[rlh27]

DH and I are big into buying used. All the furniture in our house was either given to us or we bought it 2nd hand. So as we start thinking about what we need for the baby, what things can we safely buy used and what things should we definitely buy new?

[jenncez]

Definitely avoid buying carseats used. I personally will only buy used if I am able to take any fabric off and wash it. And as long as I can scrub the surface of whatever it is. I'm weird about germs.

[gardenbelle]

I love buying used too. It's the cheapest and best for the environment in so many ways, I'm so with you on this.
One thing you never want to buy used, unless you know the person well is a car seat because you don't know if it's been in a car accident or is expired.
Something you probably don't want to get used unless you know what to look for is a crib. I say sometimes because if you do your research and you know what is safe and what is not, then it's not a problem.
Another one to not buy used is the mattress for obvious reasons. I also read a study about SIDS that stated in many of the cases, the baby was sleeping on a hand-me-down mattress. They don't know if this is just a correlation but something to think about for sure.
Everything else is fair game to me!

[DawnVH]

I bought everything but the carseats used. Although, i did buy my first childs crib and diaper changer....but get em used!

[dickersons09]

Crib mattress is something you should buy new! You can get a good firm one at Walmart for $40

[** Tay **]

I agree with all the others! I love buyin used too when I can and I think everything but the mattress and car seat are good!!

Oh, and I wouldn't buy bottles or binks used either, obviously.

[Crystallee]

I agree with everybody. My super strictest one would be the car seat which as others said, you never ever ever want to buy used. I am a bit of a car seat buff by the way. Was going to take the CPST exam to become a technician, bought all the stuff to study for it, and then the funds just weren't there in time for this months test. Anyways, besides that, I wouldn't do a mattress and I wouldn't do any open system breast pump. I would only buy a used closed system one which you can use this list:Open Systems vs. Closed Systems to figure that out and then click comparison on that page. Open systems are just gross to me as milk gets in the non replaceable parts, even if you buy the replacement tube kits. The only other things I wouldn't do would be like bottles probably but that is just more because I am a germaphobe so things that you know were in their mouth and such like binkies wouldn't fly for me. I think you could sterilize that kind of stuff and be fine but it is strange to me. Hygiene stuff too like nose suckers and such. Ick. Everything else is fair game as far as I can think of.

[Diamond2009]

[rlh27]

Yeah, I was planning on getting a new car seat and crib stuff, as well as anything that at one time contained or touched a bodily fluid, lol. What about swings? Are they safe to buy used?

[sara1217]

im popping in from june DDC i have a used high chair from when my DD was little. she had a used swing as well and both were fine for her. i think her stroller was also used and that was fine. anything you buy used just make sure you clean it really well. i agree with not buying a used car seat or crib mattress. obviously used clothes are good to get. i have found some awesome deals at a local consingment shop on clothes. they are so expensive new and the used ones i got you would never know they were used and i got them super cheap.

[taatie10]

Do some checking. I'm not sure if strollers have expirations on them.

But no used car seats. Even if they havent been in an accident you just dont know what they have been through. The airlines broke my care seat my throwing it around, and it almost wasnt noticeable. SO just better safe than sorry on that. And depending on how old the crib is would determine if its acceptable used.
Then of course look online about any recalls that have occurred on anything you're looking at.

[crystalcherry]

You can check with your auto ins and some will either give you a free car seat or a voucher for certain stores. I know my state farm agent does it but one of the others doesn't.

[::MummyToThree::]

Agree with the others. Used is great for the environment but 100% do by but a used car seat.

I just bought a used swing yesterday

[lex1078]

I agree 100% with the other ladies. You can get some really awesome deals at the thrift stores and consignment shops. Most of the the items you buy for LO can be washed or wiped down well to get the germs off of them. I use Clorox anywhere to give Max's toys and high chair a good cleaning all the time.

[countryjewelsc]

Carseat and crib mattress for me are a MUST to buy new.

I LOVE consignment stores! I've gotten the kids a ton of used clothes (because they only wear them for a short time), used toys, exersaucer, jumperoo, swing, strollers...and tons of hand-me-down stuff from family.

I got a used swing on craigslist for $20, then at my parents saw a brand new travel type swing selling for $15, it still had a $75 store price tag on it. I've also gotten a lot of baby stuff from friends who have older kids and are pretty much done having more.

[MarlowesMum]

I would add a caveat to Crystal's message about the used breastpump above. Good breastpumps are really expensive, so it's tempting to buy a used one - particularly since a lot of people that sell their "used" breastpumps generally do so because they only "used" them a few times before they decided breastfeeding wasn't for them.

HOWEVER, if you go this route, I would avoid any breastpumps that are over 3 years old. The technology changes so much, that a breastpump over that 3 year mark is going to be drastically less effective.

You're going to be spending a LOT of time with that pump (like...it gets more action than your husband time), so it's worth the extra cash to ensure you're getting a good one.