Baby Items You Should Never Buy Used (If You Can Help It)

There are a lot of baby items that are great to buy used and will end up saving you a lot of money.  However, there are a few baby items that a person should never buy used, or at least be very cautious when doing so.  Here is a list of some of the main ones that you should consider buying new if you can:

1.  Car Seat

When buying a used car seat, there is really no way in knowing if the car seat has been in a wreck in the past.  Car seats are supposed to be treated like bike helmets: Even if there is no visible damage after an accident, it is best and safest to discard it and get a new one.  Play it safe and buy a new car seat if you can.

2.  Breast Pump

Not everyone has the need for a breast pump, but if you do, buy new.  A breast pump is a very personal item and it is possible for pathogens in breastmilk and even blood to get into parts of the pump itself that cannot be sterilized.  Even if you bought new tubing and shields, there is still a chance of exposing your baby to something that could be hazardous.  You will definitely want to buy a new breast pump!

3.  Baby Bottles

This goes somewhat along with the reasoning for never buying a used breast pump: You don’t want to expose your baby to anything that someone else’s breastmilk or baby could leave behind, especially in plastic bottles that scratch easily and are harder to clean.  If you were thinking about buying used baby bottles, you would probably want to buy new nipples for them, and if you’re planning on spending money for new nipples you might as well buy new bottles.  A great, inexpensive choice is the Evenflo Classic Glass Nurser which retails for about $2 a piece.

4. Crib Mattress

Mattresses, whether for adults or babies, accumulate a lot of residue in them from dead skin cells to body secretions.  A crib mattress, or any mattress for that matter, is something you should never buy used!  Also, used crib mattresses easily lose their firmness, which is an important factor in protecting babies from SIDS.  Buy a new mattress so your baby will have a safe and clean place to sleep each night. 

Just trust your instinct when considering buying certain used baby items.  When in doubt, buy new.  It may cost you more up front, but it will make for a safer and healthier baby.

Do you have any suggestions for more items for baby that should never be bought used?

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