Buying used items can help with your budget, but when it comes to baby gear you may want to think twice.

Not all products you buy second-hand meet today's safety standards.

Here’s a list of what’s safe to buy used and what products you should steer clear of:

Car seats

Car seats are an item that you probably want to buy new. A car seat only has a lifespan of about six to eight years and they should not be used after that. You can find a car seat's expiration date in the owner's manual or on the label on the seat. You also want to check to ensure any car seat you get hasn’t had any recalls involved with it.

Strollers

Strollers have improved significantly over the yearsand newer models are safer and easier to use. If you do get a hand-me-down stroller make sure it's from someone you trust and can confirm it hasn't been damaged.

Cribs

Cribs are another item you want to be extremely cautious with. Drop-side cribs were banned from the market a few years back due to deaths from strangulation and suffocation. Make sure your crib meets the latest safety standards and hasn’t been recalled.

Toys

Watch out for wooden toys that may contain lead paint. As well, make sure all battery connections aren’t corroded. That could be dangerous for little fingers.

Don’t forget the manual

Another drawback of buying used is that the items often don’t come with their manuals. You can go to manualsonline.com or the company’s website to search for archived manuals.

“They may be missing the warranty as well. It's possible the warranty is expired or something like that or you don't know when it's going to expire,” said Evan Kelly of the Better Business Bureau.

Safe bets

Some hand-me-downs worth considering include clothing and books. Gently used clothes can be softer and more comfortable since they've been through the wash a few times.

As for books, if you find some used books are a little grimy, you can wipe them off with a mild cleaning solution. Most bacteria and viruses won't survive long on surfaces.

Recall information

For more information about recalls and safety alerts log onto the federal government's Healthy Canadians website.