How Safe Are Hand-Me-Down Baby Gear?
Mothers-to-be are often flooded with hand-me-down baby gear coming from mothers, in-laws, neighbors and friends. These items can save you tons of money, but are they safe? This month, ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, is placing pre-used cribs, toys, clothing and more under the microscope so you know when you can gratefully say yes and when you should gracefully say no thanks. Tips to spot unsafe hand-me-downs: Bath Products: • Safe: Used baby bathtubs are fine as long as the lining isn’t full of mold or mildew. • Not Safe: If the tub has an odor of either of these, say no thanks because they can be hard to remove. Also, skip secondhand bath seats, bath rings, and inflatable tubs since they have been responsible for many deaths among babies. Car Seats: • Safe: A car seat that has all its original parts and labels, has never been in a crash, and fits your car and child is OK. • Not Safe: Products more than six years old are outdated, and most likely too run down to be c
