Is there anything you wouldn't buy second hand?

[Madratlady]

I plan on getting everything from clothes to bottles and steriliser (although I plan to bf I want to express so dh can look after dc for a while occasionally) to pram and cot second hand. Is there anything that you definitely wouldn't get second hand? Things I'm not so sue about are car seat and breast pump.

[Madratlady]

Also what do you lot think of second hand reusable nappies?

[badguider]

car seat and matresses are both advised against.

I do have a second hand car seat but it's from a friend so i know it's not been involved in any crashes. If a seat has been in a crash it can be stressed internally and no longer safe.

2nd hand matresses are associated with a higher risk of SIDS.

[CorrieDale]

Reusables are great second hand buys.

[cazboldy]

i feel the same, breast pump, car seat, nappies, mattress.......

i think the nappies thing is probably daft, but just doesn't feel right to me.

[TripleRock]

I personally wouldnt do 2nd hand car seat or mattresses.

Probably not bottle teats or dummies either now I come to think of it.

Pump possibly, if it was someone I knew very well.

Yes to pretty much anything else I can think of.

[Madratlady]

ooh yes mattress, can you but cot mattresses anywhere that sells cots?

I will be buying a new car seat for my peace of mind.

[orangepudding]

Get new bottles or at least teats. Also a new mattress.

[cakebar]

No to car seat and mattress (although I also have a second hand car seat from my friend) for safety reasons.

I have had second hand reusable nappies but didn't get on with them so was glad I didn't spend much and sold them on for what I paid.

I wouldn't get bottles second hand, they can get quite scratched and you would want new teats anyway? They are not expensive.

No to second hand main pair of shoes as they get molded to the wearer's foot.

Yes to everything else, including breast pump, every part that touches milk or breast can be sterilised.

Having used lots of second hand things, sold lots of things second hand and having multiple kids use things I would be wary of buying supermarket/other cheap clothes second hand after age 1 as they get misshappen/worn (under 1 they wear them a very short time so fine). I would buy a new buggy I have really noticed the difference in mine as they have aged.

[cakebar]

Should qualify my comment about buggies - I walk a lot so need a buggy that can take what is thrown at it.

[lightrain]

Mattress, car seat, dummies, bottle teats. I wouldn't go for second hand reusable nappies personally, but I don't use reusables so not sure if my opinion counts on that.

Everything else, go for it! Ebay bundles of clothes are good value. Check that cot complies with newest standards for bar distance. I'm fine with bottles and pump second hand myself, just give a good scrub with bottle brush, hot water and washing up liquid, then I'd probably dishwasher them, then sterilise in steamer the first time to be 100%! (Dishwasher is essentially a giant steam steriliser so this is a bit over the top to dishwasher and sterilise, but I do for newborn for first few months at least).

[SandraClegane]

Mattress and car seat - never buy second hand (car seat only if from a friend and you're 100% sure it hasn't been involved in an accident).
I second what was said about shoes - they mold themselves to the wearer, so best not to buy second hand (obviously this doesn't apply to pram shoes/anything before they can walk).

[libertine73]

Same as everyone really, definitely nothing wrong with pump.

but no to kids shoes, car seat and mattress!

[Locketjuice]

Toys and clothes (mostly new but did get some second hand)

Everything else I got new but I'm pregnant again so has been cost effective as a lot I can use again

[CorrieDale]

Truly - reusable nappies are fine bought second hand. If you have another baby you surely wouldn't buy a whole new set? And that's when they really do pay for themselves! Just make sure the ones you buy aren't threadbare and you can get some really good savings on premium real nappies.

[4athomeand1cooking]

I always would have bought second hand from ebay and then I saw something on watchdog (I think) that frightened the life out of me.

It was about pushchairs and even new car seats bought from ebay that were actually copied and not conforming to safety standards. It seems to be a new scam. Did anyone see it?

The program showed a woman who had bought a bugaboo from a woman on ebay. Luckily she was not happy with the frame stability and phoned bugaboo for support. They asked for the reg number and advised that this was actually not for this model. It was then confirmed that it was a copy although you would not have thought it by looking at it.

[Futterby]

Kids shoes, helmets, underwear (personal choice, nothing wrong with it), car seats, electrics and mattresses.

[4athomeand1cooking]

I always would have bought second hand from ebay and then I saw something on watchdog (I think) that frightened the life out of me.

It was about pushchairs and even new car seats bought from ebay that were actually copied and not conforming to safety standards. It seems to be a new scam. Did anyone see it?

The program showed a woman who had bought a bugaboo from a woman on ebay. Luckily she was not happy with the frame stability and phoned bugaboo for support. They asked for the reg number and advised that this was actually not for this model. It was then confirmed that it was a copy although you would not have thought it by looking at it.

[4athomeand1cooking]

Why did that post twice?!?

[blackteaplease]

Depends on the nappies. I use birth to potty bumgenius and they are getting quite tatty on dc2 now. But if you used staged nappies it's probably worth it as they would have had less wear and tear.

Other than that i bought new buggy car seat and mattress for dc1 and the rest was 2nd hand.

[PurplePidjin]

Imo car seats and mattresses must be new.

Preloved nappies are fine. Get lots of different types as you can't predict what shape will fit your baby. Once you know what works for you, stock up - and sell the ones that weren't right. Anything with bamboo in will actually be better 2nd hand as it takes several washes to get up to full absorbency :) Make sure you do a 60* with prewash and an extra rinse cycle before you use them, and you only need 1tbsp powder as a build up of detergent causes bacteria to get trapped so they start to smell.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Same as others - new mattress, bottles and teats, car seat. But second (or more) hand clothes and nappies can actually be nicer as they are softer

[Wigeon]

We bought a new car seat and new mattresses. Although the moses basket and cot were second hand. Also new teats (BF but expressed).

Loads of other thing second hand - bottles, breast pump, steriliser, clothes, sleeping bags.

We used reusable nappies but personally I wouldn't buy second hand - not because of any ming factor, but because IME they lose their absorbency. I re-used DD1's real nappies for DD2, and by the time she was out of them, they really weren't as absorbent as you'd want. Although they had managed to last just about for 2 DDs. So especially if you are planning more than one DC, I would buy them new, and re-use them for the second.

[stargirl1701]

We tried to buy second hand for our DD and mostly succeeded. eBay, NCT sales and Jack & Jill Markets were fab. We bought the car seat, Moses basket mattress, cot mattress, breast pump and bottles new.

My Dad bought the pram new. Everything else was second hand. Since having DD, I have bought a new Ergo carrier after she grew out of the second hand Moby.

[blackteaplease]

More on nappies, if you want to try before you buy see if your local authority has a real nappy advisor. We got a trial kit for two weeks with about 10 types of nappy in. We paid a £50 deposit which was returned when we gave back the nappies.

You can buy mattresses form anywhere that sells cots, I got mine from Mothercare.

[Madratlady]

Thanks for all the replies :)