What to Keep and What to Toss
Reusing baby gear can be a great way to save money when expecting a new baby, but buying a car seat at a garage sale, accepting an antique crib from a relative or using the high chair that Mom bought for your first child may not be safe for your new bundle of joy. Four health professionals weigh in on which items are safe to reuse and which should be purchased new.
Crib
Before you lay your baby down for naptime, it is important to check whether the crib has been recalled. Dr. Kyran Quinlan, pediatrician at Erie Family Health Center in Chicago and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ council on injury, violence and poison prevention, says, “If the crib has a drop side, it is recommended to find a new crib, because if the side drops when it’s not supposed to, the infant may be injured or killed.”
It’s not just the mechanics of the crib that cause worry, but also the materials that were used to build it. Dr. Elizabeth Simpson is medical director of routine newborn services at Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill, associate professor of pediatrics at UMKC School of Medicine and academic general pediatrician at Children’s Mercy Hospital. She warns, “Furniture made before the ’80s often contains lead paint, and when children learn to stand, they love to chew on the top rail of their crib.” Dr. Simpson suggests replacing the rails or using a different crib when the baby learns to stand.
Crib mattress
If you plan to reuse a crib mattress, make sure that it hasn’t exceeded its lifespan. According to Dr. Simpson, “Mattresses have expiration dates, and those more than 5 years old will likely need to be replaced.”
If the mattress has not expired, it is important to disinfect it.
“If the crib mattress is coated in plastic, it can be effectively sterilized by wiping it down with a disinfectant solution and then with soap and water,” says Dr. Ken Wible, staff pediatrician at Children’s Mercy Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at UMKC School of Medicine.
High chair
A high chair can easily be disinfected, but make sure to check the brand and product number closely to ensure that it hasn’t been recalled. “Injuries can occur because the chair collapses or the faulty restraints allow the baby to fall,” warnsDr. Simpson. “It’s also common for a malfunction in the mechanics of the chair to hurt the baby’s fingers.”
Dr. Wible says that “it’s necessary to make sure that the restraint system hasn’t been torn, cut or broken in any way to ensure that it remains secure for your baby.”
Car seat
It’s fine to use a car seat from someone that you know and trust, as long as you know the seat’s history, age and that it hasn’t been recalled. Susie Girten, registered nurse, child passenger safety technician and coordinator of the car seat program at St. Luke’s Hospital, stresses the importance of not using a car seat that has been involved in a car accident, big or small. “Damage to the plastic shell may make the car seat less effective, and that damage may not be visible to the eye,” says Girten. If there is any doubt, do not use it.
If the car seat is older than 6 years, it should not be used. After 6 years, there have been improvements in technology. Dr. Wible also says, “The seat ages, and the materials tend to deteriorate and provide less protection.” To find the expiration date, look on the plastic shell of the seat for a sticker or imprinted date. If you can’t find one, assume the 6-year mark.
Always check for recalls, because there can be safety issues that even the person who has the item originally may not be aware of.
Bottle
Health professionals have deemed baby bottles, bottle nipples and pacifiers fairly safe to reuse. Simply drop the item in a bowl of disinfectant, soak it for a few minutes and then wash it with soap and water. Dr. Wible also says that these items can be boiled to eliminate harmful bacteria.
Clothing
Babies grow so quickly, and hand-me-down clothes provide a great way to save money on something that your baby will only use for a short period of time.
Laundering the clothes is the best thing you can do, and the hot, dry heat of the dryer helps to wipe out any residual bacteria. Serious concerns of health professionals, like hepatitis and HIV, are very vulnerable to the normal process of laundering. “It isn’t fool proof, and you aren’t necessarily sterilizing the clothes, but any item of clothing that you buy brand new isn’t going to be sterilized,” Dr. Wible says. “From the standpoint of chemicals and other contaminants, sometimes used clothes have been laundered more and are safer.”
Do be cautious of choking hazards like buttons or strings that hang down that could get wrapped around the baby’s neck.
Bouncy seat and swing
Dr. Simpson suggests going to websites like the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics to check whether your item has been recalled. It is also important that the seat or swing is not missing any of its original parts to ensure safe functionality for your child.
New baby gear can be expensive, but it’s important to keep the health and safety of the baby a first priority. Do the necessary research and take the appropriate steps to ensure the item’s safety. You may find it safe to reuse, or it may need to be purchased new to make sure your new baby is getting the protection he needs.
Alyssa Klimek is a local freelance writer and ESL professor at Johnson County Community College. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri.