As you prepare for your
new addition, you're probably trying to figure out how much you're
going to have to spend. For a lot of our needs, buying things
second-hand or re-using things we've bought before is a fine option.
It can definitely save us money, as well as getting as much use out
of something as we possibly can. As much as we want to save money,
though, there are some things that we should never 'skimp' on. I'm
not necessarily talking about having to buy the most expensive of
everything. Frankly, few people I know can afford to do that. What I
am saying, though, is that some things we use for our babies should
always be bought new for the safety and health of the child. To that
end, here is a brief listing of what's okay to buy used and what
isn't.
Here's a proviso for
anything you buy, new or used-do your homework and check for
any recalls, warnings or changes to safety standards. Here's a link
to a site that could help with
this-http://www.parents.com/product-recalls/.
Used-
-It should be fine to
borrow or use second-hand clothing for a baby. Babies grow insanely
fast, and a lot of the 'size standards' you see nowadays are totally
off. For instance, how many of you have known a kid who was a year
old, but wearing 18-month-old clothes? This is because babies have
gotten bigger over the years, but the sizing hasn't caught up. If you
buy, borrow or re-use her older sister's clothing, you might have a
better idea about what will actually fit your baby. Also, it will be
easier to afford all the various sizes you'll need. The baby clothes
in Walmart might look inexpensive, but the costs add up!
Plus, it's really
pointless to spend a lot of money on something a child won't wear for
very long. If your mother-in-law insists on buying everything at Baby
Gap, indulge her. Just don't feel as though you have to follow if you
don't want to.
-Shoes should also be
fine to buy second-hand or use for a second baby. Babies don't wear
shoes very often anyway.
-You can hand down baby
toys provided nothing is broken or missing. If there is any chipped
paint on it, toss it because of the issues with lead-based paint on
toys from some countries. Also, toys with loose items could be a
choking hazard. Aside from this, though, it should be okay to give
the same toys to your second baby.
-Playpens are okay
provided they were made after 2000, do not have any holes or dangling
cords and a snug mattress. I'm not sure if it's possible to get a
replacement mattress but, if it is, use the same caution for a
playpen mattress that you would for a crib mattress.
-When it comes to
furniture like changing tables and rocking chairs, it's fine for them
to be re-used as long as they aren't missing any parts, haven't been
recalled and don't have any 'chipped' or 'peeling' spots.
-Strollers can be
re-used provided they were made after 2007 and don't have any broken
or missing parts.
For more items that can
be re-used or bought second-hand, visit http://www.parents.com/baby/gear/registries-buying-guides/buying-baby-gear-used/#page=12.
Now that I've told you about a few things that can be bought used,
I'll go over what should always be bought new in another post.
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