Another Example of the Trusting Finn (and cloth diaper stuff)

This occurred in late June, however, will be posted after the baby has been born....

Anyways, I've been on the hunt for Imse Vimse cloth diapers second-hand, in preparation for #2 - and have been getting pretty lucky at finding them in excellent condition (no stains) and sometimes brand new - for a fraction of the cost.  As well, I'm also on the hunt for the diaper covers as well (to help prevent leakage)....it's been excellent so far.
I figure I should get as many as I possibly can because if baby #2 arrives according to schedule - it'll be quite cold out - so I won't be taking both children outside often at all!  And therefor not needing to use disposables except at night time or while travelling....what a money saver!!

Well, I recently contacted this lady from the University used-items site (like Kijiji)- who had those same diapers on for a wonderful low price and she had informed me that she had other useful items I may need.
What else does a pregnant woman need?  Yep, you guessed it!  Maternity clothing.
Because I was quite small in Canada during my first pregnancy (and was only there for � of it) - I didn't really shop around much for maternity-wear.  I mostly wore bigger sizes or stretchy t-shirts, but I did invest in a couple pairs of maternity shorts, and a friend graciously gave me some maternity jeans.
This time, I am getting bigger faster and have lucked out at the second hand stores with some maternity clothes, or at least larger sized clothes easily.
I find it sometimes difficult to buy maternity clothes in the shops because they're rarely on sale, and those that are - are not quite my size or style I'd like....I know one shouldn't be choosy - but I would still like to look half decent while out in public!
And online - the maternity clothes are often sized XS or XL....

So!  With that said, this lady met me this morning (June 29) and delivered some cloth diapers and covers to me, and also had a huge bag of maternity clothes and other useful items for sale.  I didn't have enough money to cover the pieces she had with her (aside from the diapers) - but she said simply to try them on, go through the other items and let her know what I would like to keep and what I'd like to give back to her.  Then she can come back and I can pay her in cash or forward her the money online.

I bet you're wondering what else was in that bag, huh?
2 maternity shirts, a pair of maternity jeans, a stretchy tube top, a pair of maternity underwear with the velcro strap (to aid with back pains), a set of baby monitors (brand new), a manual breast pump, a pair of black maternity tights, a pair of woolen panty hose and 2 cloth baby carriers.
WOW.  Well, I thanked her kindly and raced upstairs to see what fit and what wouldn't.
Seeing as this lady was about the same size as me - I had a lot of faith that I would find something that I could make use of!
I ended up taking most of it - except the breast pump (already have one), maternity underwear (I'd feel so weird wearing a velcro belt!), the tube top and woolen panty hose.....oh and the baby carriers - no need for those either.
Once again - these things were at a fraction of the original cost online or in the shops!  I was very pleased with myself and I was surprised the husband was interested in the baby monitors!
Not that our flat is huge or has multiple floors (it doesn't) - but he suggested it being easier to leave V�in� and/or #2 outside or at least down stairs if they're asleep...and if we have a double stroller (vertical or horizontal) - it won't fit in the elevator anyway!

So I bet you're probably thinking, "Eww second-hand cloth diapers! How un-hygenic!"
That's not true at all!  If they were completely stained beyond repair - then no, I wouldn't buy them.
On the Imse Vimse site, you can simply rinse them off (flush the poop of course) and toss them in a bucket for up to 3 days...then wash them!  I had no idea until I was doing a price comparison for a friend...Before, we were rinsing them, flushing away the poop and soaking them in a bucket filled with water and white vinegar (white vinegar is anti-bacterial - did you know that?!)...then tossing them in a wash on higher temperature (60*C usually does the trick).

However, cloth diapers are an investment at brand new cost.
For example - let's do some math and look at the cloth diapers on Imse Vimse (that are size based - not including the all-in-ones - which are also horrendously expensive):

• Soft diaper covers - they're leak proof, don't stain on the inside (because they are polyester coated - kind of like plastic) - and are 11.95� ($16.72 CAN) for one...I've been paying no more than 4� ($5.60) a piece....
• Flannel Diapers - These are the "actual diapers" as they do the absorbing...and in that link are listed as a 4-pack for 32,95� ($46.16 CAN)...so on average for 1 of these would cost about 8.24� ($11.54 CAN)....I haven't paid more than 2-3� per piece ($2.80-$4.20)

Now these aren't the only cloth diapers on the market!  

By all means, there are several people we know who have used the gauze-like material, folded it in some fashion and used those.  They're much cheaper, come in a variety of colors and patterns and dry faster because they're so thin.

However, I am not very good at regular origami - so diaper folding isn't my cup of tea personally.

We also have several of those pocket-style diapers - where you have to fill the inside of the diaper (like a pocket) with a liner or thick pad - then you remove the liner, rinse the diaper and toss both pieces in the wash.

We've saved tonnes of money by cloth diapering our first born up until he was 11 months old....then he started out-growing them and finding used bigger sizes was becoming difficult....but I'll keep hunting around!  They even sell pull-up style cloth diapers - so it can help with potty training!

Cloth diapering is what you make it - and it's not for everybody!!  

For us - it's environmentally friendly, it's softer on baby's skin and we haven't had a rash yet!, it's inexpensive (in the long run!) compared to disposables, and once we're done with them all - we'll be selling them off too.

Update: August 15, 2011Since I cannot post this on Facebook without giving the pregnancy away, I will post it all here...
I went to Silinteri with a "feeling" in my gut and wow am I glad I did!
I found those Imse Vimse cloth diapers...someone was selling them in packages of 5 diapers + 2 covers for 3�.  I cleaned her table.
I also found on another table, 2 brand new IV diaper covers (with tags attached) for 2�....and at ANOTHER table?  I found 5 brand spanking new IV ORGANIC COTTON cloth diapers for 3�!  I noticed it was re-tagged several times...the seller originally wanted 10� for the 5 - which still would've been a steal but a little steep on my "don't get the husband mad for spending too much" budget.
So in total? 25 cloth diapers and 10 IV covers for 17�.  And out of all those diapers...only 2 were lightly stained...and it wasn't even that bad!!!!
Oh and a bottle warmer in a box still...original price? 39�...paid 3� for it.
Found some flushable rice paper liners - to help prevent staining....

And I had posted an advertisement seeking IV diapers and/or covers on the university's website - and someone contacted me the next day with 4 spotless diapers and 2 covers for 10� (a bit pricier than what I paid today - but nonetheless...an excellent deal) and another cover that is organic cotton for 4�....

Table 29 has been UPDATED!!!!!!!!!

Table 29 at Silinteri (Kortepohja area of Jyv�skyl�, Finland) has been updated with LOTS OF GOODIES!
I'm currently sharing the table for another week (we have yet to discuss how long we'll keep the table) with a great friend of mine...and guess what she put for sale?

• DVDs (I'm sure most have Finnish subtitles too!)


• Books (Many are in Finnish!)


• Clothing


• Some dishes


• Cross-stitching AND KNITTING magazines (English) - all great condition! (Original costs are at least 9-10� a piece!)


• RUBBER STAMPS (at only 4� a piece - they are a STEAL of a deal!)

And there is much more to come as she's really cleaning out her stash of things...not sure what's left because she un-packed things with the store closing shop in 30 minutes and I'm sure a good chunk was sold already!!!

I'll be adding some more things as I find them and reducing prices too!  I'll keep you all updated!!

What's In a Kela Maternity Box?

Finland is the only country in the world (as far as I know) that has something called a "Maternity Box".
A Maternity Box is free to a parent who is having a baby (or adopting) in Finland and is a permanent resident or citizen of Finland.  To qualify for this, you have to provide a document from your Neuvola nurse confirming that yes, you are expecting (not sure how it works with adoption) and fill out the proper paperwork.  When you fill out this form, you have the choice of the Maternity Box or 140� (which I believe is tax-free).
I did not qualify for this when I came to Finland at 26 weeks pregnant with my first born, because you have to have spent a certain amount of days of your pregnancy in Finland and have visited your Neuvola for so many appointments (I believe as early as your 4 month prenatal appointment).

If you're having a multiples pregnancy (i.e. twins, triplets etc.)  you can have more than 1 box.  Or choose how many boxes or how many monetary compensation you'd like.
The box is worth more than 140� and because it's free  - if you can sell any of these items when you are done- you're guaranteed profit.  I see lots of these items at the second hand store all the time!

It was all super great quality - bear in mind, Finns pay a lot in taxes to get their benefits and/or this box!
Most parents I've spoken to get the Maternity Box for their first born and then the money for the 2nd child, and re-use their Mat. Box items for the second child.  You don't have to buy as much and they do try and keep it gender neutral.
This year their aim was more organic cotton...:)  I believe you can buy a box through Kela's site- especially handy if you do not qualify for one!

(Sizes are in cm - about 51cm is newborn/premie and 74cm is about 6 months)
Clothes
8 onesies 50-70cm
5 romper suits 50-60cm
4 leggings (pants) 50-70cm
3 stretch suits 50-70cm
1 wool-mix suit 70cm
1 light quilted suit (like for fall) 70 cm
1 play suit 70cm
4 hats (one winter, one balaclava thing and 2 hat-hats)
1 pair of socks
1 pair of mittens/scratch mittens
5 cloth diapers (the gauze sheets you can fold like freaking origami) - but are also commonly used as burping cloths or receiving blankets - as they DON'T SELL THOSE HERE!
2 sets of reusable nappies (one pocket diaper with liner and the other is "all in one")
1 hooded towel
1 undersheet
1 duvet cover
1 blanket
1 sleeping bag/quilt
1 snow suit (it's so thick and soft!) 68-74cm
1 pair of insulated bootees and mittens to match snow suit

"Other products"
bib
mattress (aka a piece of thick foam lines the bottom of the inside of the box - which can act as a make-shift crib until you choose to purchase one)
mattress cover
toy (I didn't see one - however I did see a chewing teething ring - perhaps that is what they mean?)
tooth brush
Hair brush (wooden handle!)
nail scissors
bath thermometer
body lotion
condoms (6 pack...ha)
nursing pads
flannel wash cloth (they're big on hosing the kid down in the shower/sink instead of using wipes)
hard covered book of Finnish songs/rhymes

Here's some photos - unfortunately I can't put them all on here...but you can find every item on the Kela website every year!  Every year it's updated with the exact things that will be in your Maternity Box!

It is very large and has a blue carry string on the outside...not overly heavy - but just awkward to carry.

It's packed!

Fall suit

Teething toy

Thick foam lines the bottom so you can use this as a make-shift crib!

Cloth diapers, changing sheet, bib, and all-in-one diaper..oh and socks.

Flannel cloth, hooded towel, bed sheet and gauze-like material for inside the diaper.  Some parents use those tied up cloths (far left) for burping cloths as opposed to using them as diapers (then you would put wool or fleece pants on the outside or a plastic cover).

Winter suit with insulated boots and mittens!

The non-clothing items

Re-usable nursing pads, bath thermometer, tooth brush, 6-pack condoms, cream, children's book, nail scissors and some information...and the hair brush!

The list (which I had typed up above)

Beep! Beep! Beep!

What goes "Beep!" repeatedly when you walk by?
Those big plastic sensors that detect if you've stolen something with a hidden electronic tag in it...like a video game, something expensive and electronic, clothing or a movie for example.
Pretty normal stuff right?

Well, today I had set off one of those thing in downtown Sokos, while out with my 19-month old.  I almost passed out!  What in the world did I have on me that would set something off?
I don't steal - so what could it be?
I pulled over by a bench near the S-Market (well not actually called S-Market but they take S-Card for the points...so to me it's "S-Market") in the bottom floor of Sokos and look through my stuff.
Nothing but crushed cereal bars, gummies, a dentist bill to be paid and my wallet with some diapers and wipes were in my bag!  (Nobody had stopped me - but I did get a few stares.)
Then I looked at my son, who has a plastic chicken toy in one hand and a plastic tea cup in the other....then I remembered his outfit.
V�in� was wearing a Cookie Monster shirt from H&M that he's worn several times before - so that wasn't it.
However, he was wearing a new fleece sweater from Old Navy (in Canada) and Old Navy is known for these cloth tags sewn into the clothing that will set off if you steal from their store...so I begin to strip my son on the "seniors bench" outside of the grocery store.  (It's not really just for seniors - but quite often that's who's sitting there).
No tag.

Hmmm....so I push my son towards the plastic sensors and again, "BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!"...so I wheel V�in� back to the senior's bench (and by now, all the seniors are looking at me in disgust - thinking I stole something I'm sure...it doesn't help that Finns have a slight tendency to be a wee bit racist....this is not a general statement for all Finns - but I was advised this BY a few Finns!)....
And I try to look up my son's shorts....I felt around and recognized the tag instantly.
I un-buckled my son, removed his shorts, buckled him back in and swung the shorts through the sensor panels and voil�!  It beeped!  (TAKE THAT seniors who thought I was a thief!)

So I went through my bag and noticed I did not have my little scissors for crafting in there - and went to the nearest Sokos cashier and asked the fellow to borrow the scissors.  He looked at me a little confused and then I pointed at the tag in my son's shorts and made a "Beep" sound and he instantly understood.

The tag was disposed of and we commenced with some grocery shopping.

Point of the story? Ensure you cut off those hidden tags after you've made your purchase....because regardless of the amount of times you've washed the product - and apparently, regardless of the country (or continent?) you move those products to and just because it was de-magnetized (or whatever it is) at the location of purchase..............it can STILL set off sensors!

PS Here's some photos of what they look like:

Just a pair of shorts I was folding...then I looked inside and saw....

The electronic tag!  Good thing we didn't go through the whole above AGAIN!

Sometimes you'll see these tags in books...they're hidden in CD and DVD cases too sometimes (although there's a little plastic bar shaped one too that is removable).
I'm so glad I noticed this before folding and putting away V�in�'s other pair of shorts! (Also Old Navy brand)