What to buy new vs second hand?

[charcb]

Hi all! I'm in my first trimester. With Black Friday coming (and although it's early) I thought I'd get going on some of the baby essentials.

I'd like to use some things second hand also to be kinder on the planet.What would you say are definite items you need new vs items that you recommend using second hand? We will probably still get some second hand stuff anyway from family but I was curious as to what I should get started buying new.

Thank you!

Car seat and mattress - everything else can be second hand!

The only things we have bought new are a crib mattress and car seat.

I would also suggest breast pump and steriliser if you are thinking of getting those items - some can be impossible to clean fully.

The rest, we’ve picked up entirely second hand.

Do not buy a second hand car seat EVER! For several reasons. They may have been in a minor accident and therefore have microscopic stress fractures unseen by naked eye but now not safe to use in car anymore. They may be several years old, and being in hot and cold car for years does same microscopic damage to them, rendering them unsafe to reuse.

So whatever you, do, the car seat is something that should be new.

As a pp said, car seat and cot mattress are the only things you need to buy new. We got everything else second-hand, although we did get quite a lot of gifts from people of new clothes, toys etc as well.

I’m 24 weeks first baby- we’ve been getting second hand stuff on eBay last week or 2

Plan to get almost everything second hand - we are getting a new buggy though but hope to have it for years - getting the new born attachment second hand though!

Second hand cot - new mattress!

Car seat is from a very close friend who doesn’t even have a car so it’s been used a handful of times and I know it’s not been in an accident!

Some friends have also given me things like a bottle steraliser, baby carrier etc

I doubt il get anything else new now tbh it’s so wasteful

I would buy a new buggy - I walked with mine every day, sometimes for hours - I was pleased to have one I chose specifically for me. Plus buggies get icky (crumbs in corner/bits of sick). For something you use so so so much I think it's worth treating yourself on that front. Toys - almost all second hand!

Im someone who bought SO MANY new clothes for my baby when I was pregnant. My top tip would be to buy all clothes second hand. They grow so quickly.

Thinking about the planet you can pick up some amazing deal on second hand cloth nappies. They are often in fantastic condition and you can save so much money! If you have any cloth nappy questions feel free to pm me x

@GarlicMushroom I'm also with you on the cloth nappies! I definitely think they should be more mainstream than what they currently are!! @charcb if you'd prefer not to go down the cloth route, I really would suggest using reusable wipes like cheeky wipes or similar. No one needs a disposable wipe that just smears poop everywhere and they clean up fantastic (even after 2 years continuous use!)

@charcb Like the others said, matress and cat seat is a must for new but I really go suggest getting everything else 2nd hand. Specifically clothing as you'd be surprised at how quickly they grow. Especially through the first 12 weeks.

I'm a big fan of buying most things second hand (car seat and mattress excluded), however, I'm actually really pleased I bought our buggy new. We bought it in a half price sale from Mamas & Papas and their aftercare was incredible. We used it every day for over 2 years and when a small part broke, they took it in for a full service and pretty much returned a brand new buggy to us as they'd replaced the handle, buggy bar, seat and brake. Was well worth the initial investment.

Amazing responses all! Glad a lot of it can be second hand. I'll definitely think about the buggy too and about the cloth nappies. But glad to hear clothes and toys are fine second hand! I thought the same - they grow so fast!

Oh yes, I got my cloth nappies, covers and wipes used from a mother exchange co-operative. About half of them I passed on after using them on my four DCs. (The other half just wore out to much to pass on and I used them as dusting/window cleaning cloths for years!)

Have a look at the website Little Foxys Preloved. I get a lot of second hand stuff from there. Its always really good quality and good prices.

With My first we bought almost all new. Gave it all away or sold it and then found out we had number 2 on the way!

Second time around we got everything second hand except the cot mattress and car seat.

Pushchair we got a bugaboo second hand and sold it on after number 2 for the same money.

But you really don't need as much as you think you do, that's what I leant from my first.

Clothes - toys all fine 2nd hand - and I would say a cot. It is sometimes one of those things ( especially if 1st child - you think it has to be new.) It doesn't - new mattress - it's fine - & yes as previous posters have said - car seat - just don't risk it - get a new one. They grow up quickly and so many things don't fit / not suitable after a while.