There is no real reason to buy everything new for your child. Not only does buying new contribute to the problems with manufacturing pollution, but also to landfills when the old stuff doesn’t sell or go to a new family. But, having said that, it’s important to do your research so that you know when a used item is safe.
1. Cribs – It is true that cribs are harder to buy used. However, many people sell perfectly good cribs that meet all current regulations. The best thing to do is first look up the current crib regulations. Luckily that’s just a click away with the United States Product Safety Commission. Remember, even if you buy a used crib, you should pay for a new mattress for the crib.
2. Play Yard – Some people call them playpens, but today’s play yards are much better than the ones your mother bought. However, a child can use a play yard usually only the first year to 18 months before they can easily figure out how to get out and potentially get hurt. That means there will be a lot of newer ones available for sale.
3. Stroller – Many parents buy strollers thinking they can use them forever, but they end up selling them. You do need a stroller, though. You need one that is good for an infant, then when your child is a toddler you’ll want a simpler umbrella stroller. This means that many parents are selling perfectly good infant-compatible strollers used for a bargain.
4. Changing Table – These are very easy to find and there is no reason not to buy one used. Even if you find one that’s the wrong color, you can easily repaint it.
5. Clothes – There is never any reason to buy brand-new clothing for a baby if you can find it used. They grow so fast and use the clothing for such a short period of time. You can find used clothing that has been well cared for at garage sales, second-hand stores, and through online community sales groups on Facebook.
6. Bathtub – When you have an infant, it helps to have a small infant bathtub that is made for securing the infant so that you can easily bathe them without them slipping and falling into the water. Wet babies are slippery. A good baby bathtub will have a belt to secure the infant. You can find plenty of used ones as people only use them until the baby can sit up and needs a different kind of device.
7. Baby Monitor – Most parents tend to get rid of the baby monitor faster than they thought they would. Babies are loud. But, having a monitor when you have an infant is a nice convenience if you have a two-story house. You can easily find these used that work perfectly and are like new.
8. Baby Bouncer – Infants like sitting in a chair that rocks, vibrates, or otherwise simulates the feeling of being in the womb. But, they use them for only a couple of months, if that – depending on how big they are. You’ll find a lot of these used.
9. Baby Gates – When your baby starts being mobile, you’ll want to block off areas to keep them out of danger. Or, sometimes you may even want to use the gate to protect infants during tummy time to keep dogs, cats, or people from accidentally harming the baby.
10. High Chair – Children use high chairs until they’re able to sit in a booster seat, and for each child this time varies. But parents tend to get rid of the high chair as soon as they can because they take up extra space. You can therefore find plenty of perfectly good used high chairs. Do make sure the safety belt works and that it’s clean before buying, though.
Make sure you research the items and new regulations for the items, and check out each one very well before you buy it. If you do that, you can be assured that the item is safe for your baby. Don’t feel pressured to have all the newest items, because babies will use these items for such a short time that there is no point paying full price or contributing to environmental pollution.
