Buying Second-Hand Cots, Prams and Kids Gear Safely

5 min read

Baby gear is expensive, barely used before kids grow out of it, and one of the most common categories on any classifieds site. Most of it is a genuinely good buy second-hand. But a handful of categories carry real safety risk if you get the checks wrong, and it's worth knowing which is which before you start browsing.

Cots and portable cots must meet a mandatory safety standard

Cots and portable cots sold in Australia are required to meet a mandatory safety standard under Australian Consumer Law, covering things like the spacing between slats, how securely the mattress fits, and the mechanism used to raise and lower the sides (older drop-side cots have well documented safety issues and many older models predate current requirements).

When buying a second-hand cot or portable cot:

Check the cot for a compliance label or markings showing it meets the current mandatory standard, and ask the seller if they know
Check slats aren't missing, cracked or loose, and that spacing between them is consistent (gaps that are too wide are a strangulation and entrapment risk)
Make sure the mattress fits snugly with no gaps around the edges
Avoid any cot with a drop-side mechanism unless you can confirm it meets current standards; older drop-side designs have been linked to serious injuries and are generally best avoided altogether
Check for splinters, chipped paint (especially on older cots, which may have been painted with lead-based paint before it was phased out) and structural stability by giving it a firm shake

If you can't confirm a cot meets the current mandatory standard, or it's showing real age and wear, it's not worth the saving. This is one category where "looks fine" isn't good enough.

Second-hand child car restraints carry real risk

Child car seats and boosters are one of the riskiest categories to buy second-hand, and worth genuine caution:

Crash history: a car seat that's been in even a moderate crash can have invisible structural damage that compromises it in a future crash, even if it looks fine. Unless you personally know the seat's full history and are confident it's never been in a car during a crash, you're taking a real risk buying it used.
Age and expiry: car seats have a use-by or expiry date, usually molded into the plastic shell or on a label, because the plastic and webbing degrade over time even sitting unused. Always check this date yourself before buying; don't take a seller's word that it's "still fine".
Recalls: check whether the specific make and model has been subject to a safety recall before you buy it.
Missing parts or instructions: a car seat with a missing chest clip, damaged buckle, cut or frayed straps, or no instructions to confirm correct installation, should be avoided. These parts matter for how the restraint performs in a crash and aren't always easy to source or verify as genuine replacements second-hand.

If you do buy a second-hand seat, only do so from someone whose history with the seat you can genuinely verify (a family member, a friend, or a seller who can clearly account for its full history), and have it properly fitted afterwards. When in doubt, this is a category where buying new is often the safer call, or at minimum, a much more cautious purchase than a second-hand pram or highchair.

Check for recalls before you buy, not after

The ACCC's Product Safety website maintains a public list of current and past product recalls in Australia, including baby and children's products. Before buying any second-hand baby item, especially cots, prams, high chairs, baby carriers and car seats, it's worth a quick search of the brand and model together with the word "recall". This takes a couple of minutes and can save you from bringing home something with a known, documented fault.

Missing parts and instructions matter more than they seem

Baby gear is often assembled and disassembled repeatedly, moved between rooms or houses, and passed between several owners before it reaches a classifieds listing. Along the way, small but important parts go missing: a locking pin from a pram frame, a safety strap from a high chair, an instruction manual that explains how a harness is meant to sit.

Before buying:

Ask for photos of the item fully assembled and check nothing looks obviously missing or mismatched
Ask whether the original instructions are included, or whether you can find the manufacturer's manual online for that model
For anything with a harness, strap or locking mechanism (prams, high chairs, bouncers, car seats), test that it actually locks and holds before you rely on it

A pram missing a wheel locking pin, or a high chair with a snapped harness buckle, isn't a bargain, it's a repair job or a safety risk you're inheriting.

What should never be bought second-hand

A few items are generally not worth buying used, regardless of the price:

Car seats and boosters with any unknown or uncertain crash history
Any cot that doesn't clearly meet the current mandatory safety standard
Breast pumps and other items intended for single-user hygiene use, where hygiene and wear on internal components can't be verified
Cot mattresses, generally recommended to be bought new for each baby due to firmness and hygiene considerations

If you're ever unsure whether a specific item is safe to buy used, checking the manufacturer's own guidance for that product is worth the extra few minutes.

Buying with confidence

Most second-hand baby gear on classifieds, prams, high chairs, baby carriers, clothes, toys, is a genuinely sensible buy. The categories that need real caution are narrow: cots, car seats, and anything with a safety mechanism you can't fully verify. Check standards, check for recalls, check that all the parts are there, and when a category is genuinely risky, don't let a good price talk you out of buying new instead. Browse baby and kids listings on /listings, and see /safety for more on buying safely from local sellers.