How do you know if hand-me-down furniture is safe?

saundeks · June 2014

Hi folks.... I'm not pregnant yet but my parents and in-laws know my husband and I want kids in the near future. They have both been very generous and offered to give us cribs, cradles, etc that they saved from 30+ years ago for future grandchildren. I also anticipate hand-me-downs from my girlfriends who are done having kids.

I'd love to use the stuff for the sentimental value (and save money!) but how do we know if it meets current safety standards?

cappleby · June 2014

I wouldn't use any furniture that the baby is going to sleep in from 30+ years ago. Safety standards have changed so much it would just make me incredibly nervous. For sentimental reasons I would go with older dressers/bookshelves etc. For hand me downs from friends you should be able to look up if there have been any recalls on the cribs, make sure all the appropriate hardware is there, and look at the condition in general. I honestly wouldn't use a used crib because I'm paranoid. Just a couple of years ago people were using drop side cribs which caused several baby deaths. Now cribs can't pass safety standards set by the govt with drop sides. If you use a hand me down please check for recalls and make sure the hardware is all there and in good condition!

kmc84 · June 2014

No way for the crib.

As far as furniture goes, if there is any lead paint, that is an issue. If no paint, make sure all the hardware is in good working order-no rust, loose pieces, broken hinges, ect.....

For newer items given to you from friends, check for recalls. There have been many popular items in the last several years that have had recalls. Some examples are the Nap Nanny, Bumbo seat, one of the FP crib soothers.... There have been recent recalls on popular strollers also. You just need to do a little homework

You should never accept a used carseat unless you trust the owner with your child's life. Many carseats are not cared for properly. Washing harness straps, being in an accident, being checked on a plane are all common mistakes people make because they don't read the manual on how to use/care for the carseat.

saundeks · June 2014

Wow, lots to think about and research! Thanks very much for the tips!

2ndGeneration · June 2014

For me, I buy new for the crib and carseat. I'm open to used items like a highchair or bouncy seat (make sure they have appropriate straps). But really I would not use 30 year old stuff in general, except for a dresser or something like that.

=Lee=B · June 2014

The MAIN safety points for a crib is that you can NOT pass a can of soda between the bars. If the can of pop fits through then the bars are too far apart and the baby's head can get stuck.

Also there should not be more than 3" between the mattress and the bars (head can get stuck). Make sure you push the mattress all the way to oen side before measuring (if there are 2" on each side and the baby jumps, walks or wiggles it over then you can have a total of 4" on one side.

It should not have a drop-side.

It should not have any cut out shapes on the head boards as babies heads and limbs can get stuck and they can get their clothes stuck on it and strangle themselves.

They also should not have bed post knob type corners (even a small one) as clothing can get tangled on it and strangle the baby.

Keep in mind babies chew on crib railings and paint (lead) is an issue so being 30 years old can be a problem.

You should be able to google a more formal list of all these (and perhaps more) safety items to look for.

LittleApple · June 2014

The crib is definitely not safe to use. The other stuff should be fine, as long as it is not on a recall list.

You definitely want to buy a new car seat though.

You can check for recalls on anything here:

https://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/

abbyful · June 2014

Just use common sense. Make sure it is sturdy and compare to the current safety standards. Drop-side cribs are unsafe. Slats greater than 2 3/8 inches apart are unsafe.

Age alone doesn't make furniture "unsafe".

I used the cradle my dad made when I was a baby for DS, and I'll use it for this baby too. It's not "unsafe", the slats aren't too far apart, etc.

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How do you know if hand-me-down furniture is safe?

Re: How do you know if hand-me-down furniture is safe?

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