I have received items from my older siblings kids, garage sales, usedottawa.com and kijiji.ca.

I usually know which toys had been recalled (I used to work in Daycare centers, so we know which toys to depart with). Also when I was a nanny, I found a lot of Diego and Dora toys were recalled because of Lead in the paint. I just try not to buy 'name brands' of toys (ie Dora, Sesame Street, Thomas, etc) as the kids tend to fight over these toys. I usually try to but two of each.

I think the only things I've bought brand new so far has been a booster seat for the kitchen, some utensils, some books, and plastic dishes, bins & white faceclothes from IKEA.