Lending baby equipment

[ohbabybabybabyoh]

Would you lend baby equipment (bassinet/soft baby seats) etc to someone you didn't know? DH & I are in the process of trying for another baby & have been asked by a family member to lend their friend's niece (who has just had a baby) our things (we don't know them & they don't know the niece either). I don't know what to do as I don't want to end up having to replace things if they're damaged/not sure how I feel about using soft items after someone I don't know has done so. We've loaned things to close friends with younger babies so I have no issue helping people we know out but not sure about someone we don't know. What would you do?

I really don't want to upset our family member but if there's no issue with reusing this kind of thing, equally don't want to cause issues by saying no.

My youngest is 2 and she's our last so we are giving all our useful baby things to my family member who is expecting next year. If I were planning on more dc I wouldn't lend to anybody. Baby equipment is expensive and can be soiled/ruined quite easily. I just wouldn't be happy to take that chance and possibly end up in an awkward situation.

Your mil was cheeky enough to ask so you have to be cheeky enough to say no. Just say you may be needing it yourself soon. Not that you should have to give a reason.

“I’m sorry, MIL, but we are hoping to need these things again in the not-too-distant future, so we don’t want to lend them out.

You could look on eBay for some of these things second hand, if you want to help your niece.”

I am 99% sure she will not want to spend her own money on these things, but is clearly happy to give away your stuff.

How bloody rude of her!