With all the expenses associated with having a baby, are there any nursery items that are appropriate to buy second-hand? Think about precious little babies and how vulnerable they are to the world around them. You need to ensure your baby is given the best protection from physical harm and germs. While buying nursery items second-hand can help stretch the budget a little further, some items should just be bought brand new to keep your little one safe.
In this article, you’ll find a list of different nursery items that you should buy second-hand to ensure your baby’s health and safety.
Car Seats
One item that some parents may not be aware of is that buying a second-hand car seat or infant capsule is not considered safe – especially if the condition and history of the seat are unknown or if it’s been in an accident. One of the biggest reasons for this is that car seats have an expiry date (yes!). Using a car seat that is past its expiry date means that its protective abilities could be compromised, which means should you be involved even in a minor accident, your child is more at risk.
Even a hairline fracture in the inner structure of the seat, which is virtually invisible, will render it unfit for use. Getting a second-hand car seat also means you won’t be aware of if any parts have been recalled or are missing. So, rather, don’t risk it; just buy a new car seat or infant capsule. Also, when you do buy a car seat, make sure to register it straight after purchasing to ensure you’re kept up to date on if there are any recalls.
Cots and Bassinets
Of course, no nursery is complete without the centrepiece – the cot! While this piece of baby furniture can be quite pricey to buy brand new, it’s really something you want to avoid getting second-hand for a number of reasons.
Your little one is going to spend a lot of their early years in their cot, so it needs to be a safe space. Second-hand cots may appear to be in good condition, but there could be some structural damage that could be a result of being mishandled or bumped. Just from daily wear and tear, cots can have weak spots in the wood, screws and components could loosen, and paint could be chipping – all of which make it an unstable and unsafe space for your child.
When you buy a second-hand cot, there’s also a possibility that it could have been recalled due to a fault, and you wouldn’t know about it because you’re not the original buyer. Considering that Australia’s safety standards have also been updated and are a lot stricter than what they used to be, there is a high chance a second-hand cot or bassinet might not even meet the current standards.
Even if a cot looks sturdy enough, or if it’s a family heirloom that you just can’t seem to part with, your baby’s safety should always come first, so we highly recommend always buying a new cot. Buying new also means you can compare different cots to help you make the best choice for your little one.
Cot Mattresses
Since we’ve covered cots, we might as well touch on the need to buy a new cot mattress, too. This isn’t as big a purchase as the actual cost, but it’s just as important to make sure the cot mattress is safe and hygienic. Even though a second-hand mattress looks good and clean, you never know what it could be harbouring. Mattresses are a breeding ground for bacteria, mould and dust mite – ew! Not only is it gross to think about, but exposing your baby to such harmful organisms can cause some serious skin irritations and a range of different infections.
Besides the risk of infections and irritations, an older cot mattress’s integrity can be impaired just from daily use. A good cot mattress must be first and not sink around your little one, as this increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) due to potential suffocation or limb entrapment.
Another factor to be mindful of is that some older mattresses may contain harmful chemicals, which would make them not meet the current Australian safety standards.
Final Thoughts
Remember that a happy and healthy baby makes for happy parents, so don’t risk their safety and comfort by going for second-hand car seats, cots and cot mattresses. These items are better off being bought new.