Working Moms

NWMR: Loaning Out Baby Stuff

DS has outgrown his snuggabunny swing and his jumper and I have a friend I was thinking about loaning them out to, since it while be a while before LO#2 comes along.  Do you think it would be a mistake to loan these out if I will be using them again?  Just not sure how worn out they would get.

BFP #1: 2/14/11. EDD: 10/20/11. Missed m/c discovered in April at 12 weeks, d&c. BFP #2: 12/27/11. EDD: 9/9/2012.

Re: NWMR: Loaning Out Baby Stuff

  • imagesadie+w:

    DS has outgrown his snuggabunny swing and his jumper and I have a friend I was thinking about loaning them out to, since it while be a while before LO#2 comes along.  Do you think it would be a mistake to loan these out if I will be using them again?  Just not sure how worn out they would get.

    My soon to be SIL let us borrow their crib, RNP, jumperoo & bath seat. I have taken really good care of them since I know she wants them back as she plans on TTC within the next year or two. We hardly used the RNP or crib for that matter so those are in excellent condition still - If it were up to me, I would lend them but make it clearly known you want them back since you plan on having another in the future.

    I plan on letting her borrow our swing if she wants it - if she gets pregnant before I do that is, along with anything else she would want but that just seems fair since she helped us out quite a bit.

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  • We're currently borrowing a swing from a friend.. We know it's going back to them, but either way, we treat out own stuff well, so it should be in just as good of condition when it's being returned. I think most of my friends would do the same. We have one set of friends that doesn't seem to treat anything with much respect - their house is filthy, tons of stuff broken, etc. In that case, I might think differently before lending something out, so I guess its up to you to be a judge of how well your friend would treat things.
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  • I only loan things that I wouldn't be heartbroken to never get back.  Sometimes, things happen-stuff breaks, people move, forget, etc....  For me, I'd loan my swing out without a thought, but YMMV.

    If you do loan the swing and you want it back, make sure you clearly state that upfront; never assume someone knows you expect the return of an item.  Good luck! 

  • You know, a friend of mine just had a baby and she had loaned out her stroller. The person she had loaned it to ended up giving her money for a new stroller b/c she (the person who had borrowed it) felt like it wasn't in good enough condition to give back to the original owner.

    I just think that you have to keep in mind that once you loan it out you may not see it again or it may get loved a little too much, and there is a good chance it won't be replaced. However, these type of things do work out of the friends are close and the item is sturdy.

     

     

     



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  • I would not loan anything that I wanted back.
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  • Just talking from the flip-side of this, we were loaned some very nice things from a friend to use when our LO arrives.  This ranges from an infant car seat cover for the winter (BundleMe?  I think that's what it's called) to a Mamaroo seat.  They never explicitly said "and we want this back and it better be in pristine condition" but we know that we are going to take as good care of this stuff as we can and then return it when we are done using it.  This couple isn't going to have any more kids, but even so they didn't sell it to us, so we assume they want it back to loan out to other friends/family eventually.  If something gets damaged we'll offer to pay them for a replacement.  We are so grateful for these items we are being loaned, it was more than generous of them to pass these things along to us.

    If you know and trust your friend enough, then go for it.  But know that there are no guarantees it'll get back to you in the same condition.

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  • xcjumpxcjump member
    My SIL loaned us some stuff for our baby.  I know they are planning on having #2 so I am taking care of it and planning on giving it back to her.  We have kept everything in good condition.  I plan on lending her some stuff if she wants it and expect it to come back to us in good condition as well.  
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  • I loaned our jumparoo and swing out to a good friend and got them back in great shape.

    You use both for such a short period of time, I think they will be fine. A stroller on the other hand would show wear and tear and I would be reluctant to loan something like that out.
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  • I loaned a friend our car seat, Bundle Me, jumparoo and bouncy seat. She's cleaning out her garage and asked if I wanted the car seat and jumparoo back. She doesn't know we're expecting 2 yet, but of course I said I'll take it all back. I hope she finds the bouncy seat and Bundle Me because I don't want to buy them again. All that to say, I think it's ok to loan out some items but I'd definitely say that you'd like them back when she's done.
     
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  • I'd rather loan stuff out than store it. 

    I've never had someone "forget" to return a big item.  I've also never had anything come back in bad shape, but I consider clean working condition to be good shape.  If I was going to really care about regular-use type wear (including minor stains) I would probably keep my stuff to myself. 

    One friend of mine sent me a big box of maternity clothes along with a note that said "we think we'll have more kids so please return to me whatever happens to not get grape jelly on it."  I think that's the attitude you need to have when you loan things out, and my test for myself is whether I can repeat that same line with a smile on my face while I'm handing something over.

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  • imagembenit4:
    If you want to use these in the future, just keep them. Don't loan them out.

    I agree. I don't loan things out anymore - if I give it away I assume it's gone.  

    I do have 1 friend who I trade toys with occasionally - we usually trade things of equal value so it something happens it's no big deal.   


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  • imageIblamethebeer:

    I'd rather loan stuff out than store it. 

    I've never had someone "forget" to return a big item.  I've also never had anything come back in bad shape, but I consider clean working condition to be good shape.  If I was going to really care about regular-use type wear (including minor stains) I would probably keep my stuff to myself. 

    One friend of mine sent me a big box of maternity clothes along with a note that said "we think we'll have more kids so please return to me whatever happens to not get grape jelly on it."  I think that's the attitude you need to have when you loan things out, and my test for myself is whether I can repeat that same line with a smile on my face while I'm handing something over.

    Exactly this.  I would much rather loan something to a good friend/family than have it sit accumulating dust or taking up space.  We have 2 kids and might have a 3rd but not for 2-3 more years so I've been loaning stuff out left and right.  A good friend just returned like 6 garbage bags full of maternity clothing I had lent her- all back in perfect condition and washed and smelling better than they did when I lent them to her. 

    You just have to know your friends and family and assert yourself when you want things returned.   

  • I loaned my stuff to my sister...and I know it's all fine and she's happy to give it back.
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  • For me it totally depends on the person.   My SIL?  Absolutely, because I know she will take care of it

    A few of my flighty friends?  Absolutely not.

     

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  • I have been loaned and/or handed down so much stuff that I will happily loan things out or give them away, as is more the case now since we're done having babies. 

     I figure that, if for any reason, I don't get ours back, I can borrow it from another friend.  :)

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  • I agree, it's a risk unless you 100% trust the person you are loaning it to, however, things happen and things can just break or quit working. Honestly, I probably will not loan out my stuff to anyone...I'm very picky about everything we own and I'd be upset if I got it returned in lesser condition then when I had it. 

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  • The motor did die after about a year of use in our snugabunny swing so just keep that in mind as a possibility. I need to get a new one for this LO.

     I have been pretty free with lending baby stuff but only with one or two friends. I am close enough with them that I don't mind pestering them to get it back or shrugging it off if I never do. 

    DS: 2/17/11          DD: 9/4/13
  • I have SIL's baby swing. I won't be returning it (or seeing if she wants it back) until A) I'm done having kids and they've outgrown it (so prob 2-3 years) or B) she has another baby herself. At the time it was mine to have as she was content with 3 kids but lately her FI has been suggesting a 4th.
    "What are you having?" "Well the radiologist says its a healthy little human baby. I'm a little disappointed, because I really wanted a puppy." LOL
  • Pips09Pips09 member
    I would only loan things out that I won't mind not getting back, or getting back in bad shape. If you want it returned in good condition, and something happens to it, even accidentally, you will resent that person. Not worth it.
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  •   It depends on the friend.  It's easier for me to loan out larger items than to store them in my tiny house.  But also consider that something like a swing would probaby get pretty heavy use- even if it was perfectly cared for it could come back with visible wear and tear.
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  • Early in my pregnancy I decided that if anyone offered to loan me stuff that I would graciously decline. I don't want the responsibility of carny for someone else's stuff.

    Now SIL is pregnant and I'm faced with your same dilemma. I plan to give her a few items that I don't want back. And I think I'll only loan the bouncer because it isn't too expensive to replace and because it was a gift from mil so she'll be happy to see it used. The swing would be expensive to replace so I'm just not inclined to loan it out
  • Accidents can happen with loaned baby items. I tried to be careful and return everything that I borrowed, but my cat still managed to pee on the loaned activity gym.

    Basically like all the PP's said, don't loan anything you really need or want back.
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  • A lot of people, myself included, have had issues with the snugabunny swing's motor going out with just regular use. They will replace it up to a year after purchase but not after that. Even if you trust this person do not loan your swing if you will want to use it again.
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  • ss+elss+el member
    I say depends on the friend. I bought a Jumperoo used, loaned it out to a friend and then my brother and it was still in awesome condition when I sold it. Our swing went through at least five babies with no issues.
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