Almost every new mother faces the baby-budget challenge: All that stuff, does it all need to be new? Here’s a look at where you can save and where spending more is worth it:
Buy new
Car seats: A car seat is an essential requirement; each state requires infants and children to ride in one when in a car. And although new car seats are expensive, it’s worth your peace of mind to buy one new. First, car seats have an expiration date (typically six to nine years after their manufacture date). Second, if they’ve been in a car accident, they are not safe to reuse.
Cribs: Rules on cribs (as with much baby furniture) are constantly in flux, but on June 28, 2011, the government ruled that drop-side cribs are dangerous and should not be sold in the United States. Crib bumper pads also are problematic; the American Academy of Pediatrics says bumper pads can put a baby at risk for suffocation and other injuries. If you can’t afford a new crib, buy a new portable crib, which is less expensive and safer than a used crib. You should also stay away from used crib mattresses, which have been through enough wear and tear, and possibly exposed to mold and bacteria. Buy a new mattress and don’t risk your baby’s health.
Infant formula: Many mom boards and secondhand sites sell infant formula, which, new, costs about $20 a pack. Aside from the obvious risk (you could be buying tainted formula!), even if the person you’re buying the formula from is trustworthy, there’s no way to know whether the formula has been stored correctly. If formula isn’t stored in a cool, dry area (from 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit), it could degrade and lose nutrients.
Buy used
Strollers, if made after 2007: Ten years ago, the safety standards for strollers were amended to fix impact, stability, and shoulder-strap safety issues. If you’re buying a stroller used, watch out for broken, loose or missing parts. Put your child in it and take them around the block to make sure the ride is smooth and sturdy. Lastly, check the make and model for a manual you can access online, and make sure there have been no recall issues.
Formal baby clothes: If you’re heading to a wedding or celebrating Easter or Christmas (and taking photos!), look for used clothing. Formal jackets and dresses are generally used once or twice. Kids grow out of them so fast that they often don’t suffer wear and tear. When dealing with designer outfits as used commodities, you don’t have to spend a ton to make your kid look like North West or Blue Ivy. (Same goes for nonformal wear and baby shoes!)
Rocking chairs and changing tables: As gently used baby furniture goes, changing tables or rocking chairs are pretty standard. If they don’t have peeling paint, missing or chipped parts, you should be OK buying used. After all, changing tables have about a nine-month lifespan; after that, your baby will be moving around so much that you’ll probably decide to change him or her wherever you can. Do, however, buy a new changing pad or cover.
Baby tub: Some baby tubs are incredibly cheap; even so, buy them used at garage sales. Clean it inside and out with bleach and then rinse it in hot water, and it will be good as new. After all, all they are for is storing soapy water. Many parents eventually end up bathing babies in the sink, or bringing their kids in the tub with them. How dirty can babies get, anyway?
Baby gear such as bouncers and rockers: As long as they have not been recalled and aren’t broken (look up the specific product name before you buy) these baby distractors are great. These jumpers/rockers are lifesavers when you need to set a baby down and relax, or go to the bathroom or cook dinner. But because your baby will need it for only four to five months (maybe six, if you’re lucky!), buy them used. These items are such obnoxious monstrosities that once parents realize they’re not needed anymore, they try to get rid of them ASAP, and rarely look used.
Lil Lovinus is a writer, editor and mom of two kids and a kitty.