What Baby Items Should Always Be Bought New?

In this post,, I went over some things that can be bought second-hand or re-used with a new baby. As much as we all love to save money, here are a few things that should always be bought new.

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-Pacifiers and bottle nipples should be bought new for each baby because sometimes the materials they are made of can break down over time and pose a possible choking risk. You can, however, re-use bottles.

-Car seats. Like bicycle helmets, the 'inner structure' that makes a car seat safe is damaged when a car is hit or the air bag is deployed. They look fine, but they're really only meant for 'single-accident' use. Plus, car seats have been subject to fairly-regular recalls and have an 'expiration date' after which they're not safe, even with the same baby. It's really better to buy them new or put them on your registry.

-It's not a 'baby product' per se, but always buy breast pumps new for 'sterilization' reasons. The way these pumps are made make it impossible to rid of the germs that can be passed on from mother to baby, or even mother to mother. Do not share a breast pump with anyone.

-Cribs. Cribs shouldn't be reused for the same reasons as car seats-there might be loose or damaged parts, chipped paint or over-stressed hardware that you can't see right away. Also, the safety standards have changed quite a bit in recent years, so older cribs might not meet that criteria. For instance, the bars might be too far apart, a problem that has prompted a recall on older cribs.

-Crib mattresses. Whether or not it's okay to re-use or buy a second-hand crib mattress depends on who you ask. The majority of the articles I've read says it's's better to get a new one each time to ensure the right fit for the crib and to protect your baby from anything 'undesirable' the previous owner left behind. This can go for using a mattress for your second baby, but it definitely goes for mattresses bought second-hand. While it is true that all mattresses-crib or otherwise-have to be thoroughly cleaned and steamed before being sold second-hand, you can't always rely on that. Like I said with cribs, mattresses are recalled regularly as standards change. When in doubt, get a new one.

We all want what is best for our little ones, even if we have to spend a bit more than we'd like to. Our babies are worth it.
For more information, visit http://www.livestrong.com/article/202515-things-you-should-buy-new-for-a-second-baby/.