Garage Sale Safety
It's NOT A BARGAIN if it's NOT SAFE!
Before you price your used baby equipment at your garage sale, consider this:
If your used crib has:
- Slats farther apart than 2 3/8 inch (or pop can fits between slats)
- Corner posts that are higher than 1/16 inch
- Cutout areas on headboard and footboard
- Any missing or broken parts
- Mattress supports that are easily released from head/footboard
DISPOSE OF IT (destroy crib before throwing it away)!
If your baby gates/enclosures have:
- Have accordion style or V-shaped openings
- Have openings that are big enough to entrap a child's head or neck
- Doesn't have a pressure bar or other fastener that will resist forces exerted by a child
DISPOSE OF IT (destroy gate before throwing it away)!
If your used high chair:
- Is missing a "crotch" strap
- Is missing restraining straps that are independent of the tray
- Has a tray that doesn't lock securely
- Doesn't have a wide base for stability
- Doesn't have an effective locking device (for folding chairs)
DISPOSE OF IT (destroy high chair before throwing it away)!
If your used playpen:
- Doesn't have top rails that will automatically lock when lifted into normal use position
- Has rotating hinge/latch in the center of the top rails
- Doesn't have a warning label about never leaving side in the down position (for mesh playpens)
- Has mesh that has tears or loose threads
- Is wooden with slats more than 2-3/8 inch apart
- Doesn't have the manufacturer's pad
DISPOSE OF IT (destroy playpen before throwing it away)!
If your used walker:
- NO WALKER is considered safe
DISPOSE OF IT (destroy walker before throwing it away)!
If your used car seat:
- Is more than 6 years old
- Is missing the manufacturer's instructions
- Has been in a car accident (even a minor one)
- Is missing any labels
- Has any missing parts or is damaged in any way
- Has been recalled
DISPOSE OF IT (destroy car seat before throwing it away)!
Guidelines for Destroying Infant Equipment:
Crib
- Dismantle wood slats (cut apart)
- Cut/tear mattress
- Do not attach hardware to crib — dispose of separately
- Write "do not use — contaminated" on equipment
Baby Gates/Enclosures:
- Dismantle wood/plastic slats
- Rip/Tear mesh
- Write "do not use — contaminated" on equipment
High Chair:
- Cut all straps/harness off high chair
- Dismantle tray
- Write "do not use — contaminated" on equipment
Playpen:
- Rip/Tear mesh
- Destroy padding
- Cut any wooden slats
- Write "do not use — contaminated" on equipment
Walker:
- Take off any wheels
- Cut all straps
- Write "do not use — contaminated" on equipment
Car seat:
- Cut all straps
- Cut all fabric
- Write "do not use — contaminated" on equipment
Bike Helmets:
- Cut all straps
- Write "do not use — contaminated" on equipment>
Back to: Safe Kids