WWYD? Slightly used- second hand baby items

mrsjjohnson2010 · November 2012

I can be honest and say I love a good to great deal. I search on craigslist, ebay and amazon ( In this order) to buy good to great pricing items. I?m wondering how you feel about buying slightly used baby items. Cribs? Swings? Packing N? Play?s? Cloth diapering? Baby cloths?

Are some items a no- no to buy second hand?

The reason be hind my question- i was browsing criagslist and found a slightly used convertible 4-1 crib for $150 BRU's brand originally $400 and up

MikeBeth1 · November 2012

I'm not sure about clothes and cloth diapers, but I would definitely buy second hand for the rest. I've been hoping to find a crib I like on Craigs List, but haven't had any luck.

lroxanne · November 2012

I'm all about a used crib! It's easy to disinfect and clean, same other baby furniture and some toys. Personally, I'm staying away from used items that are stuffed, and I would recommend maybe getting a new mattress with a second-hand crib.

watermellens · November 2012

I would absolutely get used almost everything. The only things I wouldn't would be pacifiers, bottle nipples (bottles would be fine) and a car seat. I would get a used crib as long as it wasn't drop side.

rm2013 · November 2012

I've been reading the Baby Bargains book. They advise to absolutely not buy a used crib. The reason being that there are safety issues and recalls all the time, and it's often difficult to tell if the crib is impacted by one of them since the labeling on them can be little to nothing sometimes. They said that even a crib from 2011 could have an issue, because of a law that took effect then. Just Google "should i buy a used crib" and youll see manu different sources that agree like Parents magazine and consumer safety sites. The same recommendation goes for car seats, and also because you don't know if they've been in a minor accident which supposedly voids them I guess. Buying used is of course different from reusing your own crib, because the expectation is you assembled yours correctly and have all the manuals and stuff and have checked whether it's still safe. If you can do all that with a crib someone's selling I guess go for it if you want, but I won't try. Most other stuff seems ok used, except bottles and mattresses as PP mentioned. I would do clothes, but probably not cloth diapers.

Unknown · November 2012

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kristilees · November 2012

I would do used with anything that is not a safety item. No carseats! But if you can get the manuals with other things, I'd be tempted. I decided to buy a new crib (this is my first), but I went to Ikea and got a crib for $119 and a crib mattress for $69. Now I have the peace of mind that comes with new, but a reasonable price. (Even better, I went shopping with my mom, so she bought most of it.) Smile

But most other things, I'm great with used. I was given a used bassinet, and looking at the company website, I can see that there are no recalls on it, so I am happy to use it. I might not have bought one, otherwise. The same goes with the swing I was given. You really just have to be willing to do research and maybe a little scrubbing.

I'd even be ok with used cloth diapers. You are going to disinfect them anyway. Is it really any different from using a diaper service? I was planning to go that route, anyway, before things changed a bit here, so go for it. Babies barely use stuff before they outgrow it, so most used stuff is practically new, anyway.

Good luck!

feytalaria · November 2012

I would not buy a used crib for reasons PP stated. I would buy used clothes, in fact I'm going consignment shopping today. Plastic toys or toys with washable fabric if also buy used on a case by case basis. Not stuffed animals though.

Mmm79 · November 2012

I say go for it! My only hesitation would be the cloth diapers. But for things like cribs and car seats, check any safety/recall info. Also, car seats are supposedly good for 6 years- so maybe check that, too. I love a good deal

Also, you might want to check out any baby consignment places near you or sign up for Freecycle.

ETA: I agree with a PP on the mattress thing- definitely buy that new.

Andrea+David · November 2012

We are fine with getting/buying clothes and some items used. We've been given a ton of baby clothes from friend's kids that they've outgrown plus we bought several things at garage sales like, an exersaucer for 20, a high chair for 5, a swing for 5 that only needed a 10 dollar piece replaced, a pack 'n' play for 30, and we were given a diaper pail! The only things we are definitely buying new are a car seat, crib, bottles and binkies!

mrsjjohnson2010 · November 2012

I agree; I would never buy bottles, paci, carseat or a mattress used..... I will do safety checks on all items

PipSqueak0313 · November 2012

I think it would also depend on how long it was used, why it's being sold, and how reputable the source/seller seems to be. I'd also have to inspect the crib before agreeing to buy.

I haven't understood the whole thing with the drop sides yet though. The bumpers I can understand. I used both with my older two and had no problem with the drop sides and only frustration issues on my part with the bumpers. I also worked in daycares 20+ years ago that had cribs with drop sides and we never had problems. I'll admit they're not totally necessary cause I rarely lowered the side -- except when changing the sheet or cleaning up after a sick child. I'm also not sure if they changed the dropping mechanism to make it easier to drop the side over the years cause all the drop side cribs I ever dealt with had a release bar operated by the foot that locked the side in place when raised.

Regarding buying used cloth diapers, the ladies over on the cloth diapering board here can tell you all about cleaning/sanitizing used cloth diapers.

I'll be receiving a bunch of used baby items this weekend from the parents of one of my ds's friends. When I was asked if I wanted them I said I never turn down hand me downs Smile Even my mom and I swap clothes at times.

I'd not buy used stuffed animals unless I knew the animal was bought new and then ONLY used for decorating by previous owner or if I was ONLY going to use the animal for decorating purpose. ie sitting on a small shelf or in a "pet hammock" out of the reach of the child. I also am not fond of stuffed animals for babies anyway -- to me they're as much of a suffocating hazard as bumpers are.

Otterama · November 2012

I'm purchasing a crib, high chair, car seat, and stroller from my boss. It's all barely used, in great condition, and good quality.

wittyschaffy · November 2012

The issue with the dropside crib is that the latches have failed on far too many of them and the sides come slamming down. If LO's legs or arm was in the way, they can get seriously injured.

OP, I have no problems buying used save for cribs (unless it was from a family member or friend and I knew it had been well cared for) and carseats since there is no way to know if it has been in an accident.

I purchased the bulk of our cloth diapers in excellent used condition with no qualms whatsoever. Anything that is stained, I don't buy. I can sanitize anything else to be basically like new. If you buy brand new, you've got to wash them a bunch of times to establish absorbency anyway so I may as well just wash them a few times to satisfy myself that they're clean! Most folks don't think a diaper service is strange and it is basically the same thing. I've gotten them from craigslist, returns of a diaper trial program (I'm reasonably certain those were actually brand spanking new and were only taken out of the package to wash them because they were absolutely pristine) and from a cloth diaper swap group on facebook too.

I bought quite a few clothes at a consignment sale - again not purchasing stained items. Once they're washed, there really isn't much of a difference between used and new. Babies grow so fast that I just can't justify spending full price on something they may wear for a month (or less!).

I also bought some toys at the sale that are meant for older babies (6 mo+) because it seems like people always want to get you the newborn stage things and don't think ahead further than that. A little clorox wipe treatment and they're good as new.

CBomback · November 2012

I insisted on a new crib, crib mattress, and car seat, for same reasons as PPs.

However, one of my SILs has a 14mo daughter, and we have started moving the things she has outgrown into our nursery, little by little. DH has 3 older brothers, and altogether, we have 6 nieces worth of girl hand-me-down clothing.

So, yes, we are getting a lot of "used" items, and if you can verify that what you're buying is clean and not recalled, why not?

NBBride05 · November 2012

I have read both Consumer Reports and Baby Bargains and both say to NEVER buy a used crib or car seat. Other than that it is probably okay. Cribs must have been made after the safety standards changed in 2011.

LJM0521 · November 2012

I would buy most things used. I love to get a great deal and babies don't use things for very long! Most of my kids' clothes are used. I have also purchased used cloth diapers, but I always make sure to strip them. I would never buy a used crib or car seat, though. Those two things are worth the extra money.

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