Garage Sale Season

It's garage sale season in Arizona!!

I'm wondering what kinds of things its ok to buy used. Today we found a really cute, sturdy crib and dresser/changing table for about 1/4 of the price as the one we were going to buy new. I'm ok with buying the crib used because its really just wood and we'll put a new mattress in it. What other things have/would you consider buying used?? Pack N Plays? Bouncers? Swings? Strollers?

These babies are our first and two were a totally unexpected blessing, so I'm just feeling really overwhelmed by all the stuff we seem to need. I don't want to rely on our baby shower for big items, but am a little daunted by the sticker shock. Especially when I think about all the diapers, formula, etc we will really need once they are born.

Thanks!
Yusra

 

If it is in good condition and a good price I would grab it. Be careful with car seats and infant carriers, they could be compromised if they have been in a car accident (I think). You may even try consignment shops for a lot of things. Diaper bags, swings, strollers, baskets for organizing, high chairs, clothing is a great find because you can bleach it then wash it with a gentle detergent a few times. Have fun and save money!

 

I agree with the above post. Anything that can be washed I would buy used. I have one daughter and was not expecting twins. I am going to buy alot of my things used as well. I wouldn't buy carseats and infant carriers used. She is right about accidents. I got into an accident with my daughter in the car and was told to replace the carseat. It was a fairly low speed crash. Also, with carseats you do not know if they kept up on the recalls or registered them. For cribs there was a huge recall, I will try to find the website later on for you. But I haven't seen the problem with my daughter's crib.

 

I'm getting hand-me-downs from some friends and my sister..I think as long as the items are in good, usable condition, they're alright to take, and wash before use of cos. One thing though, I definitely won't use used bottles! I just don't like the idea of my babies using the same bottles as other babies..hahaha...

 

I also live in AZ I bought a lot of things used or hand me downs and it was such a HUGE help! Cribs, pack n' play, toys, swings, baby carriers, booster seats, baby gates etc. I also looked at "once upon a child" which has gently used baby items. There are a lot of good bargains out there, craigslist was also a great place to find things for cheap. Good luck to you!

MJ

 

I insisted upon new cribs, mattresses, and car seats out of concern for safety.

I bought used clothing, an exersaucer, swing, rocking horse, 2nd bouncy seat, a pack & play that had never even been opened, gym mat, and some plastic infant toys that could be washed in the dishwasher to sterilize. I love consignment sales! Basically, anything that can be cleaned and is in good working order is better bought used since it will look used in a week anyway.

 

The only thing we always bought new were the car seats. We have used the same cib for all the babies. We just bought a used one at a yard sale that converts to a day bed for one of the boys so we now have the boys in their own cribs at seperate ends of the room. I wont buy stuffed anything but toys in clean and good condition that I can wash and sterilize at home I do. As well as clothes. When you have a strict budget and as many kids we do, we dont buy new often.

 

I agree with the PP...I just went to a local 'Mothers of Multiples' sale...and let me just say I bought about $880 worth of 'stuff' for $120...plus it gives back to an organization I hope to be apart of someday! )

I didn't want to buy 2 of everything not knowing if our boys would like it or not....and we are trying to finish building our house out of pocket, and DH is self employeed, so I had no issues buying used. What I think is funny though, is that if we were having one child, I think I would have thought differently...weird, I know! haha

I bought new carseats and stroller (baby shower gifts)
I bought used, bouncy seats, swings, highchairs, carriers, boppies etc...I had a blast..
Best of luck to you!

 

I got and still get hand-me-down clothes. I bought a jumperoo and an excersaucer off of craigs list. I also got a ton of toys, clothes, bumbo and another excersaucer from our MOM's sale. In the spring MOM's sale I plan to get some ride-on toys and of course more clothes.

Have fun shopping!

 

I won't buy car seats used (can't promise they haven't been in an accident), and we're buying the cribs and bottles new too.

I have no problem buying clothes, bouncies, swings, etc used though!

 

I didn't need too much this year but I got the following at our twins club sale:

Ainsley's jacket ($4)
Dax's jacket ($4)
2 pairs of fleece or flannel pajamas for each kid ($1-3)
lots of mittens ($1)
a riding toy for Dax ($1)
a rocking toy for Dax ($5)
lots of sticker & activity books for the girls for our upcoming trip ($8)
a baby bathtub ($2)
a kids recliner ($20)
a soccer goal ($7)
a desk and chair set ($5)
3 pairs of girls' uniform pants ($2-$3)
2 pairs of girls' jeans ($3)
2 uniform shirts ($1-$2)
videos (this was Paul's contribution to the shopping ) ($1-$4)
Wooden growth charts ($5)

What I sold more than paid for anything I bought.

After each baby, I sell any items I know I can get cheap again like bouncers, boppys, bathtubs, etc. Then I buy another one at the twins club sale right before the new baby is due. That way I don't have to store more than I need to.

 

With the boys we didnt look into garage/yard sales and I never heard of a M2M sale. We bought EVERYTHING new.

With this baby i bought EVERYTHING used.

I picked up a $600.00 crib for $50.00 in EXCELLENT condition and not recalled. Im sure to check to make sure everything I buy has not been recalled.

I got a $150.00 bedding set for $10.00

Free changing table and swing.
And I pay around $1.00 per piece of clothing from m2m sales and they are in like new condition.

The only thing that I will not buy used are carseats, bottles or anything of that nature. Everything else can be cleaned up but i try to buy from people that take care of the items they are selling.

Good luck and have fun!

 

These are my first babies, also, but I do have a good website for checking on product recalls--not exactly what you asked about, but a PP mentioned something about being aware of used products that may have been previously recalled. Anyway, go to www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/index.htm to look for reliable listings of recalls. This is what I was told by someone--actually I think it was my mom who told me!

 

I bought $1000 worth of stuff for $400
The twin mom was getting rid of everything, her twins were only 1 y/o.
Everything was in perfect condition and looked brand new!!

We got
2 carseats (retail $139 ea)
4 carseat bases (retail $49 ea)
1 stroller (retail $249)
1 swing (retail $149)
1 bouncy (retail $59)
1 MEGA pack n play (retail $199)

The cribs were used, mattresses were gifts. This was a big stresser for me because I didn't know how we were going to be able to afford everything (I had just quit my job to go to school full-time). Thanks to GOD we have everything we need and more.

I definitely say used if it is in good condition. You will be surprised how quickly babies grow out of things.