I have tons of hand me down toys and gently used clothes are the best...already broken in and soft. = D

Posted by: sueder on 2010-08-03, 13:20:09

NEW- Carseat, crib sheets, teething toys, shoes (once they start walking) USED - everything else

Posted by: luv on 2010-08-03, 13:20:23

The crib and car seat definitly buy new because the standards are constantly changing. Specifically in carseats... They actually "expire " per se in their certification. Also unless you know exactly where it came from you dont know if it has been in a wreck or just overly banged up. Its the inside that you dont see that you need to worry about. The crib you could get away with a newer model used but for SURE get a new mattress. Everything else can be washed and or sterilized so used will save you alot of $$$ :) Good luck!

Posted by: Little Ham on 2010-08-03, 13:20:55

I am ALL for used clothes - i am not that way! Clothes are expensive and they grow out of them so fast! When it comes to the crib, we bought it new. I don 't know what happened to other peoples ' cribs - there could be pieces missing or it could be very old and you would never know. Same thing with the car seat. We got a nice brand spanking new one for my baby shower. That is something too that you never know what happened to it .It could 've been in a car accident and I am not going to worry about my childs safety not knowing where it has been. I just spent the extra money to have the comfort of knowing I have a new item. i would definitely buy used toys - you can clean them easily. Rummage sales and craigslist are lifesavers and money savers! Bottles and pacifiers I bought new - I am a weirdo about that and I like having new items that my baby will be drinking out of every day... I found some awesome rummage sales where I bought brand new blankets and crib sheets - still had the tags on them for 50 cents each! Just gotta keep your eyes open and you can find some great deals... good luck!

Posted by: Max Power on 2010-08-03, 13:20:56

2nd hand is ok if clean and washed except mattresses always change even if used by brother sister etc due to cot death

Posted by: tanner on 2010-08-03, 13:21:39

I have 3 kids, so at one time or another I 've had everything used. Some of my used stuff came from people I knew, & some came from yard sales. I don 't recommend buying a crib from a yard sale unless you see it put together - I have bought cribs from sales before only to find that parts/ screws whatever was missing or that it didn 't go together right - something was wrong. Pretty much anything you can launder, put in dishwasher, or clean by hand. I would not use pacifiers, nipples, etc that were used. As long as the other stuff is in good condition, I would buy it used, & use it.

Posted by: parental unit on 2010-08-03, 13:22:36

With my first I got everything new, and we paid for it for years, long after things were outgrown, worn out or broken. I 'm on my third child now, the only thing I buy new is car seats and sippy cups. Most baby products are made to be very durable and used for multiple children. I have joined a local mommy swap group, I trade off things my boys have outgrown and get things I need for the girl I 'm expecting.

Posted by: Cameron Michael is 6 months on 2010-08-03, 13:23:16

We got some really nice gently used clothing, toys and even a careseat from my brother-in law. Everything else was bought new. I only accepted used clothing from family members. If someone gives you something that you do not wish to use, donate it to Goodwill or a shelter. I took all the used stuff that we didn 't use to a store that gives its proceeds to a womans shelter and to a group home for children.

Posted by: Sarah Abraham on 2010-08-03, 13:24:27

I think everyone likes buying things new, but it is not really possible always for all incomes and sometimes it is for "green " values, but for both my kids we had used swings from yard sales, both worked fine, and I had a used bassinet for my son 's naps from the neighbor, and a used cradle (passed down from my SIL). I had one used travel system carseat/ stroller for my son given to me by my best friend that was less than a year old, I was going to use, but gave it back to her to give to someone else when a relative purchased the travel system seat/ stroller for our baby shower. I have a lot of used baby toys and blankets and clothes from yard sales and thrift stores. Well maybe I am wrong seeing the answers, I like buying everything new, but do not. I had to laugh at the breastpump, as I had to use a rented one to increase supply that was used many times before me,(but all the bottles and shields were new) when someone sells a breastpump it is only the main machine, the shields, connectors, tubes, membranes and bottles are suppused to be purchased new anyway, most shields or shield inserts will need to be new to be fitted proper anyway as we all have differant sized nipples/ breasts. I agree using these would be gross, but I would love to find a Medela Lactina or Symphony used as they are both well over $1,000 and it costs nearly $60/ month to rent.

Posted by: lala on 2010-08-03, 13:32:06

I bought a used crib which is not recommended, but I kept up with recalls. Once the recall was announced I ordered the part to fix it and now my used crib is awesome. I bought a ton of clothes, toys, swing, changing table used. I got a new stroller but I would have bought a used one had I found the right one. I would buy only a new carseat. I would never buy that used since once in a wreck they are not good anymore. I would only purchase new bottles. I purchased a new breast pump because the thought of using someone else 's grossed me out.

Posted by: Danielle on 2010-08-03, 13:32:21

If you know who you are getting things used from it 's different than someone you don 't know (craigslist, freecycle, etc). My boyfriend purchased used carseats from a lady I know that don 't expire for a few years, her children outgrew them. I bought a new travel system for our son & got our crib new, also bottles, pacifiers, and sippy cups. I 'm a little nervous about my son 's mouth being on something someone else 's was on. Everything else I purchased used. Toys, clothes, bedding, changing table, bouncer, cradle swing, jumperoo, etc. I wash them a couple times (clothes & any seat cover on the toys & bedding) & the toys get sprayed w/ antibacterial spray, scrubbed down w/ antibacterial wipes, sit to dry, and I spray them again before my son plays w/ them! I want to be EXTRA sure he 's safe, you just never know these days!!

Posted by: Angela on 2010-08-03, 13:46:50

New: Car Seat, Crib, Mattress, bottles, breast pump, any first aid items (thermometer etc), pretty much anything that goes in the mouth (pacifiers, baby safe feeders, teething toys etc) boppy pillow (these are already cheap, it just makes sense to buy new) Used: Swing, Jumperoo, clothes, toys, sheets, bath tub, tummy time mat, blankets, towels, exersaucer, bumbo, rocking chair, high chair and baby monitor. I have no problem buying used for most items. The more money i save the more stuff my son can have or i could put that little extra in his college fund.