Second hand baby equipment is a must for a lot of parents, but that doesn’t mean you should compromise basic safety or comfort for your children. Here, we hope to provide a few tips about things to look out for.
To begin with, from a safety aspect, the one thing you should try and buy from new, is baby’s car seat. Simply because you can’t be sure of the seats history if you buy from someone you know and the seat may have been in an accident. If this is the case, the structure might be seriously affected. Should you be unfortunate enough to be involved with a further collision, even any minor hidden damage could mean your youngster would not be well protected. So, if at all possible, get the best new child car seat to suit your budget. If you have to buy second hand, make sure you know who you are buying from.
With second hand pushchairs, make sure the wheels are aligned correctly and the brakes work. Open and close the pushchair to ensure everything works and that the locks function properly. Check the frame for dents, rust and signs of weakness and that the fabric is not torn as it will not last very long if it is! Keep in mind that a five-point harness is now recommended rather than three-point design.
For second hand highchairs, look for the obvious missing nuts and bolts and check the structure is sound and un-damaged, do this by eye and by running your hand over the frame and seat to check for sharp edges. Check all the catches work and that the seat and padding are secure and the harness is in working order.
Second hand baby equipment includes items that baby doesn’t directly use. For example, when buying second hand baby monitors be sure any wiring remains safe and secure and that cords are under 20cm long to adhere to current safety advice. See that all the plastic bits are intact and don’t fall off easily. Giving the unit a little shake is always a good idea to make sure there is nothing lose inside.
Try second hand stair gates before you buy and check locking components as some tend to be more hard fit than others. Glance at the whole frame as well as the slats (that ought to be spaced at least 6.5cm apart) for any splinters, dents or rust. If the gate has been repainted, don’t buy it, since this might be masking damage and the paint used could be hazardous.
When choosing second hand baby equipment, remember that if an item carries any official safety marks that this refers to when the product was new, not when it has been used. Although these might not be available, always request a set of instructions or if not available, you may well be able to find them on the web.
Read more on second hand baby equipment as well as our suggestions for baby car seats at www.britaxduoplusisofix.com.
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