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Second hand baby equipment is a necessity for many people but that does not mean you have to compromise safety or comfort. Hopefully, we can provide you with a few tips here on what to look out for and where to get what you need.

Turning to safety first, the number one product that you really should try to buy from new is your baby’s car seat. If you are totally sure of the seat’s history, fine, but don’t buy from someone you don’t know. Why? Basically, you don’t know whether the seat was ever involved in an accident. If it has been, this may have seriously affected the structure of the seat, even if you can see no obvious signs of damage. Even a very minor bump or sudden stop may become an issue if the seat has been damaged. So, if at all possible, do your research and get the best babies car seat you can for your budget.

Second hand pushchairs are OK as long as you make sure that the brakes work and the wheels look correctly aligned. Give the pushchair a good shake, open and close it a few times to make sure everything works properly and that the locking mechanisms function safety. Look for rust and signs of weakness in the structure and frame and also that the fabric is not torn. You will of course expect signs of general wear, but if the fabric is torn, it won’t be long before it goes completely. Please also note that the latest recommendation for the harness is a five-point rather than a three-point design.

When considering a second hand high chair, you need to firstly consider what your priorities are. Do you want something that is easy to clean, needs to fold when not in use or one with “bells and whistles” on? Then, look for the obvious missing nuts and bolts and that the structure is sound and not damaged, do this by eye and by running your hand over everything to look for sharp edges. Do the catches all work properly, is all the padding secure and finally, is the harness in good working order.

Second hand baby equipment also includes items that baby does not directly use. For example, when buying second hand baby monitors make sure any wiring is safe and that all the plastic bits are intact and do not fall off easily. Give the unit a shake to make sure nothing is lose inside. Check that the cords are less than 20cm long to comply with current safety suggestions. Finally, note that a digital monitor is less likely to ‘hiss’ at you and will be much clearer.

When buying second-hand stair gates, make sure you try them out first as some are more difficult to fit than others. Doing this will also allow you to check the locks work properly. Look at the whole frame as well as the slats (these should be spaced at least 6.5cm apart) for splinters, bumps and bangs. If the gate has been painted, walk away, as this may be covering up damage and the paint used may be hazardous.

Generally speaking, when buying second hand baby equipment remember that if an item carries the British Standards safety mark that this applies to when the product was new, not when it’s been used. Always ask for a set of instructions. These are unlikely to be available from the owner, but you can always search for them on the Internet.

Where to buy?

Good sites for second hand baby equipment.

This is just a list of possible places to get second hand baby equipment. Can’t say how good or bad they are that’s up to you to decide. They are mostly UK ones, but some will have international links as well.

As mentioned, if at all possible try and get a new baby car seat, but other things have a short life span and buying second hand is ideal. Prime examples are cribs and carrycots, baby bouncer, swinging cradles etc.

www.uk.Freecycle.org is as you would imagine, freebies! People just want to help out and get rid of things in your local area.

www.Nappyvalley.co.uk
www.preloved.co.uk
www.gumtree.com
www.adtrader.co.uk
www.friday-ads.co.uk
www.loot.com
www.uk.ebid.net

And of course, possibly the best known place to get second hand baby equipment is to get baby equipment from Ebay.
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Recent comments by the AAP suggest that contrary to popular beliefs surrounding rear-facing seats that it is NOT common for them to break their legs in any accident.

In fact, latest research has found that a child of less than two is 75% LESS likely to experience a serious injury or die when in a rear-facing seat. Likewise, children between 1 and 2 years of age are five times safer than those riding in a front-facing car seat.

Why? The answer is fairly simple and to do with physics. While rear-facing, the force of any collision will be evenly distributed over the body. In contrast, while forward-facing, the force of an impact is concentrated on the seat belt contact areas which may lead to more serious neck and head injuries. Our recommendation for a rear facing seat is the Britax First Class Plus Rearward & Forward Facing as it flips to a forward facing seat when needed, this seat also comes in a range of colours. Read more by clicking the link.

The point here is, don’t put your child forward-facing until their head is one inch of the top of the seat structure, the weight for that seat is reached, or until at least two years of age.

Rather than tell you more, just watch the video below and you will realise why you should keep your child in a rear facing position for as long as possible.