Tips for Buying Second Hand Baby Goods

When I found out I was pregnant with my eldest daughter in 2007 I had to leave my job as it was unsuitable work for me while pregnant so we were relying on just my partners’ wage.

Which to be fair at the time by time we had paid the bills didn’t exactly leave us flush at the end of the month.

So we decided we would save a bit of money where ever possible by buying second hand baby goods.

Now some of you may freak out at the thought of buying second hand baby goods for your baby but really it’s rather straight forward and can save you a lot of money.

Tips for buying second hand baby goods:

1. Firstly make sure you have a list of what you need and find the best prices for the things you need new first.
2. Set yourself a spending limit, there’s no point paying a few pennies off the full retail price of a brand new item.
3. Ask around friends with children, you never know what they might have stored away in the loft for those ‘maybe someday’ days.
4. Ask family, you may even get it for free – if you don’t ask you won’t get.
5. Check out Facebook selling pages and join ‘groups’ for things for sale, there are loads of them out there.
6. Try websites like Ebay and Gumtree and freecycle.
7. Carboots are a good a place as any to get some bargains, don’t forget you can always haggle on the price if it’s not quite good enough.
8. Make sure the item is in good condition and view the item first whenever possible.
9. Check the item is in working order, if it requires batteries or mains power ask to see it working first.
10. Always wash / clean items you have brought or been given before using them for your baby or child.
11. If buying a second hand carseat make sure it isn’t damaged and that it hasn’t been involved in a road accident.

What not to buy second hand:

1. Don’t buy second hand mattresses, if the cot / mosses basket is second hand that is fine but you need to buy a new mattress for it for your baby.
2. Dummies and bottle teats.

Do you buy second hand or do you prefer to buy new?

Before falling pregnant with my eldest I never really had the need to buy second hand goods and had the money from my wages to buy new.

I know my parents did for me when I was younger.

It doesn’t bother me whether the item was new or second hand as long as it was in good condition and in working order where applicable.

Over the years buying second hand goods has saved me a small fortune.

Have you brought any good bargains for your baby and children?

Or even for yourself?