MILWAUKEE - We took our hidden camera to several rummage sales across the area. We found lots of good deals... along with some potential dangers.

From furniture, to clothes, to, just about anything... rummage sales are a great way to make a deal. Local moms Angela Haines and Lisa Boles agree.

Angela: "We go to a lot of rummage sales, and um, we buy a lot of stuff."

Lisa: "When I see them I'll stop by."

But there's one thing these moms won't buy:

Lisa: "Maybe a car seat, I might look twice at that."

Angela: "I wouldn't buy a stroller or a car seat."

Good work moms! Bridget Clementi is a child safety expert with the Milwaukee Children's Hospital System. She inspected several items we found at local rummage sales, including a car seat. She looked for the manufacturer's date right away.

"The current manufacturer's date is November 30, 1998. That is over 10 years old," Clementi warns.

Car seats are not recommended for use 6 years past their manufacture date. Clementi adds, "You want to know if it's ever been in a crash, you want to know if it's ever been recalled."

It's not only car seats... as Clementi looked at our hidden camera video she saw a few other questionable items, like an older crib. "The concern with the crib, some of the slots may be too far apart," she explains.

She also commented on an old playpen we found. "Many years ago a number of these playpens were recalled because they can entrap a child," she explains.

So what can you do? Be an informed shopper. Know the recent recalls. You can also arm yourself with two household items: a soda can, and a toilet paper roll.

"If there's small parts and they go into the (toilet paper) tube, that means they're too small for a child under the age of 3," Clementi warns.

The soda can helps when inspecting cribs.

"If, you can run it through the crib slots, upright, it's too wide, the slots are too far apart," Clementi says.

She was impressed by the baby bath we bought a baby bath for only two bucks! "In a situation like this, really our recommendation is that you shouldn't be leaving children unattended in the bathtub anyway, so this is just a simple tool that can be picked up to help you help the child take a bath, and it would be something where you're going to be right with them anyway," Clementi reasons.

She also says things like games, books, and most clothing items are usually a safe bet.

"A lot of times they're just gently used, and you would pay many, many, many times that amount in a regular store, so they're a good find," Clementi says

Angela adds, "Sometimes you can get shoes and jackets, and you know, all the things kids need that they go through so fast."

So think of 'rummaging' like a day in the park with the kids - be careful, but have some fun while you shop.

"I guess I would just use my own common sense in what I buy," Lisa says.

Another good tip - Try to get the manufacturer's directions when you buy more complicated items like baby carriers and strollers. If the owner doesn't have them anymore, you can probably find them online.