Checklist · 2026
Second-hand baby gear safety checklist for parents
This publication shares ownership with PeptaraLabs, Lab Ranked Agency, and Dental Link.
Second-hand baby gear can be safe, but only if you check four things before you pay: it has not been recalled, it meets the current rules, every part works, and the instructions come with it. This checklist covers cots, prams, high chairs and car seats, the items parents buy used most often.
Start with the recall check
Every item below begins with the same step. Search the brand and model at recalls.gov.au, the recalls site of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), before you hand over money. Product Safety Australia, the ACCC's product safety site, lists a recall check in its second-hand advice for cots, high chairs and car seats.
Ask the seller for the brand, model name and any date on the label. If the label is missing or worn, that is a reason to walk away, because you cannot check what you cannot name.
Know who you are buying from
Your rights depend on the seller. When a business sells you a used product, consumer guarantees apply, including that it is safe and of acceptable quality. In a private sale between two people, most of those guarantees do not apply. That includes private sales made on online marketplaces.
To tell the difference, ask the seller if they run a business. Check whether the name is a person or a company name, such as one ending in Pty Ltd, and whether an Australian Business Number (ABN) is listed. Save a copy of the listing and note how to reach the seller, then hold on to your proof of purchase. If you buy on a marketplace, look for buyer protection that covers refunds if the product is unsafe.
Cots: standard, parts and instructions
Product Safety Australia says that if you buy or borrow a second-hand cot, it should not have been recalled, should meet the current mandatory standards, should have all parts in good working order and should come with the instructions for safe assembly and use. Suppliers had to follow new mandatory standards for infant sleep products from 19 January 2026, so an older cot may fall short.
Here is what a safe cot looks like, according to the same guide:
- Sides are tall enough to prevent falls.
- There are no gaps that could trap a head, neck or limbs.
- Nothing on the sides gives a child a foothold to climb out.
- The cot is sturdy and stable.
- If it has a drop side, the side has a clear, secure locked position.
Also check that nothing sticks out more than 0.5 cm, since it can snag skin or clothes. Use only the mattress size and thickness made for that cot. Never modify the cot in a way that damages its safety features.
Prams and high chairs: brakes, locks and harnesses
For a used pram or stroller, Product Safety Australia says to buy and use only one that meets the mandatory standard, so check for a recall and for the standard marks first. At the shop or the seller's door, test these features:
- Brakes work, and there is at least one red parking brake.
- A tether wrist strap is on the handle.
- Fold locks hold, so the frame cannot fold by accident.
- Wheel locks, recliner positions and frame adjustments lock into place.
- The frame feels rigid, not rickety.
High chairs are different, because there is no mandatory standard for them. The guide says to judge them on build. Put weight on the seat and backrest and see if anything sags or moves. Make sure the locks stop a folding chair from collapsing, and that no small parts pull off. Look for a 3 or 5-point restraint with straps over the shoulders, round the waist and between the legs. The 5-point type is the safest. If a used chair has no straps, the guide says to buy a set separately and attach it securely. Falls are the most common injury, so buckle the child in every time.
Car seats: the item with the strictest advice
All children's car seats sold in Australia must meet the mandatory child restraint standard, and Product Safety Australia gives a longer list for used ones. A second-hand seat should:
- not be recalled and meet current mandatory standards;
- suit your child's size and age, and your car;
- come with its instructions;
- have no cracks, broken buckles or frayed straps, and a buckle that clicks in and does not jam;
- never have been in a car accident;
- not be over 10 years old.
The guide adds a firm line: do not use or buy a second-hand car seat that does not meet the standard, or if you are unsure of its history, condition and age. A private seller may not know every detail, so if you cannot get clear answers, buy a new seat. Have the seat fitted by an authorised installation service, which your state or territory road authority or Kidsafe can point you to.
A simple rule for sleep and for walking away
Cots, bassinets and cradles are the safest places for a baby to sleep. Product Safety Australia says rockers, bouncers and other inclined products are not designed for sleep, and reports it cites say 151 infants in Australia died in inclined products or on propped items between 2001 and 2021. A used rocker is fine for play or soothing under watch. It is not a bed.
Walk away when any of these are true: you cannot find the brand and model, the item is on the recall list, a part is cracked or missing, a lock or brake fails, the instructions are gone, or the seller cannot tell you a car seat's history. A used item that passes every check can save a family real money. One that fails a single check costs less to skip than to repair.