How to Buy Used Baby Furniture
Setting up a nursery for a baby is an important task that’s often enjoyable, and expensive, for expectant parents. You may want to consider buying used baby furniture if you are on a small budget and need to save money, or if you’re only planning on using the items for a short time. Although you can find some great deals when buying used baby furniture, it’s especially important to make sure the items are in good condition and meet current safety standards.
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Instructions
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Visit the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association website (see Resources below) to print a checklist of safety standards for many baby furniture items. Take this with you when you shop. You may also want to print a list of recalled baby items from Recalls.gov.
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Bring a small measuring tape with you when you look at baby items. Use it to measure the space between the rails of cribs, cradles and wooden playards to make sure they’re no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. You can also measure furniture items to find out whether they will fit comfortably in your baby’s room.
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Look for bassinets or cradles that come with a mattress that fits snugly, without gaps around the edges, since it’s unsafe to add another mattress or extra padding. If you’re buying a full-size or portable crib, make sure the crib is a standard size that you can easily find a snug-fitting mattress for.
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Choose a changing table with elevated sides that will help prevent the baby from rolling off. Make sure the table is a comfortable height for you, since you’ll always need to supervise the baby on the changing table.
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Make sure strollers, high chairs, swings, and infant seats have a wide enough base to prevent them from tipping over, as well as safety straps. Test out any locking mechanisms to make sure they work correctly. Swings are one of the most frequently recalled baby items, so be sure to check the recall list before buying one.
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Inspect any baby furniture you are thinking of buying to make sure it meets safety standards. Look closely for peeling paint, cracks, wobbly legs or missing parts. Find out the age of the item, if possible, since older baby furniture is less likely to meet current standards.
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Try out any moving parts on the baby furniture. Raise and lower crib rails, swing cradles, and try rocking chairs and gliders to make sure everything works smoothly. Make sure furniture such as chairs and changing tables are a comfortable size and height for you.
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Tips & Warnings
Although you can buy used baby furniture at garage sales and thrift stores, or through online listings, you make want to look through the phone book for consignment shops in your area that specialize in baby items. Good shops make sure that everything they sell meets safety standards and has not been recalled.
Start your baby shopping early so you can look around at several different places to find just the items you need. The selection in consignment shops and private sales changes frequently, so you may want to check back several times if you don’t find the items you want right away.
Never buy baby furniture that doesn’t meet safety standards, or that has been recalled.
