Second hand baby stuff

[justsayso]

Hi all, it's definitely too soon for me to really be thinking about this (8 weeks with #1) and for some reason I feel like I'm going to be judged for asking...but I had a little look online at things that you are recommended to buy for a newborn earlier on and I was overwhelmed by all the things needed! Which was probably kind of short sighted of me as it's too late now.
Anyways, I wondered if anyone was considering buying some of their baby things second hand, if so, what, and are there any things you definitely wouldn't have second hand?
Eg, buying a second hand cot but buying a new mattress? What about travel systems and prams? It feels like there's no limit on how much you could spend.
I'm guessing for DC2 people likely reuse stuff from DC1?

Congratulations! I’m pregnant with baby number 1 and honestly I’ve got most things second hand/nearly new. Would have loved everything new but everything is so expensive.

The only thing needed by a baby is a boob and you.
Or just food and you.

A sling will help, take them around the house with you, they will be happy.

Go back to basics, we make it hard.

I had quite a bit second hand including the cot and mattress. I didn’t buy a new mattress as neither of the little darlings would sleep away from me so it was never used!
I didn’t decorate a nursery or get nursery furniture due to house move. I am just doing their bedrooms now and they are 2 and 4.
I did buy new fairly gender neutral clothing, mainly M&S and supermarket and it’s still looking good after two children.

I've mainly bought large plastic equipment type items second hand. Jumperoo, a mamas and papas bumbo-type seat and some plastic games. Clothes I generally buy new but aim for a small number of higher quality items which have been passed on through my children.

For my first, we used a secondhand next to me crib, secondhand moses basket and secondhand cot (bought all new mattresses, though). I used a lot of secondhand bedding and sleeping bags, too.

We bought a secondhand travel system (I had researched beforehand and was looking for a particular model, this is well worth doing).

We were given a secondhand bouncer.

We were given lots of hand me downs (clothes, toys, etc) and I bought lots of things off FB marketplace.

We were also given lots of clothes, toys, etc. as gifts.

I'm using the same things for my second baby.

The only things you really shouldn't consider buying secondhand are car seats and mattresses. Having said that, I did use a car seat that a family member gave me as I had the instructions for safe use and trusted 100% that it had never been in a crash.

The only other issue with buying secondhand that I can think of would be making sure that items come from a smoke free home.

In essence: buying secondhand is a wise decision and you'll save loads of money. I highly recommend it.

Aside from the issue of 'secondhand', I would add that PPs are right to advise waiting and seeing what you need. Babies are so different. E.g. I was advised to buy loads of dribble bibs and muslins but I probably needed a quarter of what I bought. Aside from buying the contents of your hospital bag, a car seat, a safe place for baby to sleep and a pram, you can wait and see before buying everything else. It's very easy to obtain things quickly these days, so you can use that to your advantage. On the other hand, if buying secondhand, you could always buy things and then re-list if you find something isn't working for you!

Sorry for not responding to this thread! Reading all replies and feeling validated haha. I was worried I would be seen as a cheapskate but in reality I thought to myself, why not make do and mend so to speak!
Charity shops and eBay shopping is my jam.
I'll start looking and can rest easy now my hard earned money won't be drained on just the basics.
Thanks everyone 😊

The thing to remember is that baby won't know the difference between new or pre used. If you are happy with an item they won't care. You can save so much money buying pre used but new mattress and car seat.

Second hand for nearly everything- new mattress and car seat just!

Have a browse at some nearly new sales, they're often the cheap. Different ones in different locations. Facebook marketplace, charity shops, eBay, Vinted; all good options and saves the money for other expenses.

I had no money when I had my first and everything was second hand-bar the mattress ,bottles and dummies
(i don’t drive)
it saved me a fortune
a few years later,I gave birth to no3 (I didn’t know I was pregnant until I had him) and my friends gave me everything-all nearly new-only thing I had to buy was a cot mattress,bottles and nappies
its a waste to buy everything new-I remember buying two baby grows (with matching hats) when I was having the next baby and they cost me £20
last I saw of them,they where doing the 9th baby in the school playground and where still immaculate-waste of money for just one baby-I think he wore them twice
charity shop/ebay/vinted/generous friends all the way

We got a lot of stuff either given to us or bought cheaply from Facebook selling groups. Apart from the things mentioned like mattresses etc it just seems so wasteful to buy a lot of things new that they don't even need for very long.

Oh and don't go mad buying clothes, your friends and family will buy you loads, people can't resist cute outfits! Toys are another thing people will probably get for the baby.

I brought most of the big stuff new but wish I had brought the snuzpod 2nd hand as she has hardly used it! I brought furniture/pram etc new but brought furniture that should last for many years and pram that should last for 3 or so. Unless I really couldn't afford it I would always buy a car seat new and anything else safety related like baby monitor.
However she has loads of hand me down clothes and clothes I brought on Vinted. And her bouncer, jumperoo and most toys are all brought on Facebook 2nd hand. Our town also has a really good Facebook freebay group so I even have some things I didn't pay for at all! For instance her swim nappies have so far all been part used packets I picked up for free on there.
I have started to look at Christmas stuff- she will be 10m and have so far brought 3 toys at a car boot that will be stocking fillers- she won't know or care!
Also if you plan ahead and look for sales you can get some really good deals on new stuff too. I have brought some lovely frugi clothes for Xmas at 70% off so barely more than I would pay in Tesco for clothes and much better quality.

You've already had a lot of replies to this but I'll add mine anyway.

I was a single mum when I had my daughter nine years ago. I had a secondhand pram, bouncer, play gym, baby bath and a lot of clothes. Most of it came from friends and everything was in good condition.

There's no shame in it at all, some baby products are extortionately overpriced and most stuff you can get secondhand is in as-new condition for a fraction of the cost. It seeks crazy to me to spend more when you don't have to.

This time around money is even tighter. I am only nine weeks but we've started getting some little clothing bits in all from the Next, Tu and Matalan sale. I'll be lookong to get a lot of stuff secondhand again and some bits from IKEA as they're reasonably priced.

With my 3 the only new things we got was a car seat, mattress and bottles. Everything else we needed was either handed down from family or friends.

Now I'm pregnant again the only thing I will be buying new is mattresses for the cot and Moses basket. My car seat has only been used 3 times so will reuse for this baby.

My husband has brought a brand new double pram has DS will only be 12 months when new baby arrives I was looking at second hand ones but they are selling for near enough retail price so my husband decided he wanted brand new has he wouldn't be saving much by buying secondhand.

Dd is 9 months, only items we bought new were new mattress's for Moses basket, next to me and cot. And new travel system (as we plan to reuse this for our next DC. Oh and an extra car seat so we have one for both cars. Absolutely every item of clothing has been secondhand and all other items have been too!
Try not to get overwhelmed, babies do need a lot but not as much as online suggests. Speak to other mums or look at some other threads, there's lots of "essentials for babies" threads.

Second hand is definitely the way forward. It's all barely been used most of the time.

Agree with a pp to get these new;

Mattress
Car seat
Baby bottles

Congratulations! X

What @OCM19 said. But you also don’t need all the stuff “they” say. Eg do you need a next to me and a Moses basket? Do you need a bells and whistles travel system or will a pushchair that’s lie flat from birth work better for you? There’s nothing you can’t get next day delivery or at a 24 hour supermarket.

Yes, you don't need to buy new stuff except a car seat (even here if you trust the person it's come from and it's not been in a crash and is within dates a second hand one is ok) and mattress. We ended up with a few more new bits than that but not loads.

Also, those lists of things you need are often complete rubbish. Basically to start with, you need somewhere for baby to sleep, either some blankets or a sleeping bag, a car seat if you have/ use a car, a way of transporting them not in the car (so pram or sling), clothes and nappies, a change mat and some cotton wool balls or wipes to clean them with, and bottles and formula if you're formula or mix feeding. There's lots of other stuff you can get if you think it will be helpful, or if when baby's here you realise a need, but I wouldn't myself go all out buying stuff now. (Though obviously if you see something available for free that looks useful take a punt on it - you can always pass it on if it's not!)

ABSOLUTELY buy things second hand. My top tips are to look at charity shops in the rich areas near you. We're in a village between Fancy Rich Town and Lovely But Deprived Town. Fancy Rich Town's charity shops tend to have a more stuff of a better quality because Fancy Rich People don't use charity shops.

If there are certain brands or items you really want, set up an alert on Gumtree now.