What New Grandparents Need to Know: Used Baby Gear

In April, 2019, Fisher Price announced a recall of their Rock ‘n Play Sleepers, an infant cradle blamed in over 30 deaths. Most of the deaths happened when a baby rolled over and suffocated in the soft-sided cradle. Over 4.7 million sleepers were sold over a period of almost 10 years.

Sadly, that recall didn’t end the deaths. By January, 2023, another 70 deaths came to light, many of which occurred after the initial recall. Though stores no longer carried them, Rock ‘n Play sleepers still popped up on sites like Facebook Marketplace. Fisher Price took the unusual step of issuing a second recall, to bring new awareness to the dangers. Rock ‘n Play Sleepers are still out there.

If you were offered a bouncy chair, high chair or portable crib to use for your grandchild, would you immediately think to look for recalls? Gold star if your answer is yes! If not, read on to see why you should think about safety before using any old baby gear for your grandchild.

Why Hand-Me-Downs Are So Tempting

Used baby equipment is a financial win—all that stuff is expensive when purchased new! Saving money is a good reason to look for quality used items, but your grandchild’s safety should override getting a bargain.

Then there are the things you’ve saved. The wooden highchair your dad made for your babies. The cradle that was handed down by your own grandparents. There’s a special sweetness to putting your grandbaby to sleep in the bassinet that’s been used for four generations. It’s hard to imagine that it could be dangerous! After all, none of the other babies that used it came to harm. Just be sure you aren’t falling victim to what’s known as “survivor bias”, which is the belief that something is safe because you survived it. Lots of babies survived the Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play, but the dozens who didn’t prove that it could be unsafe.

Whether you borrow, buy or pull a used item out of storage, you need to check it closely for safety based on today’s safety standards.

Current Safety Standards

Does anyone remember car seats from the 1070s? They mostly served to keep a baby in one place, with a little padding and some straps. Today’s car seats are designed to protect a baby in the event of multiple scenarios: side crashes, rear enders, rollovers. The requirements for facing rear, booster seats and more have continued to evolve. (You can read the latest recommendations on the NHTSA website.)

Cribs have also changed. The drop sided cribs we all used are now banned, and mattresses must meet standards for firmness and fit. If your neighbor offers to lend you the crib she’s used for her grandkids, don’t accept the offer until you’ve inspected it. You can learn more about crib safety in How to Tell if That Old Crib is Safe.

It doesn’t stop there. Highchairs and strollers also have new safety standards, all based on research and accident data. Using any old baby equipment has the potential to be risky. It’s crucial to make sure that you’ve completely researched all secondhand gear. Start by looking for product recalls.

Product Recalls and Secondhand Gear

Dozens of products originally sold as safe are recalled every year. No amount of testing in the product development phase can mimic real world use. Once a product is in the marketplace, accidents may start to occur. If enough accidents are reported, a recall may be issued.

The United States has the Consumer Product Safety Committee, which is an excellent resource for checking for recalls. You should always check for recalls on any secondhand baby equipment that you consider using for your grandchild. You can find the CPSC recall page here. Recall information in Canada can be found here.

If a product isn’t listed as recalled, you need to check one more thing: is it still in good shape?

Wear and Tear Can Make Old Baby Gear Unsafe

Even lightly used baby gear may not be in good enough shape to use years later. Fabrics and plastics degrade, making them prone to failure. Metal may rust, even if it’s not visible on the outside. Parts may be missing, or come loose enough to be unsafe.

In the case of car seats, they should never be used if they’ve been in an accident. The stress a seat goes through in an accident compromises its integrity. You’ll have no way of knowing the history if you pick one up at a consignment shop or garage sale. In addition, all car seats have an expiration date because plastic degrades over time. Check with the manufacturer if you can’t find the expiration date on the one in your garage.

Everything in good working order? Now you need to make sure it’s clean enough to use with your grandchild.

The Importance of Proper Cleaning

Of course, you’ll see any dirt or stains and clean those up. But used baby equipment can also harbor mold, mildew or allergens. Make sure there are no places where moisture has been trapped. Clean thoroughly if any soft surfaces have been in a pet-friendly home, in case your grandchild has allergies. Check for smells like nicotine or strong fabric softeners, which aren’t good for little lungs—and can also be hiding bigger issues.

Use soapy water and a soft cloth for cleaning most surfaces. Check manufacturer recommendations for things like highchair and car seat covers. Many need to be air dried to maintain their safety. Sanitize hard surfaces with a mild bleach solution or other cleaning product approved by the manufacturer.

Keeping Your Grandchildren Safe is a Priority

No one knowingly puts a child at risk, especially a grandparent. Unfortunately, using old baby equipment can put our grandchildren at risk without us knowing it. That’s why it’s important to think beyond nostalgia and financial savings. Make sure any secondhand baby equipment passes all the safety checks outlined above before using it or giving it to parents to use.

One final note: If parents aren’t aware of the dangers of used baby gear, this is one area it’s okay to speak up about. Share this post with them.

Want to skip the hassle and buy new? See our recommendations in our Amazon Store.