“Buying new items for your baby is often like shopping for a wedding – it’s exciting, but ultimately not very practical or eco-friendly in the long run. Buying secondhand can knock 50% off the retail price, and in most cases, the items found on online classifieds are in pristine condition,” says Claire Cobbledick, Head of Marketing, Gumtree, South Africa.

The site has over 10 000 items aimed at children of all ages. “Most parents know that their kids’ clothing and furniture will barely be used before they’ve outgrown it, which means that there is a great market for items taking up space in someone else’s house and ready for a second life.”

But there is a definite list of dos and don’ts parents should take into consideration when buying secondhand items. “Buying gently used clothing is fine, but avoid anything with zips, hoods, or drawstrings that could lose their elasticity quickly or start to unravel. Anything that gets really grubby – like diaper bags – should rather be purchased new,” says Cobbledick.

“But baby shoes are usually hardly worn before they are discarded, which makes it a great secondhand buy. When buying furniture secondhand, be sure to check the item for flaking paint or splinters that could cause injury.”

These ten extremely popular items can be bought secondhand on the site at bargain prices:

Cribs and Cots

“Most cribs and cots made over the last five years are perfectly safe to be purchased, but do your research to ensure that the product you are considering hasn’t been recalled by quality controllers,” Cobbledick advises. “Strong mattress support is important, so replace this if necessary. Also consider portable cots – they are not only less expensive, but take up less space and offer a great alternate.”

Strollers and Joggers

“A stroller can be the most expensive item a parent invests in, which makes it a great secondhand buy,” says Cobbledick. “Avoid any with broken, loose or missing parts, when looking at used strollers. It’s perfectly fine to ask the owner if you can take it for a spin to make sure it’s sturdy and handles well. We also often have customers selling off demo models, that are almost half the retail price and unused.”

Bathtubs

Baby bathtubs are a good purchase, providing the owner has stored them correctly. “If the bathtub is clean and doesn’t smell of mildew or harsh chemicals, it’s fine. Bath seats, or inflatable tubs are not advisable secondhand purchases – if damaged, they could be dangerous.”

High chairs, compactums and changing tables

“Classifieds are a great way of sourcing furniture, because a lot of carpenters use the site to sell their handmade furniture – there are really innovative creations up for grabs, and many of the sellers are willing to customise the colour and design according to your preferences,” says Cobbledick. “Just make sure that there are safeguards to ensure that your baby doesn’t fall out of the seat. High chairs with removable trays or arms that lift above the head can also be hazardous.”

Baby monitors and electronics

“There are tons of unwanted baby monitors and electronics that can be picked up online. Replace the batteries and it’s good to go.”

Baby shower goodies

You would be surprised at how many baby shower items can be bought online. “Classifieds can be a great way of sourcing items for a baby shower or party,” says Cobbledick. “You can search for different suppliers of birth announcement cakes, party favours and even entertainment, and source dozens of quotes in your neighbourhood on a single site. Most of the suppliers offer online photo portfolios or have their own sites that can be visited to get a clearer picture of what they provide.”

For more information, visit the Baby and Kids Section on Gumtree.co.za.

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Matching a gift to this new-age baby shower can be difficult, as our usual gifts of nappies and baby grows just don’t seem to fit the occasion. But that doesn’t mean that you need to go out and spend thousands on an impractical gift that might not even be used.

Here are eight tips to putting a creative spin on our usual go-to-gifts:

1. Throw the whole gift thing on its head and aim it at the inexperienced yet practical dad-to-be – whether it be a trendy nappy bag or a changing kit with instructions.
2. Instead of a traditional hamper, create a tiered baby shower ‘cake’ display out of towels, diapers and other baby goodies. You can even roll small baby clothes and hand towels into roses or pop one inside a cupcake holder for an extra cute display.
3. Make a compilation disk of baby-friendly music that will soothe the little one to sleep, and get mom a little treat like chocolates or bubble bath which she can enjoy in peace.
4. If it’s going to be a girl, keep a lookout for girlie baby accessories and put together a fashion kit filled with goodies like felt headbands, baby-safe brooches and adorable booties.
5. If you’re going the baby powder and petroleum jelly route, make the packaging interesting – for instance, fill a big jar, cookie tin or pretty handbag with everyday baby goodies.
6. Get creative with a simple DIY project – for instance, make a felt doll, a baby bib, growing chart or pretty baby-room bunting.
7. Put together a winter kit for baby, complete with cute little hat, booties and snuggly blanket, plus hot chocolate and slippers for mom.
8. Surprise the mom-to-be with a scrapbook kit, so that she can start collecting those memories bright and early!

About the Author: Momtrepreneur connects multitasking supermoms. For more, visit http://www.momtrepreneur.co.za.

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