It is natural for parents to want what is best for their children. A quality education, a safe neighborhood, a comfortable home – these are just a few of the things that we as parents strive to give our kids each and every day. We work endlessly to provide for our little ones, hoping and praying that our efforts will one day pay off.

There is no denying that the desire to provide only the best for our children is a positive emotion. It can, however, come at a very real and high price. New parents are especially prone to overspending when buying for babies. Clothing and accessories can clean out wallets pretty fast, not to mention the most expensive items – baby furniture.

Cribs, playpens and changing tables, like all furniture, are expensive. They are made of pricey metals and woods and are also in high demand. Moreover, furniture manufacturers do their fair share to manipulate consumers into purchasing the most expensive items. Companies know that new parents are desperate to provide for their children. Furthermore, they are also aware of the general misconception that price is always an indicator of quality. Manufacturers hike up prices of baby furniture, knowing that new parents are likely to buy anyway.

And while there are many pieces of furniture required for new babies, these items do not necessarily have to be brand new. In fact, in an environment in which having a baby can be so expensive, looking into used and recycled furniture is a great way to cut expenses without reducing quality or care.

Babies change and grow very fast, meaning they will outgrow a lot of the things we buy for them within a few months or years at best. While this is generally known to be the case with baby clothes that little ones can grow too big for in a matter of weeks, it can be true for furniture too.

When babies become toddlers and start heading to nursery school, cradles are quickly replaced by “big boy” and “big girl” beds. Playpens will work for a while, but as soon as your baby starts to walk around, their walls will be taken down quite easily. Strollers won’t be needed ones little ones start walking, and changing tables will be replaced by training potties. Your brand new furniture will be great for a while, but know that it will be obsolete before you know it.

Borrowing furniture from friends with kids, asking for hand-me-downs from family members and checking out what’s available at used furniture stores is a great way to save yourself some money on things that you won’t be using forever. Not only is used baby furniture more economic, though. It can also be safer. With recalls of baby items taking place almost weekly, you may rest easier knowing that the crib or cradle you’ve chosen has withstood the test of time. New is not always synonymous with safe.

When buying for baby, keep in mind that quality is not synonymous with price. Your baby will be just as happy in a used crib as a new one.

Byron Jonas is a recent father of triplets. When shopping for prams, especially triplet prams, he soon understood there are no superior pushchairs than those of the Go Bubba Go range