For today's Tip Sheet, we turn to the very helpful March issue of ShopSmart magazine. They've looked into when you can accept used baby items, and when you shouldn't. In this tough economy, that's helpful information.

Here are the tips, straight from the magazine's press release:

Bath products:

Safe: Used baby bathtubs are fine as long as the lining isn’t full of mold or mildew.

Not safe: If the tub has an odor of either of these, say no thanks because they can be hard to remove. Also, skip secondhand bath seats, bath rings, and inflatable tubs since they have been responsible for many deaths among babies.

Car seats:

Safe: A car seat that has all its original parts and labels, has never been in a crash, and fits your car and child is OK.

Not safe: Products more than six years old are outdated, and most likely too run down to be considered safe.

Cribs:

Safe: Any crib that was manufactured after the year 2000 should be fine, as long as it is not broken or missing any pieces. (Or, I would add, recalled. You can check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall site here.)

Not safe: Prior to 2000, cribs were held to different safety standards, and will not be acceptable for your baby, even if you slept soundly in them. Any crib with cutouts in the headboard, and corner posts over 16 inches pose serious risks for a child’s safety.

High chairs:

Safe: Say yes to a hand-me-down high chair if it has a five-point harness to prevent your child from climbing out and a fixed crotch post that prevents him/her from sliding out the bottom.

Not safe: Old-fashioned wooden high chairs with removable trays or arms are considered dangerous and uncomfortable for the baby, in addition to not being up to newer product safety standards.

Strollers:

Safe: Strollers made after 2007 when new safety standards were published are safe.

Not safe: Any stroller made prior to that date, or that has missing, loose, or broken pieces.

Toys:

Safe: Stuffed animals and most children’s books make fine hand-me-downs. In the case of lead contamination in used toys, there are many home lead inspection kits which can be purchased for under $20 which will tell you whether the toys are safe.

Not safe: Avoid any toys that are chipped, as well as any small parts that can fit through a tube of toilet paper, since they present serious choking hazards for small children.

Used clothing:

Safe: As long as buttons and snaps are on tight and none of the thread is unraveling from the fabric, the used clothing is fine.

Not safe: Pass on any article of clothing with drawstrings because they pose a strangulation hazard.