Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

New or second hand?

7 replies

aliceemma · 11/08/2009 14:26

Which of these did / would you buy second hand? Are there any you definitely wouldn't? Any horror stories of things to watch out for if you're buying second hand? How easy is it to get second hand stuff e.g. buggies mended if bits break?

Buggy
Car seat
Cot
Travel cot
Baby carrier
Breast pump
Steriliser
Baby monitor
Grobags
Other bed linen
Under clothes - e.g. vests / sleep suits
Outer clothers

OP posts:

Report

jeee · 11/08/2009 14:28

Don't buy second hand car seats - if they've been in a crash they might not protect your baby. If someone you know well and trust offers you a car seat, that's fine. Everything else, second hand is fine.

Report

ConnorTraceptive · 11/08/2009 14:29

I probably wouldn't have a second hand car seat unless it came from someone I knew well and trusted. All the others are fine to buy second hand.

Report

Disenchanted3 · 11/08/2009 14:29

Carseat - no

Cot, yes but NEW matress.

Report

lynniep · 11/08/2009 14:33

I agree. New car seat. New mattresses for cot/travel cot.
I wouldnt worry about all the rest (actually baby bottles and teats I'd buy new but they arent on your list)
The more you can find second hand the better. Especially buggies - often you find you've spent loads on a new one and you dont like it.
As long as you can sterlise it/steam clean it/bung it in the washing machine etc then 2nd hand is definately the way to go.
Especially with toys!!

Report

kidcreoleandthecoconuts · 11/08/2009 14:34

With my DC1 everything was new.....we were very lucky to have a generous family who bought the majority of the expensive stuff. We didnt get a baby monitior though as we lived in a small 2 bed bungalow at the time and it wasn't needed.
With DC2 she got DC1's hand me down car seat, baby carrier and some clothes. We were bought a new P&T and cot. I didnt use the breastpump and steriliser as she never had a bottle. I did buy her new sheets though and a new outfit to come home from the hospital in.
I would definitely buy second hand if I had needed to as I know that a lot of my stuff has hardly been used.
One thing I wouldn't buy second hand is a car seat.

Report

ksld · 11/08/2009 14:36

Car seat and mattress only from a friend not from a charity shop. All the rest fine second hand.

Never tried to get my buggy mended so don't know if is harder if second-hand, if you are buying at a sale where you meet the owner you can ask them where to mend it.

Only horror story I can think of is some badly stained sheets I bought (carefully folded so I couldn't see stain) which I binned

If you are thinking of buying all this second-hand then try to go to an NCT sale as you may be able to buy the lot from one person for a good deal. I know I would have been delighted to sell all my baby stuff on. Also check freecycle as that is where most of my stuff went.