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Should You Buy Used or New?
With the cost of baby clothes and baby gear as high as it is, many parents consider whether they should purchase things new or used. Buying things used will definitely save you a ton of money, but is it safe? Baby items are constantly being recalled by manufacturers so it’s important to make sure any used item you buy has not been recalled. In my opinion, some baby items should only be purchased new.
Buying baby clothes used is an awesome way to save a bundle of money. All you need to do is wash them and check to make sure there aren’t any loose buttons, snaps, zippers, or thread. Do not buy or keep anything that does not appear to be in a good condition. The only time I would be cautious about getting used is pajamas. Pajamas should be made of flame retardant material. I’m not sure if washing clothes to much could dissolve the flame retardant material. It’s better to buy pajamas brand new.
Cribs are an item that should be bought brand new or at least from a close family member or friend. There are guidelines as to how far apart each crib slot should be. Buying a used crib leaves too much room for possible problems. You don’t want to have to deal with missing hardware or a crib that was recalled a few years ago. Never buy a crib mattress used either.
Bassinets are also an item I would rather buy new. Like many other baby products, you never know if it was recalled. Your newborn might sleep in there for the first three months of their life. You want to make sure it’s a safe place for them to be.
I feel that highchairs are fairly safe to buy used. Always check for previous recalls first. Highchairs are very easy to clean. With most of them, you can take out the padding and wash it. They usually don’t come with a lot of hardware or pieces that could be missing.
Car seats should always be bought brand new. Experts recommend replacing a car seat anytime it has been in an accident, even if it’s a minor accident. An internal mechanism you can’t see could have been damaged by the accident. Car safety is so important. You want to be sure you’re placing your child in a completely safe situation. Styles and harnesses on car seats have changed drastically over the years and there have been plenty of recalls done on various brands. To me it’s better to be safe than sorry. Purchasing a new one is definitely the way to go.
Strollers and travel systems may be purchased used but, personally, I would buy this one brand new too. The small umbrellas strollers make for a great used purchase. But, many of the travel systems get hooked right in as the car seat. There are too many areas that can be faulty on these. Regular strollers without the baby seat/car seat are fine to buy used.
Pack and play systems are okay to buy used. They can be scrubbed down. Again, just make sure it’s functioning properly and there are no recalls.
Toys are the best thing to buy used. Many toys can be washed or cleaned. Check for recalls, loose parts, cracks or any other sign of excessive wear and tear.
Swings and Exersaucers are fine to buy used. Make sure you have all of the hardware for the swing and make sure it’s not too old of a model. The padding of an exersaucer can be washed while the rest of it can be scrubbed down. Buying this used can save you a lot of money.
It’s up to you whether to buy new or used items. If you do decide to buy used always check with the manufacturer about any recalls. If you don’t get the manual when you purchase the item, you can have the manufacturer send another copy to you. |
