Second hand items for a newborn?

[MinesALatte]

Currently having quite a disagreement with my OH on what to buy as brand new for the baby. Despite the fact that he loves his labels and nice, new things, suddenly he wants to buy most things second hand, this includes a pram. We’re quite comfortable, certainly not rich by any stretch of the imagination but we’re not on the breadline either so I think we can afford most things brand new.

I feel a bit weird about getting a pram second hand, don’t know why, but think that and a car seat are a must for brand-new (I know car seats second hand are a big no-no due to safety concerns).

Just wondering what items you’ve bought as second hand vs brand new?

[HMJCMUM]

We bought everything new both times (girl then boy) DH refuses anything second hand, and after a few bad items of eBay second hand I stopped bothering!!

But I sell second hand and if I could find someone like me to buy of I would buy second hand 🤣

[HMJCMUM]

@MinesALatte we had iCandy with Dd and Bugaboo this time with DS both brans hold their value so I will get a few hundred back when I am finished with it!

[chubbyhotchoc]

I wouldn't buy a second hand pram if you plan to use it a lot. I had all sorts of issues like wheels falling off and handle bars breaking. Pram manufacturers are quite good at replacing bits and pieces. Not going to get that with second hand. A cot is probably fine second hand with a new mattress. Bouncy chairs and playmats you can wash so also fine second hand. Baby clothes have usually been washed to death and look crap so I wouldn't bother buying those. High chairs get very grubby so wouldn't use someone else's. Fire guards and stair gates are good to get second hand.

[JoleneExotic]

I got a brand new car seat but our pram (immaculate £50), cot free (new mattress though), sling (connecta £30), most of our clothes were second hand - could have afforded more but every "saving" is put in his savings fund instead. Hoping to get a fair whack saved for his future.

[Ragwort]

I had everything second hand for my baby - we were the last in our 'circle' to have a baby and we got given everything ( including three prams ). Marketing techniques for selling to new parents are very, very persuasive ... don't fall for it!

[Duckchick]

We've bought a lot 2nd hand, just not car seats, mattresses or vest tops / T-shirts (they tend to go shorter and fatter with washing so don't fit well).

We bought a 2nd hand pram for DC1 and it's now on my 3rd DC. We went for a good brand with a well built pram and it's been well worth it, I've not had anything break on it. I bought off Facebook - major brands have their own selling groups which you can join. I buy clothes / books 2nd hand off eBay but I'd never buy anything like a pushchair which as I'd want to check it over before committing to the purchase.

[SleepingStandingUp]

I think it depends on a few things.

Like some 1k+ fancy thing that you'll likely only use to push baby between coffee shops in? Honestly, go second hand. No one will know and then sell it on.

Buying an integrated system with car seat? Well they need to be new so depends on how replaceable the car seat is

Gonna shove it all on credit cards cos its out of budget? Def 2nd hand.

Will use it plenty so needs to be sturdy / longlasting? Better argument for new, along with planning lots of kids and will keep it.

Fickle tastes? 2nd hand. I know people who have brought 4+ prams / buggies for 1 child as they see something they like more.

Similarly for cots really, I wouldn't spend 1000s on a cot cos of the name, but we have brought new for them all (DS wrecked his cotbed) but we've gone economical.

[SleepingStandingUp]

@JoleneExotic

I got a brand new car seat but our pram (immaculate £50), cot free (new mattress though), sling (connecta £30), most of our clothes were second hand - could have afforded more but every "saving" is put in his savings fund instead. Hoping to get a fair whack saved for his future.

Ooh that might sell it for you. Look it up online new or what you'd afford to spend, buy it 2nd hand and bank the difference

[Barbararara]

Mattress
Anything that goes into baby’s mouth
Anything that cannot be washed or sterilised.

The 2nd child gets 2nd hand everything.

The car seat needs to be trustworthy - never been crashed and from a smoke free environment. I wouldn’t buy it from a random but I’d accept one from a family member.

[MaverickDanger]

We were planning on getting everything second hand except a new mattress for the crib & the car seat.

My DM is trying to do everything she can to persuade me otherwise, and is wanting to buy a brand new travel system.

My thinking is that they become so expensive as they get older, so let’s try to make it cheaper when we can!

[mrs87]

Another FTM that has bought second hand where possible! Lockdown and being furloughed has meant that I've had so much time to search online (Facebook marketplace/eBay etc) for bargains.

We got a Purflo breathable bassinet (fancy moses basket) that's currently on sale for £150, from a neighbour for £20. It's barely used. Would never have considered one at full price but for 20 quid, absolutely! I also got a Sleepyhead for £25, a Snuzpod next to me crib in great condition for £40 (we've bought a new mattress), and more sleepsuit/babygrow bundles from eBay than I can count.. Our poor postman 😂 I'd say 80% of them are in amazing condition, and I figure they grow out of the small sizes so fast it's not worth spending masses on clothes. Any clothes we have bought new have been from George at Asda - pack of 10 vests/bodysuits for £7.50 etc.

We've been lucky that friends and neighbours have given us bits too - our neighbour gave us a breast pump, a Babybjorn baby carrier, and a video baby monitor with breathing sensor that they used with their little girl - it's in perfect condition in the box.

Honestly, we have saved so so much money opting for second hand, and not buying expensive brands when we have bought new. Aldi for nappies and wipes (amazing value!), supermarkets do such brilliant baby clothes, bibs, muslins etc. I've had a few friends turn their nose up when I've told them - but the baby won't have a clue!

[BluntAndToThePoint80]

Oh - is but a breast pump new too - they’re meant to be sealed units but when I took the back off mine to change the batteries some milk was present.

[chubbyhotchoc]

I don't think you really want to buy second hand. You're a ftm and want the fun of going to the shops and choosing what you want. You don't expect brides to buy second hand wedding dresses just because it's cheaper and economical. Buying for your first baby is one of the few nice parts of pregnancy.
It sounds like you can afford it. @MinesALatte ignore your dh - get the odd token thing second hand if you want but go shopping for your new baby and enjoy it.

[WhatWouldPennyDo]

We’ve done a mix of things.

Pram - was going to be 2nd hand but husband wanted it to be new and then to sell on.
Car seat/base and any mattresses - new.
Bedside crib - borrowed.
Cot - new as the one we were being lent won’t fit.
Clothes - mainly 2nd hand BNWT bargains from eBay.
Slings - borrowed.
Bouncer - 2nd hand.

We’ve splurged on some things (a particular shelf I wanted from an Independent designer, couple of toys, etc) but saved on things that will get trashed like clothes.

[Superscientist]

We bought our pram second hand. I spent a few weeks searching ebay waiting for the right pram to show up. I paid close attention to the condition of the tyres, handle bar and rain cover. We got one for £100 in the end it retailed for £600+ depending on extras. For us it was about reducing the environmental footprint of having a child rather than the money. If everyone bought new all these prams in very good /near perfect condition would be destined for landfill. Not only is that bad for the planet but more prams would have to be made and that comes with higher emissions/pollution and more resources being consumed.

We bought a new car seat and spent more getting one that will last until 4 years with the option to rear face until that time.

We also bought a caboo sling and grobag from the person we bought the pram from. Our intention is to look for second hand first and then decide whether to buy new or not. We were going to get a second hand travel cot but all the cots for sale near us are the cheaper models or the super fancy models so even second hand beyond what we want to pay. We want something in between. We will keep looking but will probably buy that new.

[FraterculaArctica]

If everyone buys new "because they want the fun of it" - think about the environmental impact of all the once-used items. It's all going to end up in landfill. It's horrendous for car seats as it is. Buy second hand absolutely wherever possible.

[Crazymummyto3]

We bought a second hand pram for our first baby and it was in immaculate condition, we used it for our second baby too then sold it on as we didn't think we would be having any more babies. We bought a new pram for our third baby and will be using it again this time. Lots of baby stuff is so expensive and lots of it is used for such a small amount of time too. We're more than happy to buy second hand as long as it can be cleaned. The only things that we would never buy second hand are car seats and mattresses.

[1940s]

I knew I wanted two children and I didn't expect a second hand pram to last me to my second child so I bought new.

I bought pram, cot, Moses basket and sleepy head new as they will last to my next child. I did get some second hand car seats that I trusted as that allowed us to have 0-4 year large car seats rear facing in both our cars and one in the grandparents car which has made things so easy.

Second hand plastic toys have been a lifesaver. My garden and house is full of plastic toys that I've spent approximately 1/10th of the price on and eases my guilt at the amount of plastic!

Also when it come to birthdays / Christmas for my child I know they are fortunate to get lots of gifts from relatives. So on those occasions I buy a small token thing to open and then put money in their account. I won't be able to 'get away' with this when they're older so I'm using their younger years to boost their savings

[Charlottejade89]

we bought most things new with dd but we are now expecting dc2 so we will be reusing all the big items, and if it's another girl I've kept all her old stuff so we will he sorted. All I'll be buying new this time is bottles, muslins and bibs and moses basket and cot mattresses. Obviously clothes if it is a bit this time

[Zhampagne]

Maybe have join some of the selling groups on Facebook for the big pram brands like Bugaboo, iCandy, Joolz etc. You might be pleasantly surprised at what is available. Branded prams are like brand new cars in terms of depreciation (and as a wider point, by all means buy new if you prefer but don't view it as an investment as it will not hold its value if you sell it on).

[rooarsome]

We got most things second hand. If something is in good (often new) condition I would rather spend the money I would have spent on days out and other things

[Dollywilde]

Our pram was new but an ex-display - we gave it a forensic examination for any damage but it was fine. Saved us £300 (£500 for full travel system rather than £800) and you’d never know. Also meant we could walk away with it on the day rather than risk waiting - I’m due next month and lots of mums I know are still waiting for their prams due to covid supply chain delays.

[Mybobowler]

Everything we had was second hand apart from the carseat. I'd personally never buy a brand new pram - they're ludicrously expensive and, in my experience, you'll need more than one as your baby grows. Those big, expensive travel systems quickly become cumbersome and impractical. I've gone through three prams/buggies now, selling them on when our needs change. Ironically, the best one I've had so far was a £15 Facebook find and at least ten years old!

[PAND0RA]

I bought almost everything second hand and put all the money into their savings account. I did the same with the child benefit as I was able to get by without it most of the time.

I added at birthdays and Christmas , when family members gave me £20-30 for them. They never needed any more toys TBH.

I went on buying second hand toys for them most of the time whenever I could. We also used a toy library and donated our toys when the children had grown out of them.

When the oldest was 18 I bought her a flat with the money I had saved for her.

She never cared that her things were second hand and she certainly doesn’t now. She’s happy that we’ve send a lot less plastic crap to landfill.

She will be even happier when she graduates from uni and has paid off £50k of her mortgage. Plus the deposit and any capital gain of course.

Do the maths OP - that will persuade your husband.

[Mitchland]

I personally think its crazy how much new stuff people buy for their babies. If you have your child's future in mind - buy / request (from friends etc.) second hand only to minimise waste.