2nd hand right or wrong?

**SamWilliams1980** · 21-12-2010, 03:05 PM

Hi, think i am right here and done nothing wrong, but for my piece of mind.....

I needed some new equipment items, and few extras i fancied, but like everyone else, a bit skint. I decided to see what bargains could be had on Ebay. Anyway to cut a long story short, a propective LOs parent wasnt happy that i used 2nd hand stuff and that was a deal breaker for her.

I would never use anything that was in good enough condition and even then i would never use certain things 2nd hand, ie mattresses, car seats etc. But got a new double pushchair (well new to me) in good condition,immaculate infact, just came up in conversation about it being from ebay and she said should wouldnt allow her lo to go in it......

Is that fair enough... I cant afford to buy everything new

**mama2three** · 21-12-2010, 03:11 PM

How odd! Even if you had bought it new then other children would have been using it before her child. Most of my equipment has been my own sons , then used for minding - plus a few extra bits. My double buggy was from ebay , certainly couldnt justify the expense of a new one when starting out. Id put it down to a lucky escape , she sounds like saijas fish fingers parent to me!

**georgie456** · 21-12-2010, 03:12 PM

Blimey the majority of my stuff is 2nd hand!!!!
I couldn't have got up and running without charity shops and ebay.
Obviously I only get things that are in very good condition and are safe, and like you would never buy a 2nd hand car seat.
My double buggy that has lasted me 5 years was £20 form ebay and I certainly wouldn't have paid the £200 for a new one when it was simply for work.

You are doing nothing wrong.

**Mrs Pootle** · 21-12-2010, 03:13 PM

I think she is being a little fussy. I have bought a lot of my equipment/resources from the likes of Ebay, church fair, charity shops. I always check things are clean and in good working order, it is all part of risk assessing which we do constantly in this job.
Does this parent expect you to provide "all new" for her child, and that her child has sole use of the equipment? Any resources you have will be 2nd hand, as a variety of children will have used them.
I wouldn't worry, I don't think you are doing anything wrong.

**PixiePetal** · 21-12-2010, 03:15 PM

Loads of my toys and equipment are second hand - nothing wrong with that at all. As mama2three said even stuff I bought new once belonged to my own children!

A buggy was from ebay, duplo from car boot sales/charity shops and other toys and equipment from forum members

I do buy new too but not everything

What a strange deal breaker

**catlyn** · 21-12-2010, 03:16 PM

most of my stuff like pushchairs and some toys is second hand..i agree...I think you have had a narrow escape...she sounds like she could have been trouble

**Lems** · 21-12-2010, 03:22 PM

There is absolutly nothing wrong in using previously owned items

As I'm sure you and everyone makes sure they are clean and fit for purpose... How very silly that parents thinking is and like previously said 'lucky escape' .
Wonder if she uses the library?

Playgroups?

Shopping trolley seats?

**IndigoMoon** · 21-12-2010, 03:26 PM

I think a lot of people see ebay as a place where broken things are sold off to unsuspecting people, buggies are often the worse as many people sell broken or damaged buggies on ebay... in the past i have bought 4 faulty ones!

However i think the parent is being a bit of a snob.

Sounds as if you'll be better off without this parent. But you could always ask her to use her own buggy if she has a problem with using yours.

**snufflepuff** · 21-12-2010, 03:27 PM

That is very odd!
Many childminders only earn just above minimum wage, others less than minimum wage if they have more than one young child themselves....how does she expect us to buy everything brand new?!
Well shot of that one IMO!

**Daisy1956** · 21-12-2010, 03:45 PM

If parents wants her to have new perhaps they should have said they would provide it. I think you had a lucky escape, imagine having to use a pen another child had used.

**wendywu** · 21-12-2010, 03:53 PM

Just dont tell parent that things are second full stop.

onceinabluemoon · 21-12-2010, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by wendywu

Just dont tell parent that things are second full stop.

I agree, nothing to do with parents where we buy our equipment as long as its safe and clean

**maisiemog** · 21-12-2010, 04:55 PM

Nothing wrong with second hand! All my parents know that most of my stuff has been given to me or brought second hand and not one of them has had a problem with it.

Only thing I've actually brought brand new was my double buggy and thats only because it was the last seasons colours and was reduced to £75 to clear. Probably wouldnt have been able to get my particular buggy 2nd hand for that much!!!

I've even brought some of our DDs christmas presents 2nd hand off ebay. They've all had a good clean and you wouldnt know they weren't new! If its good enough for my own child its good enough for mindees as far as I'm concerned!

**curlycathy** · 21-12-2010, 05:01 PM

Well good luck to her finding a childminder or nursery that will provide brand new equipment just for her child then!! As someone said - even if you buy something new other children will have used it so it will be second hand to her child anyway.

One of my parents gave me a double buggy when I just started out, and loads of toys. I get given lots and scour charity shops - my £4 pony palace is legendary!!

**caz3007** · 21-12-2010, 05:07 PM

Most of my stuff is 2nd hand. If it was bought new its leftover from my son, who is now 8. so technically is 2nd hand too. Only new thing I have bought specifically for minding is a new travel cot as the one a friend gave me, had given up the ghost. My single buggy came from Freecycle and does the job, my double came from a friend.

Why are people so snooty, after all lots of children will use all your items, so they wont technically be new anyway

**The Juggler** · 21-12-2010, 05:12 PM

she wouldn't like my house then

sounds like you had a lucky escape to be honest

jumpinjen · 21-12-2010, 05:16 PM

One of my friends was like this when we were both pregnant at the same time.... she gave me loads of stuff that was given to her and she didn't want to use..... i was very happy to have it!! And i use lots of second hand resources like most people, ebay, boot sales, ***** etc..... it is perfectly acceptable.... most people have covered inspecting equipment and toys for safety and suitability in policies and/or risk assessments so fine and ofsted will say fine too. i think it is very rare to have a reaction like this!

jen x

**mayberry** · 21-12-2010, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by georgie456

Blimey the majority of my stuff is 2nd hand!!!!
I couldn't have got up and running without charity shops and ebay.
Obviously I only get things that are in very good condition and are safe, and like you would never buy a 2nd hand car seat.
My double buggy that has lasted me 5 years was £20 form ebay and I certainly wouldn't have paid the £200 for a new one when it was simply for work.

You are doing nothing wrong.

I agree with Georgina car seat no

safety comes first.

There’s is nothing wrong in buying good second hand stuff. I buy loads from a car boot it as to be in immaculate condition, we all love a bargain

**Mouse** · 21-12-2010, 05:46 PM

I often take mindees to the charity shop. We'll take toys we've finished with & I let them chose something else! I'm quite picky myself, so everything has to be in tip top condition, but I'm not worried about it being second hand. I think it does the children good to learn about recycling things they no longer need

Lots of our dressing up clothes have come from the charity shop - nothing wrong with them when they've had a good wash.

I have to be honest though, I don't tend to buy second hand pushchairs etc unless it's from someone I know. It's not because I'm a snob about it, I just like to know where equipment has come from. When my own son went to a cm I know she used second hand equipment & I didn't have a problem with it.

**ChocolateChip** · 21-12-2010, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by maisiemog

Nothing wrong with second hand! All my parents know that most of my stuff has been given to me or brought second hand and not one of them has had a problem with it.

Only thing I've actually brought brand new was my double buggy and thats only because it was the last seasons colours and was reduced to £75 to clear. Probably wouldnt have been able to get my particular buggy 2nd hand for that much!!!

I've even brought some of our DDs christmas presents 2nd hand off ebay. They've all had a good clean and you wouldnt know they weren't new! If its good enough for my own child its good enough for mindees as far as I'm concerned!

I did the same with my double buggy, but to start off with everything else except the car seats had been used by my own 3, even the travel cot and bedding, as long as it's safe and clean what's the problem?
Don't think any of us would get off the ground if we had to buy everything brand new

I've also bought s/h presents off ebay in the past, dressing up sets, stuff for my dd's wooden dolls house, a set of talking teletubbies...........