What to buy second hand?

[TTCVickster]

We are expecting our first baby but as a teacher the maternity pay is awful so we will need to save a fair bit to cover maternity. It’s early on but we will need to save throughout. My question is what is ok to buy second hand and where do you buy second hand things from? My friends haven’t had children yet so there aren’t really any hand me downs coming our way. A Pram is a particular worry as I have a Toyota Aygo (in finance so can’t be changed) and the only one google tells me will fit is the Bugaboo Bee which looks super expensive.

Question- do car seat bases carry the same risk as the seat? I've got a new car seat but I spotted the base at a third of the price second hand locally so snapped it up. Now having a glimmer of a doubt about using it? It looks pristine no scuffs or dents and weighs a tonne so I'm hoping even if it has been in a bump it won't have affected it in the same way as the seat would have been?

Preloved is the way to go and check eBay for liquidaction stock I got my cybex car seat for £65
I bought preloved moses basket and stand and just bought new mattress costing me £10
Blankets and bedding preloved is cheaper clothes I bought bundles off eBay bought sterliser new
Costing me £55 that came with all bottles changing mat I paid £12 for
Already have the pram so just need a buggy board for my oldest

All in I've spent around only £200 on it all

Literally the only things I bought for my second one was a new mattress and bottles. For my first I'd buy a new car seat too (I re-used this as I knew it hadn't been in an accident)

A big advantage of buying second hand is you can sell it on without losing much. I wanted a chicco next to me crib but brand new was over £100, found one on Facebook for £50 and managed to sell it on again for £60 (added in some sleepbags) which then covered the cost of a second hand cot and new mattress.

Congratulations as well :)

If you are thinking of a side sleeper cot, you can hire a bednest for about £80 and that includes a new mattress which you can keep. It might end up as cheap as a second hand one plus new mattress and they come and pick it up again so you don't need to bother ebaying it.

I believe this service has sadly been discontinued in the UK, when ours was due for return at the end of last year, it was collected and sent to their address in Europe.