Things that You Shouldn't Buy Second Hand for Baby

Being a parent of a baby is hard work as it is, and it's especially expensive. While you want all the best things for your baby, you often time have to cut some corners in order to get buy, and that includes buying some items second hand. And while I totally agree with buying a lot of things second hand (you can get some big-ticket items for DIRT cheap!), there are a few things that I definitely wouldn't recommend picking up in this way. Let me throw you my personal opinion of things that should probably be bought brand new.

Crib mattress
Because these are not as expensive as buying a full-sized adult mattress, I believe in spending a few extra bucks for a brand new mattress. Although a second hand crib mattress may seem to be in good condition, the truth is that you don't know where it's been or what kind of environment it's been in. Also, there's the possibility that the previous user has thrown up on it or peed on it. You're better off spending a bit more cash to get something brand new to your baby (you can buy a great mattress brand new for around $100).

Car seats
It's a general guideline that unless you're ABSOLUTELY certain of where a car seat has been, you should never buy one used. Did you know that per manufacturer and safety guidelines, a car seat shouldn't be used again if it's been in an accident? Also, you shouldn't be buying a car seat that's older than 5 years because more than likely, it's already out of date for safety regulations in some way. Although this can be a more expensive item brand new, think about that precious bundle in your life and go the extra step to guarantee their safety.

Stuffed animals
Think that little stuffed bunny you spotted at the yard sale is too cute to pass up? Think again. Consider what might be hidden deep in that stuffing, like mites, germs, and possibly even things like bed bugs. Though you could probably wash stuffed toys before handing them over, it's probably worth the time-saving and peace of mind of just buying a new toy instead.

Baby bottles
Baby bottles don't have to be very expensive, if you do your research and find a less expensive brand to go with that still offers what you're looking for. To settle for buying second hand bottles seems kind of....well, gross. Would you really consider buying second hand pacifiers for your baby? No, because that's been in someone else's mouth. It's the same deal with bottles (and sippy cups and eating utensils, while we're at it).

Bath toys
Although it might seem like a good idea (because most bath toys are a hard plastic you can wash in bleach before handing over), you might still want to fore go the bath toys at a second hand store. Bath toys can often retain water (think of squirt toys), and unless you know for a fact that the previous owner took special care to clean them out often and make sure they're always empty at the end of the bath, it's not worth the risk of possibly having old stale water in them or even mold in some cases. Bath toys generally aren't expensive in stores, anyway.