What would you buy/accept second hand?

[primarynoodle]

First baby! I'm only entitled to SMA which is shit so probably will only be able to take 5 months off... any money saved on 'stuff' might give me a few extra weeks with my baby so what would you/ would you not buy 2nd hand?

So far the only thing that i can see being a big nono is reusing mattresses but a second hand cot/moses basket is safe?

What about pushchairs? Car seats? etc

I bought everything new for my first but the only new stuff I've bought for this one is travel system and cot. My nephew and his wife had a boy 5 months ago so I have a big bag of clothes from them, lots still have labels attached! I will be using their Moses basket. My ds is 8 and a half and I've kept lots of his clothes which is handy. Was really annoyed because we only got rid of his cot about 7 months before we found out we were having another! I think the only things I wouldn't accept second hand is mattresses, car seats and feeding equipment.

Babygros, vests, cardigans, hat, mitts. Changing mat, cotton wool, sudocreme, 2nd hand sling, second hand Moses basket (you can use pillow cases instead of cot blankets) 2nd hand blankets, nappies.

......................and LOVE! As long as they are warm, clean, fed and loved nothing else matters. Plastic baby bath could double as a Moses.

Our baby stuff was given to an investment banker. The family was glad of it because they didn't waste money. Save your money for the stuff they remember x

In my circle of friends we jokingly call it the 'joy of giving' because we are just as pleased to pass things on and gain space as the recipient is to get the free stuff!
DC3, even the car seat and mattress are second hand as I 100%trust the friends who passed on the car seat and the mattress had never been slept on.

Most of our stuff was second hand or bought with gift cards Id been given for Birthdays etc when pregnant. You need less than you think.

I totally agree belle, its entirely a safety issue not a cosmetic issue for me!

Grateful for advice everyone, we've only got one friend with children so theres not many people either me or dp can ask for advice re: newborns

If anyone offers you anything don't turn it down, it's the only advice I can give! (car seats and mattresses aside!)

A second hand car seat is fine if it's a reliable source and you absolutely know they haven't been a car crash.

We have saved literally thousands of pounds over the years by having everything secondhand. Apart from some school uniform which gets trashed I have almost never bought anything new.

If you don't have any friends or family having babies try Freecycle.

Accept everything you're offered. You never know when a tummy bug is going to hit, the baby will be leaking both ends and everything is in the wash...