Preloved baby items in Singapore: what to check, buy new or donate

Most preloved baby items in Singapore are fine to buy or accept once you've checked them. That covers clothes, toys, strollers, high chairs, carriers and cot frames. Buy a car seat new unless you know its full history. CPSO's safety rules don't cover second-hand goods, so the checks are yours. When you're done with something, NEA lists charities and shops that take baby and children's items.

How to buy, check and pass on preloved baby items, step by step

1. Decide what you'll take preloved. Clothes, toys, books, strollers, high chairs, carriers and cot frames suit it. A car seat is the exception: the AAP says to avoid a used seat if you don't know its history.
2. Ask for the brand, model and year, plus a photo of the label. You need the model to check for recalls. The AAP says a car seat without its date and model label can't be checked at all.
3. Search the model on the CPSO recalls page. For anything bought overseas, use the overseas recall databases CPSO links, such as the EU's Safety Gate and the OECD Global Recalls Portal.
4. Test it in person. CPSO says not to buy a stroller that moves with the brakes on. Push a cot or high chair from each side: CPSO says a cot that wobbles may be put together wrongly.
5. Count the parts and get the manual. CPSO's cot tips say to follow the maker's instructions and check for missing screws or slats. The AAP notes that used car seats often come without important parts.
6. Read the labels. CPSO says not to buy a toy without age guidance, and that clothes for children under 7 shouldn't have cords at the hood or neck.
7. Clean it before your baby uses it. HealthHub says to wash toys in warm, soapy water and disinfect them, especially ones that go in the mouth. For fabrics, see how to wash baby clothes.
8. Sort by condition when you pass things on. NEA says items in good condition can be donated or resold. Spoilt ones go in general waste, not the blue recycling bin.
9. Read the charity's own page before you go. Each sets its own rules, and the Red Cross Shop no longer takes drop-offs.
10. Hand over the manual and every part with the item. Tell the next family how old it is.

Why the checks are yours to do

CPSO regulates general consumer goods such as toys, apparel, furniture and children's products. Its FAQ for consumers lists used or second-hand general consumer goods among the things outside its purview. Children's car seats sit with the Traffic Police instead.

So a preloved item comes with whatever checks you do. Our toy safety guide covers the standards new toys must meet. This page covers what to look at once an item has had an owner.

What to buy preloved and what to buy new

Use this as a quick sort. Each check comes from the body named in brackets.

For pumps, our breast pump guide explains which kinds can be shared. The stroller guide and high chair guide cover what to look for when you buy either new.

Car seats and cots: the two to check hardest

In Singapore, a child under 1.35m in a car must be secured in an approved child restraint, the Traffic Police say. A driver who doesn't commits an offence. Check the seat for a sticker showing its standard. The Traffic Police have added ECE R129 to the approved list. Older British and Japanese standards stop being approved from 1 January 2031, and drivers using them have until 31 December 2030 to switch.

The AAP says never to use a seat that has been in a moderate or severe crash. It also says to read the label for the date the seat was made. A stranger may not know the crash history, so take a preloved seat only from someone who does. Our car seat guide covers stages and fitting.

For cots, CPSO says to check a drop-side's mechanism regularly and keep the side up while your baby sleeps. In the US, the CPSC has barred the sale of traditional drop-side cribs, resale included, since 28 June 2011. A frame with fixed sides avoids the question. Check for raised corner posts too, which CPSO says can catch clothing.

Red Nose in Australia finds no evidence of a higher SIDS risk on a second-hand mattress, with conditions. It must be firm, flat, clean, in good condition and fit within 20 mm of the cot's sides and ends. If you can't confirm that, buy the mattress new. Set the cot up as our safe sleep guide describes, and see the cot guide for the rest.

Where to sell preloved baby items

You can list on Carousell or in Facebook parent groups. Our guides to where to buy baby essentials and where to buy toys cover those channels. Cash Converters buys at the counter, and NEA lists it as a resale channel for baby and children's items.

Put the model, its age and any faults in your listing. Your buyer needs the model to check for recalls, just as you did.

Not ready to buy? A toy library lets you borrow toys instead. For the things you buy new, a baby fair is one place to compare them.

Where to donate baby items in Singapore

NEA's donation, resale and repair channels page names these charities for baby and children's items. They are MINDS, Re:Nue by The Salvation Army, SiloamXperience, the Singapore Red Cross, South Central Community and SSVP. NEA says its list isn't complete and can change. Its examples of baby items include prams, high chairs, car seats and carriers, but each charity decides what it takes.

• Re:Nue lists clothing and toys among the items it accepts. Donations must be clean, resaleable and free of damage, stains or faults. It asks you to contact it if you're unsure about an item, and it takes bulky items by drop-off or collection.
• The Red Cross Shop accepts toys for all ages. It no longer takes drop-offs and can't take bulky items.
• MINDS accepts clean, usable items in good condition. For a bulky piece such as a cot, it asks you to email a description, the model, dimensions and photos first.
• SiloamXperience, South Central Community and SSVP are on NEA's list too. Call or email before you bring a cot, pram or car seat.

When to get help

• If your child may have swallowed a button battery, CPSO says to get emergency medical help immediately. Go to the nearest children's emergency or call 995.
• If your baby is unconscious, HealthHub says to call 995 for an ambulance.
• For an injury from a piece of gear, KKH's Children's Emergency treats acutely ill or injured infants and children.
• If an item you own is recalled, stop using it, as CPSO advises. Follow the recall notice or contact the brand.
• To report a product you think is unsafe, call CPSO on 1800 325 8282.
• For help with pumping, KKH's Lactation Clinic takes appointments on 6225 5554.
• Unsure of a car seat's standard? The Traffic Police say to check its sticker, ask a retailer or read the maker's information.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I donate baby items in Singapore?

NEA lists MINDS, Re:Nue by The Salvation Army, SiloamXperience, the Singapore Red Cross, South Central Community and SSVP for baby and children's items. Each sets its own rules, so read its page first. The Red Cross Shop, for one, no longer accepts drop-offs.

Is it safe to buy a preloved car seat?

Only if you know its full history. The AAP says to avoid used seats with an unknown history and never to use one that's been in a moderate or severe crash. In Singapore it must also meet an approved standard, which the Traffic Police say you can check on its sticker.

Is a preloved cot safe for my baby?

A sturdy frame can be, once you've checked it. CPSO says it shouldn't wobble and slats should sit 4.5 to 6 cm apart. There should be no gap between the mattress and the cot sides. Pair it with a firm, clean mattress that fits snugly.

Where to sell baby items in Singapore?

You can list on Carousell or in Facebook parent groups. Cash Converters buys over the counter, and NEA lists it as a resale channel for baby and children's items. Put the model and age in your listing so buyers can check recalls.

Are second hand baby items in Singapore covered by safety rules?

Not by CPSO. Its FAQ lists used or second-hand general consumer goods among the things outside its purview. You can still look the model up on CPSO's recall pages and check the item yourself.