Used Baby Items: What to Avoid

If you are a new parent, you know that the financial strain can get overwhelming. Right from baby formula to diapers, the costs of raising a child can add up each month. So, it is natural for new parents to want to save some money by getting baby items used.

It makes a lot of sense because you probably wouldn’t use a number of items after a year or two. That said, it’s a good idea to not buy some of these items used. Here is a list of things you would be better off buying new to avoid potential injury to your child.

Cribs: Cribs for babies can be terribly expensive. But, it is best not to buy them at a garage sale or thrift store. Many used cribs are models that have been recalled in recent years because they were determined to be unsafe. A number of cribs, for example, drop-side cribs are illegal in the U.S. because they post a strangulation hazard for babies. It would be better to just shell out the money for a new crib than risk your child’s safety. It is also a good idea to buy the crib mattresses new to avoid germs in the material.

Playpens: As with cribs, a number of playpen models have also been recalled for a number of safety defects. As with a mattress, you don’t know if a used playpen is sanitary either.

Strollers: If the strollers were made after 2007, they are generally okay to reuse. But you should avoid buying or taking a model that is older than that. Many older models do not have the same safety precautions or standards that the newer ones have. Millions of strollers have been recalled over the last few years for danger of strangulation or fingertip amputation.

Car seats: Most car seats have an expiration date of them and over the last decade or so, many defective car seats have been recalled as well. Car seats can get pretty pricey. But it’s best to avoid buying a used car seat unless you are absolutely certain that it has not expired and hasn’t been recalled. It’s hard to tell if a car seat is in good working order even if everything looks fine. This is definitely an item you should consider buying new.

Swings: This is another item you don’t want to buy used because there is the risk of wear and tear with a lot of use. When they are designed poorly or when they have worn parts, there is the heightened risk of a fall injury.

According to Consumer Reports, 40% of all recalls last year were for kid’s items. Topping the list of dangerous baby items to avoid were the drop side cribs, bumpers, sling carriers, bumbo seats and sleep tents.  If your child has been injured by a dangerous or defective product, please contact an experienced product defect attorney who can help hold the negligent manufacturer accountable. The best product defect law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.