But you don't know where it's been!

I have often met other people that are quite willing to complain about the cost of buying new but would not consider second hand items at all.

Some people feel that there is a stigma attached to second hand goods, but are quite willing to go into debt to pay for new goods. As far as I know, nobody ever went to prison for buying something second hand (unless it was stolen!).

In the current ecomonic climate I would much rather know that the things we have for the baby are ours, owned outright and not be worried about next months bills landing on the door mat. Goodness knows there are enough of those already without adding anything extra to the pile, just for the sake of having something new.

The biggest argument I've experienced for not having second hand goods is that "you don't know where they've been". Well no, I don't. That's why I am thorough with my cleaning when I do get something second hand. Anything that can go in the washing machine goes in there, everything else gets stripped down and placed in the bathtub where it is systematically scrubbed until it is spotless and then disinfected.

Let's face it, even when something is bought brand new, you don't know where it's been! You don't know if there have been rats, mice or cockroaches in the factory or warehouse where the items have been manufactured and stored. You don't know if the people that were involved in the manufacturing of your particular product washed their hands after they last used the toilet, or if they had a contagious disease and turned up for work anyway because they needed the money!

New or not, nobody knows where their goods have been! How many people bother scrubbing their factory fresh high chair with a toothbrush and bleach just to make sure there are no germs lurking in those little nooks and crannies? Not many I bet!