Used Baby Furniture

Tips on Buying Used Baby Furniture and Keeping the Baby Room healthy

You will probably spend a lot of time planning and designing a baby bedroom-and it's fun to do! But choosing the right furniture can make a big difference as to whether or not the room will be healthy. Making it healthy is more important than having a "designer" bedroom-although it's still possible to have that too, if you know what kind of furniture to avoid.

There are at least 2 big advantages in purchasing used baby furniture:

1. cost savings

2. usually less off-gassing of chemicals compared to new furniture (older furniture has had more time for the chemicals to dissipate). 

3. sometimes the construction is better if it's older furniture

But the one piece of used furniture you should NOT put in a baby's room is a USED MATTRESS, unless it's an organic mattress and you know the conditions under which it was used or stored. Non-organic mattresses become more toxic over time, especially if there are any cracks or openings in the covering of the mattress. This is the one piece of furniture that a parent should not skimp on, if they want to protect the health of their baby.

USED FURNITURE RECOMMENDATIONS and SAFETY TIPS:

CRIBS:

Cribs can be used, but keep in mind the slats should be no wider than 2 3/8 inches wide between each rail. Also check for chipped paint and be certain the crib was notpainted in the 1970's or earlier as they most likely will contain lead or lead dust which is very harmful to babies.

Older babies often chew on the cribs so make sure any painted surfaces are non-toxic. Also check for the sturdiness of the crib, see how easily it shakes. If it's wobbly or moves too easily it may not be safe for a bigger or active baby. Some cribs have "drop-down" front rails or sliders. Check these carefully as some cribs have been recalled because they inadvertently slip down and can cause falls or injury to the baby if this occurs.

BUMPER PADS

Also keep in mind that bumper pads are no longer being recommended. These can cause suffocation if a baby gets trapped underneath the side pads. It's best and safest to keep the crib empty of all such things, including stuffed animals, pillows, or thick, fluffy quilts. Keeping the crib as bare and as empty as possible is the safest and healthiest way to go.

Also make sure the crib mattress fits snugly on all sides of the crib to prevent the baby from rolling and getting caught in gaps-also a suffocation possibility.


BEDROOM DRESSERS

Avoid lead-painted dressers. Also avoid bedroom dressers that contain any particle board or medium density fiberboard. These off-gas large amounts of toxic chemicals for long periods of time. Unfinished furniture stores are a good option and usually can provide solid wood construction. Then you can use any kind of non-toxic paint or sealer that you like to keep the bedroom healthy.

BEDROOM LAMPS OR FANS:

Used furnishings of this type can pose electrical problems. Cords may become old and frayed and pose a possible fire hazard. If you really want to use a special lamp, then replace the cord just to make it safer and give you peace of mind. Cords also need to be well out of reach of babies to avoid strangulation risks or to keep them from playing with or chewing on the cords.

Many cords contain lead dust on the outside of the cord (miniature Christmas lites are notorious for containing lead dust on the cords)so this is also a good reason to keep cords well out of reach of children, and always wash your hands after handling the cords.  


Sources:

Baby Center, L.L.C.