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):
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�....
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�....
