Infant and Baby Needs

As a new parent have you considered stocking your nursery with second-hand goods? There are some fantastic bargains to be had out there so let’s start with places to look...

• Online auctions: Places such as eBay have just about anything a parent could want and the advantage is you can buy what you want without leaving home. Goods are usually sent by mail but often you can pick them up and save on shipping cost. Sometimes...well many times you can purchase new items too. Check for listings that say no smoking or pets.

• Friends and family: If you have friends or family that have recently outgrown baby good this is a good source for second-hand bargains. Quick and easy and many times it will be free.

• Consignment Shops: Are another great place to find gently used baby items. These stores sell on behalf of others or buy goods for re-sale. They can be a useful source of second-hand baby items as the items are usually in rather good condition.

• Charity Shops: They don't always have baby items but if you shop there regularly you may chance upon a great bargain. It can be time consuming or it can be a daily outing if you’re already a stay at home mom.

• Classified Ads: These are usually great for landing those larger items such as outdoor equipment and changing tables at a great price. As well as your local paper, check out Friday Ads, Ad Trader and Loot, which are all valuable source of bargains and can be searched online.

What items should I be cautious about?

Although it would be nice if you could pay second hand prices for all your items there are some items you should steer clear of when purchasing pre-owned in the baby department.

• cribs: There have been a few recalls lately. Enough that you should gon on and buy this item new.

• car seat: Never buy a used car seat. You can never tell if it's been in an accident before.

• mattresses

• baby bouncers and walkers

• breast pumps

• hand-knit toys

• any item of clothing with a drawstring around the neck.

• Leather shoes mould to fit a child's feet. So it's not considered a good idea to put second-hand shoes on young children's delicate, growing feet.

That doesn’t seem to leave a lot does it? Well actually it does. You can spend a small fortune in new baby clothes so these are excellent items to purchase second hand.