Family Safety: Buying at a Thrift Store

When on a strict family budget, thrift stores are a great way to get needed items at an excellent price. I am not anti-thrift store. I shop at them myself and love finding good deals. However, I don’t believe that we should have to sacrifice our family’s safety just to get a good bargain. So I did some research on safe buying in thrift stores.

One thing I learned was that in a recent national study of thrift stores conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 69 percent of the thrift stores were selling at least one type of hazardous consumer product. Even more disturbing is that many of these hazardous products were for children.

Do you own a thrift store? I have a space in a thrift store where I sell several household and children’s items. As a thrift store owner, make sure you check everything you purchase for resell carefully to ensure that it is safe.

Do you buy at thrift stores? Check every single item carefully. Make sure it is safe.

What do you look for when checking these items? Here is a check list that covers some important items that you will want to keep your eyes out for.

Buying a Crib

You want to buy a crib that meets the current national safety standards. Also, make sure the crib is in good condition with no broken pieces or parts.

Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8" apart. If the slats are farther apart than 2 3/8" a baby can slip between the slats and strangle.

The crib mattress should fit snugly. If it doesn’t a baby can become entrapped and suffocate.

Playpens and Play Yards

Make sure the one you are buying has not been recalled. Recalls include play yards that have protruding hardware because a child’s clothing or drawstrings can get entangled in it. Rotating top rails that don’t properly lock into place can be dangerous. If a play yard collapses, it can entrap your child.

Car Seat Carriers

Again, make sure the car seat or carrier you are buying has not be recalled. Sometimes carriers that have been recalled have handles that don’t lock properly. Such carriers can release unexpectedly causing your child to fall.

Safety Gates

The whole purpose of a safety gate is to keep your child safe. Make sure the gate you are buying is a newer style. The older accordion-style gates are not considered safe. Children can strangle on these along with some other safety hazards.

Okay, this list is by no means complete. The list could go on forever. The key is to check everything carefully. Think of some of the hazards that can happen around children and check what you are buying to make sure it doesn’t pose a danger in such situations.

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