Naturally, parents of a second baby are always asking themselves which objects they can reuse the first time around to save money. Similarly, frugal first-time parents are undoubtedly debating whether they should buy may used or new baby goods.
According to the manufacturers, all baby stroller brands have no official expiration date. Unlike car seats, which must be replaced after a certain period of time, strollers that are in good working order and include the most recent safety features and other amenities can be used for a long time regardless of age. Before purchasing and using a secondhand stroller, it is important to thoroughly examine and study it.
My twins and my son had such a huge difference in age that we didn’t have access to much of our old baby gear. This was not ideal because baby strollers can be rather pricey!
Let’s look into why strollers don’t go out of style, how to choose a secondhand stroller, and what to do with an outdated stroller once your children have outgrown it.
Table of Contents
Do Strollers Expire?
The good news is that strollers do not have an expiration date. Strollers are designed with important safety features in mind. The main reason strollers are utilized is to make the transportation of infants from one location to another much easier and less laborious.
The most critical thing to take note of as a parent is the seats that come with the stroller. Although it will still function when used with the stroller, it is a completely different scenario when you use your stroller seat as a safety seat is in your vehicle.
Be sure your stroller seat straps all function well are safety features are in tact before using.
Why Don’t Baby Strollers Expire?
Expiration dates are intended to keep consumers safe and nothing more. While everyone should realize that drinking expired milk might be hazardous to their health, matters become a bit less certain for items like car seats, bassinets, strollers, and other durable baby gear.
It is extremely unusual to find an expiration date on a stroller, as the components used in its construction last a very long time to fail under most situations.
Even if the stroller is damaged, you simply stop using it. A broken stroller will not make anybody ill or create problems. Of course, accidents can happen. For example, a stroller may appear completely fine one minute and then fall apart the next minute.
Metal, plastic, and fabric are the most common materials used to construct baby strollers. Metal might rust over time, plastic can become brittle with time, and fabric may lose its shape and be prone to ripping.
With this in mind, this procedure does not happen overnight, and with suitable care and regular usage, your typical stroller should last you a long time.
Is It Recommended To Purchase A Used Stroller?
Purchasing a used stroller may be a wonderful method to save money. That is excellent since, as a parent, all of those dollars will be crucial when it comes time to purchase all of the other items your baby needs.
You will need to exercise just as much common sense when purchasing something secondhand as you would if you were buying anything new. Because strollers are inherently dangerous, don’t accept anything that makes you uncomfortable.
In most situations, you will discover strollers that have been purchased within the last few years (when the baby was born), have barely been used (on neighborhood walks), and have been properly stored indoors. If it appears like the stroller has been exposed to weather or mishandled, simply walk by.
Tips For Purchasing A Used Stroller
There are several locations to look for used strollers. Since it is a large item, I would recommend searching locally to save money on shipping. In most cases, you may make an appointment with the seller to pick up your purchase in a convenient location.
The best place to look is Facebook, in my opinion. Between parenting groups, purchase/sale groups, school clubs, church organizations, and other organizations, you should easily locate many listings.
Compared to other online websites like Craigslist, Facebook provides more information about the seller (such as their location), and will at least tell you who the person selling to you is and whether or not they are already known to you.
Finally, conduct research on any model you’re considering by looking into product recalls or any other safety issues that you may come across. I also like to go over Amazon reviews for a model to see if recent buyers have reported problems with it breaking or having other issues.
If it’s a particularly old model, double-check to make sure it has the necessary safety features that modern strollers have.
Even if the stroller appears to be in excellent condition in the photos, go for a test drive before handing over your money. Dishonest vendors may gloss over minor details such as an unstable tire or an unknown stain on the cloth. I would overlook a few dings and scratches, but I wouldn’t ignore the obvious damage. Check for any of the following:
- Pressure without movement (if it’s a genuine tire) and no wobbling on the wheels
- The brakes or locks are in good order.
- All necessary attachments are included.
- The fabric is completely clean and stain-free.
- The straps are firmly fastened and the snaps or fastener functions as intended.
- If you’re using a stroller, make sure your car seat is compatible.
