Buying used baby gear
Check the label, then check for a recall, before you pay for used baby gear.
Secondhand gear can be a good buy. This list is the practical version of the public CPSC and NHTSA rules, so you can spot the items to leave behind. It is general information, not a complete list of every hazard. For car seats, use the used car seat checklist.
Three checks for every item
- Find the label. Write down the brand, model number, and date of manufacture. If there is no label, you cannot check it for a recall. Leave it.
- Check for a recall before you pay. Search this site, CPSC recalls, or NHTSA recalls for car seats. Selling a recalled product is illegal, and yard sales and marketplaces still have them.
- All the parts, and no homemade fixes. Missing screws, cracked plastic, or a broken latch are reasons to pass. The manufacturer can sometimes send missing parts. Ask before you buy.
Cribs
- Made on or after June 28, 2011. That is when the current federal crib rules took effect, including for resale. The date is on the label.
- No drop side. A drop-side crib cannot be brought into line with a kit that locks the side.
- Slats no more than 2 3/8 inches (6 cm) apart at any point. A soda can should not fit through. No missing, loose, or cracked slats.
- Hardware is all there and tight. No missing screws, stripped holes, or wobble.
- No cutout in the headboard or footboard large enough for a baby's head.
- No peeling paint or cracked wood.
- The mattress fits snugly, with no gap at the edges. A used mattress should be firm, flat, and clean.
If you cannot find a date, or the crib is older than June 28, 2011, CPSC tells resellers not to sell it unless they have written proof it meets the standard. Pass.
Sleep products to skip
Since November 12, 2022, federal law has made these illegal to sell in the U.S., new or used, no matter when they were made:
- Crib bumpers, including padded bumpers, vinyl bumper guards, and vertical slat covers. Mesh liners that are not padded are outside that ban.
- Inclined sleepers for infants: a product with a sleep surface tilted more than 10 degrees, meant for a baby up to 1 year old to sleep in.
Also skip pillows, blankets, sleep positioners, and weighted blankets or swaddles for infant sleep. A baby should sleep on their back, on a flat surface with nothing else in the sleep space. Do not let a baby sleep in a swing, rocker, glider, or bouncer.
Bassinets, bedside sleepers, and play yards
- No open recall. These products have a long recall history. Check every time.
- A firm, flat sleep surface with the original mattress or pad only. Do not add a soft topper.
- Locks and latches work. Top rails stay locked, and the frame does not fold when you press on it.
- Mesh and fabric are intact. No tears, loose threads, or holes.
- Bedside sleepers still have the straps or anchors, and the instructions say how they attach to an adult bed.
- Not a tilted sleeper. If it is tilted and sold for sleep, it is in the ban above.
Strollers
- No open recall. Search the brand and model.
- Brakes hold on a slope. Folding locks stay shut when you push on them.
- Harness is complete, including the crotch strap. The buckle works. Straps are not frayed.
- No sharp edges or pinch points at the hinges. The canopy and tray stay on.
The federal stroller standard is 16 CFR part 1227.
High chairs
- No open recall.
- A restraint with a crotch strap, so a baby cannot slide under the tray. The buckle works.
- Stable: a wide base, no wobble, legs that lock open, and no cracks.
- The tray locks on both sides.
The federal high chair standard is 16 CFR part 1231.
Other gear
| Item | Check | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Infant bath seats | No open recall. Suction cups and frame intact. Never leave a baby alone in the bath. | 16 CFR 1215 |
| Baby walkers | Too wide for a standard doorway, and they stop at the edge of a step. Check for a recall. | 16 CFR 1216 |
| Swings and bouncers | Restraints work. Not for sleep. Check for a recall. | 16 CFR 1223 and 1229 |
| Soft carriers and slings | Seams, buckles, and fabric are not worn. Follow the age and weight limits on the label. | 16 CFR 1226 and 1228 |
| Baby gates | No pressure-mounted gate at the top of stairs. Hardware is complete. | 16 CFR 1239 |
| Nursing pillows | Never for sleep. Check for a recall. | 16 CFR 1242 |
| Dressers and changing tables | Anchor a dresser to the wall. Check for a tip-over recall. | 16 CFR 1261 and 1235 |
| Toys and teethers under 3 | No small or loose parts. Check recalls, especially pull-string teethers and toys with magnets or button batteries. | 16 CFR 1501 |
Selling or giving items away
Federal law bars the sale of a recalled product, including at a yard sale, a consignment shop, a thrift store, or an online listing. Check before you list. CPSC's line for nursery products is "When in doubt, throw it out."
Official sources
- CPSC on stopping the sale of recalled products
- NHTSA used car seat checklist
- NHTSA on car seat use after a crash
- CPSC on the crib standard
- CPSC on full-size cribs (16 CFR parts 1219 and 1220)
- CPSC on crib bumpers (16 CFR part 1309)
- CPSC on inclined sleepers (16 CFR part 1310)
- CPSC on infant sleep
- CPSC reseller guidance
KidsRecallChecker is an independent website. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Follow the manufacturer instructions and the official notice. A product that is not in our index can still have a hazard. If a child is hurt, call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.