by BabyCenter Staff posted in Products & Prizes

Most second-time parents are a lot more relaxed about everything -- particularly acquiring baby gear, because they figure they already have everything they need for the new baby.
For the most part it's true. You can reuse almost everything that got your first baby through infancy. One strong caveat: always check the CPSC's Recall List or a similar recall reporting service to make sure your model hasn't been recalled due to manufacturing defects.

Even if they haven't been recalled, some types of gear should be new for each baby, or closely inspected before you use them again. Here's what you should pay special attention to.
Car seats
Car seats expire. And the American Academy of Pediatrics has changed its car seat recommendations substantially over the last few years. Whereas kids were once turned forward-facing on their first birthday, the AAP now says they should ride rear-facing until age 2 or until they reach the seat?s maximum rear-facing height and weight limits (age 2-4 for most kids), and some states, including California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma . So dig out that car seat manual (or find it online) and make sure your second-time-around seat is appropriate for your newborn. Is it an infant car seat with a weight minimum your child meets" Check the expiration date (usually located on the bottom of the seat -- if you need help finding the date, click here). If the seat is expired, don't use it: plast...