From buggies to sterilising units, buying second-hand can seriously cut the cost of everything you need for baby's first years, writes CAROLINE MADDEN

ONE SURE-FIRE way of invoking incredulous scorn is to make the mistake of suggesting that kitting out a tiny newborn baby couldn’t really cost very much. A few hundred euro should cover it, right? You’ll be swiftly informed that a “baby transport system” alone could easily cost close to a grand, and that’s before you start to think about car seats, cots and clothes.

As our panel illustrates, first-time parents could spend close to €3,500 on baby equipment if they go top-of-the-range. Even a very basic baby “package” will cost €1,150, and that doesn’t cover things such as clothes, toys or nappies. However, parents need not despair, as it is entirely possible to cut this cost by as much as 50 per cent.

All they have to do is realise that a sparkling new Bugaboo is never going to give them a Gwyneth Paltrow lifestyle, and open their minds to the idea of pre-loved baby gear.

Fiona Quinn, founder of Arís which runs second-hand sales of baby, toddler and maternity goods, says first-time parents come under “all sorts of pressure” to buy the most expensive of everything for their baby. Because they’re lacking experience, it’s hard to know what’s essential and what’s a waste of money, and people can be “wracked with guilt” for even thinking about keeping baby costs down.

“People get hung up on buying the best,” Quinn says. “From a safety point of view you’ve got to get the best, but it doesn’t really matter if your buggy is beige even if this year’s Bugaboo colour is orange.”

If you’re really watching your budget, there are lots of things you may be able to get away without, such as a changing unit (just buy a changing mat); bottle warmers (use a large bowl and warm water instead); baby spa baths (although they are extremely cute) and miniature runners (again, you’ll have to fight the cuteness factor).

The internet has made it much easier to achieve savings by going down the second-hand route for many essentials. The classified section of rollercoaster.ie is a good port of call for free and second-hand items, as is freetradeireland.ie and donedeal.ie while gumtree.ie has everything from buggies to baby Ugg boots (although some people might pay good money just to get rid of these).

A seller on one of these websites was recently offering a “baby package” which included a “good as new” Mothercare My4 pushchair, a brand-new Mothercare Deluxe Gliding Crib and a Maxi-Cosi car seat. At €250, the package seems like a great deal, but this particular offer raises the issue of second-hand no-nos.

While buying used items can cut costs considerably, parents have to be selective in their purchases or it could prove a false economy. Car seats are a priority buy, and it’s safest to steer clear of second-hand seats because they could have been in a car involved in an accident.

Second-hand mattresses should also be avoided, as should soft toys and undergarments, and of course anything with loose or broken parts. It’s also sensible to get up to speed on safety standards for things such as buggies, high chairs and cribs so you can spot if potential purchases meet the necessary requirements.

When it comes to clothes, new parents are likely to be inundated with newborn outfits, so concentrate on stocking up on practical basics like Babygros, vests and bibs rather than splashing out on a designer wardrobe that your child will grow out of in a matter of weeks.

Also consider exchanging nearly-new maternity wear and unused or outgrown baby clothes on theclothesline.ie, where many items offered are brand new with tags still attached.

Meanwhile, cost-conscious parents who prefer face-to-face events rather than sourcing baby equipment online have been queuing up for Fiona Quinn’s Arís sales which she has been running in community, school and parish halls around Leinster since last November.

The inspiration for Arís came after a few unsatisfactory internet experiences. On one internet-inspired shopping trip, Quinn travelled a considerable distance to someone’s house to view a buggy they had advertised on the internet, and ended up buying it even though she didn’t want it.

She decided to start running events where people could meet in person, but without the “pressure of walking into someone’s sitting room”.

“The whole touch factor is very important. The [internet ad] photo didn’t do it for me,” she says. “You need to actually examine things. Can I fold that buggy? Does it fit in my boot?” Quinn sees all types turning up to her sales, including sellers who might have “lost the run of themselves and spent a grand on a handmade crib that lasted a few weeks” and are now trying to make some money back on their high-end purchases.

“The culture is changing in Ireland,” she says. People are no longer too proud to get out there and sell their belongings.”

Then there are other sellers who like the idea of keeping much-loved baby items in circulation for as long as they’re safe, and they bring along everything from bouncers and baby gyms, to walkers and activity mats.

The premise for Arís sales is simple: sellers book a space in advance for €20, or pay €25 on the day. Quinn advises sellers to disinfect everything, and not to bring anything they wouldn’t be happy to buy themselves. “This is not a bric-a-brac sale. Don’t bring rubbish – you’re going to have to bring it home again,” she says. The Arís sales have an equipment testing section, and Quinn advises first-time parents to bring someone experienced and get them to test items.

“From the buyer’s point of view, if you’re in any way intimidated, confused or just put off, don’t buy it,” she says.

Sellers set their own prices, but hone your haggling skills and you could make serious savings. All of the items listed in the panel below are regulars at the Arís sales, and are typically sold for less than half the new price, while accessories such as sterilisers and Bumbo seats can often be bought for bargain prices.

As well as young couples expecting their first child and more experienced parents, the events are also attended by grandparents looking for a present for a new grandchild or a stroller or travel cot for when the child stays over in their houses.

The response, says Quinn, to the Arís sales has been “fantastic” so far, with events selling out weeks in advance. A list of items coming up for sale is posted on Quinn’s website arís-ireland.com in the weeks leading up to each event, with the result that there tends to be a “feeding frenzy” for the most popular items in the first hour or so. Details of upcoming events are also available on the site.

Finally, expectant parents who are struggling to make ends meet, and don’t have friends and family from whom they can borrow baby equipment, should contact the Community Welfare Officer (CWO) based in their local health centre and explain their financial difficulty.

If you are on a very low income or on social welfare you may qualify for a once-off exceptional needs payment to help towards the cost of buying larger items such as a cot or buggy, although this is at the discretion of the CWO.

COUNTING THE COST

BUGGY TRAVEL SYSTEM€400 – €1,200

COT AND MATTRESS€200 – €1,000

BABY BATH€20

STERILISER€60

HIGHCHAIR€90 – €290

CAR SEAT€200 – €430

BOUNCER€50 – €90

WALKER€45 – €100

MONITOR€45 – €200

STAIR GATES€40

(Information provided by Arís)