By using this site you agree to the use of cookies.The idea of shopping for your baby is thrilling at first -- until you realize just how much they really need, how much it costs, and how much energy went into making it. By choosing gently used secondhand strollers, high chairs, toys, books, and carriers, you can save resources and trim your budget -- think of it as adding to the college fund.Before you buy any used items, be sure to check for recalls on the products you're considering. Experts recommend never buying a used car seat, and make sure any other items meet the most current standards for safety.If eBay isn't already your first stop for, well, just about anything, then you might be surprised by the extensive collection of barely used baby gear you'll find there, from bedding and furniture to nursery decorations and strollers.The handy search feature lets you search for exactly the brand you want, and on many pieces you can choose either the Buy It Now option (to guarantee you get that fought-over Bugaboo) or bid (in hopes of getting a killer deal).
Rocka-Buy Gear/Screen captureDon't want to worry about winning an auction or negotiating a price with a seller? Rocka-Buy-Gear lets moms list their used items -- furniture, strollers, blankets, toys, DVDs, and more -- for a flat rate; then gives sellers five days to ship the item once it's sold.The site also donates 2 percent from each sale to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and reviews popular items so you get a parental perspective before you order. Baby Outfitter/Screen captureBaby Outfitter is the brainchild of Kate Upshaw, a self-described "children's clothing, book, and toy shopoholic" who now sells secondhand everything -- from classic books to swaddling blankets -- and ships them for a flat rate. (She also sells tons of clothes for the chic little weehuggers in your life.) Swap Baby Goods/Screen captureSwap Baby Goods is set up for parents to list the items their families are finished using for sale -- or for swap. Posters assign each item a value and offer other site users the option of purchasing it or trading for something they need.
The listings, organized by categories like bedding, bouncers & swings, diapering, feeding, furniture, strollers, toys, and more let you navigate the hundreds of items without missing out on what you really need. ReCrib/Screen captureNew York City-based ReCrib was started by parents who wanted to sell the high-design items they'd invested in for their baby.Now you'll find cribs from Bloom, Stokke, DucDuc, and NurseryWorks; strollers from Bugaboo, Peg Perego, Maclaren, and Quinny; and furniture from West Elm and Pottery Barn (among others). You can also view the listings on a map to find out where your nearest sellers are; Postings are found across the country. Craigslist/Screen captureIf you want to avoid paying for shipping -- and calculating the carbon footprint of having your new crib delivered from across the country -- then check Craigslist for baby gear for sale from your neighbhors and other nearby sellers.You'll find toys and books, dolls and trucks, furniture and strollers, high chairs and mobiles -- and you might even make friends with other local parents when you're dropping off or picking up.
Bonus: The site includes safety and recall alerts at the top of its "Baby and Kid Stuff" listings so you can double check before you buy. Encore Baby Registry/Screen captureEncore Baby Registry doesn't sell items directly, but it does offer brand-new parents an alternative to traditional store registries. Here's how it works: You create a wish list with everything you want for your baby -- furniture, clothing, toys, strollers -- using the search tool and share it with your friends and family.But instead of going to just one store to purchase the items, givers are encouraged to wrap up their own used versions of the items -- or get them at a thrift store -- and check off the registry that way. Baby gets everything she needs and you get to feel less guilty about where it all came from: It's a win-win.Skip to main content Guide to buying secondhand highchairs Safety checks to carry out and key info you need to know when buying a preloved highchair. Buying baby equipment secondhand has its pros and cons, but if you get it right, you might save hundreds of pounds.
If you’re buying a highchair - whether it’s from a car boot sale, NCT Nearly New Sale, an ad in your local paper or websites like eBay, Gumtree and Preloved – or even if you get it for free through Freecycle, you need to make sure it’s not only in good condition but safe to use. How do you check that a secondhand highchair is safe? Highchairs sold in the UK have to conform to safety standards, usually indicated by a number on the packaging. The standard BS 14988-1 was introduced in 2006 specifically for highchairs, replacing BS 5799 and DD ENV 1178-1.Highchairs are usually suitable from 6 months, but some are designed to accommodate younger babies. Don’t assume it can be used for a younger baby based on what the seller tells you – check the manufacturer’s instructions.To assess the condition of a highchair, you should try folding it and unfolding it first – do cast an eye on lock and catches while you do this. Check the frame for missing screws or bolts, then look out for flaking paint and rust.
Once opened and in place, the highchair needs to feel sturdy and stable. If it’s in good working order, try sitting your baby inside and check the harness.It’s important to have a good 5-point harness as the tray alone won’t hold your child in securely. With a 5-point harness you have two waist straps, two shoulder straps and a crotch strap. A 5-point harness is more effective than a 3-point harness, where the shoulder strap might slip off. If not suitably restrained, your child may attempt standing up in the highchair or climbing the backrest, resulting in the highchair toppling over. A baby can tend to slump and fall asleep in a highchair, so if not restrained, they might slide under the tray and fall to the ground. If the harness is no good, check the attachments and see if you could replace it with a new one – spare 5-point harnesses are sold in nursery stores. If it’s a recent model you might still be able to get that specific harness from the manufacturer. Cosmetic checks can highlight safety issues.
Is the padding in good condition? It’s okay if the padding is a bit faded, but the foam used to pad it should be contained so it doesn’t present a choking hazard. Are there are any sharp edges and wood splinters or plastic cracks that might pinch your baby’s probing fingers? Consider finishes such as paint - harmful lead paint has been recently discovered in some children’s products, which have been subsequently recalled. What about recalled highchairs? A list of recalled products can be found on the Trading Standards website. Other sites you can try are Recalled Products and UKRecallNotice. You can also Google the brand with the word ‘recall’. Most major manufacturers offer lists of recalled products on their websites What features are useful in a secondhand highchair? These are extra features that might make a highchair more versatile:You can use them to add an additional harness A removable and adjustable tray. This allows easy cleaning and a better fit so your child is sitting snugly
Removable covers and straps. This makes cleaning easier and allows replacement in some instances. Our step-by-step buyer's guide to highchairs, plus overview of the types of highchairs on the market, will help you find out what other features you need, be it new or secondhand you're looking to buy. Buying secondhand alternatives to highchairs Booster seats, clamp-on seats and travel highchairs are portable alternatives to the standard highchair. These are strapped on a chair or attached to a table by a locking system. They’re generally fitted with a harness to restrain your child. Check the straps of a booster or travel highchair and the grips and screw-in clamps of a clamp-on seat are in working order. For other features they have in common with standard highchairs - such as removable trays, folding mechanisms or padding - the same checks as above should be followed. Our buyer's guide to travel highchairs and booster seats has more advice on the features you need to look for.