Hand-me-downs

NeverKnew · September 2009

I just had an amazing friend of mine come offer me a sh!t ton of infant gear, as her daughter is turning 1 in December and she doesn't need most of it. She's giving it to me and letting me decide whether I want to use it or whether I want to donate it/give it away to somebody else.

This begs the question: what wouldn't you use as a hand-me-down? Think about allll the gear you're registering for, is there anything on there that you definitely want new?

Looking forward to seeing what you all think. Yes

ibis · September 2009

It depends on whether it's from a friend/family or a stranger. From a friend I would probably use almost anything that looked clean and not too worn. I would even use a carseat if I trusted my friend that it hadn't been in an accident. I don't think I would use a breast pump (unless I could get it professionally sterilized) and I probably wouldn't use any baby bottle nipples or pacifiers.

vmm0016 · September 2009

I would take anything as a hand me down. Well except for something that smells like cigarettes; if I couldn't get the smell out forget it! Sorry, I totally forgot I would not use bottle nipples or pacifers either.

ditzydi_2000 · September 2009

I think the only thing I wouldn't use is a crib matress and carseats. Other than that I think I'd try and use everything else.

Vuja_de · September 2009

I will take anything! As long as it isn't expired or in bad condition.

I am even taking my friend's breast pump!

my other friend is giving us her:

Swing

Car Seat/Stroller combo

Exersaucer

Vishenka69 · September 2009

I would love if someone offered me tons (or any) handmedowns. Most of our friends have young kids but nobody offered anything yet.

I think I'd want new bottles and attachments for the pump but other than that I can't think of anything. May be new bedding for the crib.

Shell24 · September 2009

Some of it would depend on who it was from. I wouldn't use a used car seat from anyone but a very close friend or one of my SIL's.

But you obviously know this person well, so I would use all of it that I could! If her DD is just a year, I'm going to assume her infant seat has not yet expired (but check just to make sure...also no accidents). Just wipe everything down well and wash the playmats, etc.

Mrs.Jones71208 · September 2009

I'll be using a hand me down breast pump from my sister. I'll be getting new tubes and such for it, but it will save us a tone of money for when I go back to work (I think hers was 2nd from top of the line). I don't know if I would use that if it was handed down from a friend, but since it's my sister, I'm fine with it.

CBL · September 2009

Mrs.Jones71208:
I'll be using a hand me down breast pump from my sister. I'll be getting new tubes and such for it, but it will save us a tone of money for when I go back to work (I think hers was 2nd from top of the line). I don't know if I would use that if it was handed down from a friend, but since it's my sister, I'm fine with it.

Ditto. SIL is giving me hers - along with a ton of other stuff. As long as you replace the sterile parts, it's fine.

scubaspot · September 2009

It depends on who was giving me the items but in general I would say no to any car seat. If I knew the person well and they wanted to give me a crib I would accept but I would not take one from an unknown source or a garage sale.

Nikibug · September 2009

Carseat. That is about the only thing I wouldn't want second hand. Those things can just get gross!

NeverKnew · September 2009

Shell24:

If her DD is just a year, I'm going to assume her infant seat has not yet expired (but check just to make sure...also no accidents). Just wipe everything down well and wash the playmats, etc.

Shell, you're hitting the nail on the head here. She has a Peg Perego carseat with two bases, which she received used from another friend. I think it's about 5 years old now. This is the thing I'm iffy on. She's frankly iffy on it to, but just about the age.

How do I check if it's expired?

Boizmom · September 2009

Coming from a friend or family member, I will take what I am given. There's no need to be picky...unless the item(s) are older than just a couple of years. (Safety regulations and stuff changes every few years.) I have received some pretty nice items from my SIL...an exersaucer, pack and play and vibrating seat...of course I graciously accepted them. They are all in excellent condition and newish. Anything to save us some money down the road. I also have gone to a couple resale shops and picked up a swing and bouncy seat...spent a total of $22. Both in great condition. I don't see what's so wrong about using used items like that for your baby. I just don't see the point in spending a ton of money on items your baby is only going to use for about 3 to 5 months anyway.

mybabyloveonline · September 2009

i would use any of it if its from a friend and it looks clean. however, if i were shopping at a second hand place, i would use a breast pump, bath tub or cloth diapers.

CarolynF80 · September 2009

The carseat will have a sticker or engraving right on it stating the expiry (also you can search the net for any recalls on that model from the serial number).

Taylor44 · September 2009

Hand-me-downs are great. The only things I wouldn't use are a breast pump and bottles. But everything else would be fine if it was in good condition. I would say that 75% of the things we used with my son were hand-me-downs.

MrsWheeler · September 2009

Cloth diapers. Ick.

daisydana · September 2009

I think hand-me-down's are awesome. It would just depend on the condition mostly for me.

My DH is a little weirded out that I just borrowed a bassinet from a friend. She only used it for three or four weeks and it is in pristine condition. I don't get men sometimes. He wipes his hands on his pants and blows his nose in the sink. Like his opinion counts.

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