Do you buy used baby toys/furniture/accessories?

Question

What do you think about buying exercsaucers, swings, furniture, bassinets, play gyms and strollers used?

Have you bought anything used? Is it a better deal?

And if you bought your baby stuff used, what did people buy you at your shower? (if you had one)

Answer 1

I think used is a good idea except for car seats or cribs unless they are just a year or two older for safety reasons. Everything else is all good because kids are so expensive and grow so fast it's almost not worth buying anything new.

Answer 2

Children's furniture items are always getting recalled. You have to be careful if you buy used. We buy some things used and some new. We do foster care and the Department of Family Services will not allow used car seats or cribs. Additionally, we did not have a shower, but people sometimes will give us unwanted items if they think we can use it.

Stuffed animals - no; unless new and still in a package.

toys and games - yes. I buy stuff like this at thrift stores or garage sales and pay no more for $1 for something used. I go to the thrift stores when they have sales. One by me (Epic) has 1/2 everything every second Saturday.

cribs - no; sometimes you can get new at a deep discount at the store if they are phasing them out. We paid $125 for a older white model at Babies R US.

bassinet - no for safety reasons

car seat - no; unless you know the previous owner personally. At a thrift store you don't know who had them last. Not safe if they have been in an accident. They also have expiration dates. Look on the bottom. Again, we looked for deals at the store.

play gym - yes; I think I paid a dollar or two vs $40 or more in the stores.

towels - yes, I wash them in hot water with vinegar

sheets - yes, washed like the towels

playpen - yes; but I checked it out carefully first. Some are horribly stained. I got one for $12 at a thrift store.

bottles - only the kind that takes drop ins. I by new drop ins and nipples. I brought a whole box full of used one's that take the drop ins for $2 at a yard sale.

stroller - yes. We picked one up for free at a garage sale that was packing up and one online for a super deal. Check the Amazon open box section.

changing table - yes, we are actually using a corner tv console that one of our neighbors didn't want.

clothing - yes, washed in hot water with vinegar. There is a thrift store in Las Vegas (where I live) that sells all kids clothing for .25 cents. You can also ask around with your friends. One of my friends gets all her clothing that one of her friend's kids outgrows.

shoes - not unless brand new

Swing - a friend gave me one when I had temporary placement of her baby

Baby bathers - yes

Things you might want to ask for at a baby shower are crib, car seat, diapers, bibs (you can never have enough), gift certificates, etc. Make a wish list and the stuff you can't find used ask for new.

Answer 3

I would buy some stuff used. I would not buy used car seats or swings though for safety reasons. Especially a car seat. You never know if it has been recalled or in an accident or something. But, as far as furniture goes....sure. Why not. My cousin gave me her crib and my m-i-l bought my baby's dresser and stuff used. At my shower I got a playpen and car seat, high chair and swing. And diapers, clothes, etc. There is nothing wron with getting used stuff as long as it isn't missing any pieces or anything for the baby's sake!

Answer 4

We bought tons used. What we had to buy on our own, we got used.

The carseat was new (insurance replaced the old one when we were in an accident) both times we got it, but the first one was on clearance.

We did sell our baby infant seat, as he used it for 3 months, it went with our stroller that it was a combo with. It was never in an accident. If you get one, make sure it is fairly new, looks good, and ask MANY MANY times if it has been in an accident. Dont buy a seat that is more than a year old when you purchase it.

Remember, carseats are only good for 5 years. DISTROY them after that.

BTW, buying used was the BEST idea ever, as we saved a ton to put into a savings account for me to go back to school with!

Answer 5

The problem with used baby items (certain ones) is that there are always safety improvements on items and buying them used, you never know if they are truly safe. Never buy a used crib unless it has all the paperwork it came with. A stroller is probably fine, and dressers and changing tables are also probably fine. If you are having a shower, then dont' worry about it! People often team up together to buy the bigger gifts and it's nice to have them new......you can store them away for your future children.

Answer 6

I've always bought used baby stuff. You would be amazed at what you can find at thrift stores and garage sales. Most of the time, there isn't even anything wrong with the stuff, the people just don't have little ones running around anymore. I also try to see what family members don't need anymore. It saves so much money and still works just as good!

Answer 7

Buying used baby items is not bad, in fact it is a great way to save money. Having kids can be expensive and you have constantly be on the look out for deals. There are even some stores that you can basically trade used stuff for used stuff you need.

Answer 8

i have bought used things for my baby. i just clean them really well before i let her play with it. you save a lot of money that way. it is a much better deal than buying it at the store. because think about it, babies dont really ruin or even put wear on most of their toys so they are like brand new, but way less cost. i have bought a leap frog activity table, a walker, and some other little toys for my daughter. i also had a huge baby shower. i got tons of clothes from that, i still havent bought any clothes for my daughter and she is 10 months old. some of the stuff she didnt even wear because we just had too much. another good baby shower gift are diapers, you can never have enough diapers. and basic care items for the baby like shampoo, baby wash, towels, wash cloths, nail care kit, spit rags, etc.

Answer 9

yes it is a better idea u save money but u should never buy a used car seat u don't know the history of it. mainly people buy the littler stuff at showers mom and dads and grandma's buy the bigger stuff such as strollers car seats high chairs they usually wait till it was over and got me what i needed but if u r doing it alone i say definitely buy used and save it is expensive having a baby

Answer 10

I would NEVER EVER buy a carseat used. According to regulations once a carseat has been in an accident it should be tossed. A hairline fracture that you would never notice can be fatal in an accident of your own. Just make sure the other equipment you buy isn't recalled and is in good working condition. I would buy everything else but the carseat used if the situation called for it. Tara