Not all second-hand items are safe. We tell you which second-hand baby articles you can safely use and which you should buy brand new.
Items that can be safely passed down
Clothes
Wash at the highest possible temperature before use [1].
Highchair
Make sure it is stable and that the safety straps can be fastened correctly [2].
Stroller
Check that the five-point harness is in place and that the brakes work [3].
Sling or carrier
Check that all parts can be securely fastened, verify that the seams are intact, and if it’s a backpack-style carrier verify that none of the metallic parts are sticking out of their casing [4].
Toys
We have an article on how to choose and clean second-hand toys here.
Items that should be purchased new
Car seat
Even if it appears in great condition, a car seat can have cracks on the inside. Any defect automatically makes a car seat unsafe [5]. Shoes
Every child’s foot is different, so not every shoe is appropriate for every child. In addition, shoes can be hard to disinfect, so fungus is likely present even after cleaning [6].
Mattress
A used mattress may lose its shape, and babies need a flat, dense surface to sleep on. A second reason is that a mattress cannot be washed [7].
Milk pump
If a breast pump is not washed properly, milk residues can remain in the tubes, and bacteria can multiply, which may pose a danger to your baby and your breasts [8].
