The MSE Pregnancy Club

Justie

SeptemberBaby wrote: »

We have just collected our first item from FreeCycle! Its a moses basket with stand but TBH we were more interested in the stand. What does everyone think about second hand products for their babes? I know we will need to buy a new matress if we do actually use it but is there anything else we should know? xx

we're getting loads of things second hand either off Freecycle (cot and pram so far) or from friends (moses basket, car seats, clothes, nappies). As Dormouse says as long as you buy new mattresses and know exactly what the car seat history is then I figure just give everything a good clean and then pass it on after you've finished with it.

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE

Justie wrote: »

we're getting loads of things second hand either off Freecycle (cot and pram so far) or from friends (moses basket, car seats, clothes, nappies). As Dormouse says as long as you buy new mattresses and know exactly what the car seat history is then I figure just give everything a good clean and then pass it on after you've finished with it.

Im not sure about the whole second hand thing. I mean it sounds great getting so many bargains but unless i personally knew the person I would'nt take anything like a cot or clothes.But thats just me!!
good luck with everything xxx

sarahmoon_2

Justie, I'm getting everything second hand aswell. Got a cot and moses basket off freecycle and getting a pram from my neighbour. I don't see anything wrong with this as the stuff we're getting if we bought new would have cost us at least £1,000 which we just don't have. It's like I said in an earlier post the baby won't know it hasn't got a brand new pram and it certainly won't complain!!


And as for bump envy, I'm 20 weeks tomorrow and over the past two weeks a bump has formed!! When I lie in bed its like a little hill! I bought one of those long jumper things off ebay and it hugs my bump perfect and show's it off!!!

purplepatch

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE wrote: »

Im not sure about the whole second hand thing. I mean it sounds great getting so many bargains but unless i personally knew the person I would'nt take anything like a cot or clothes.But thats just me!!
good luck with everything xxx

Before I had my first dd, in pre mse days lol, I was much the same as you with regard to secondhand. But once you've had a baby and seen how quickly they go through clothes, you'll probably think differently. I'm currently selling newborn clothes on ebay and they have done both of my girls and still look almost new. It's such a waste of money buying new. If I buy off ebay, I always wash everything, no matter how fresh it smells, just like to know it's gone through my cleaning process!

Likewise, with large equipment like cots, pushchairs, I wouldn't hesitate to buy secondhand now. You should bin mattresses anyway, but everything can be cleaned up and washed. I bought a graco travel system new for dd1 and hated it, but it was all I could afford. This time for dd2 I bought a mamas and papas travel system secondhand on ebay, was fully prepared to take it all apart to wash it, but when I got it, it was beautiful, all been cleaned, absolutely immaculate. Cost me £70 instead of £500+ and I sold the graco one on ebay for £40 (all freshly washed and immaculate too of course!).

And as for saying you would only have things off someone you know, I just had a mamas and papas prima pappa high chair off a friend and it was totally grotty, took me ages to clean up, cushion was split, cost me as much as one would have on ebay - and as it was a friend, didn't like to moan! Should have stuck to ebay I think :rotfl:

crawli1

EDD list

Mrs asandwhen - 28th March 07 - date changed to 28th march after dating scan.
PrincessTaylor - 2nd April 2007
worto03 - 3rd April 2007
Bargain Babe-a-Licious! - 3rd April 2007
austmanic - 7th April 2007
Moonbeam - 7th April 2007
Saver mum - 9th April 2007
Persontypething- 11th April 2007
Tranmererovers - 11th April 2007
JDC110571- 17th April 2007
Happiness Fairy - 19th April 2007
babitee - 20th April 2007
Anya - 21st April 2007
debtfreehopeful - 21st April 2007
alm721 - 22nd April 2007
Mrskennyjosiah - 24th April (wish me luck still breech & I'm 36 & a bit weeks eeeeekkkk!!!
moohound - 27th April 2007
SusanCarter - 27th April 2007
Flea72 - 30th April 2007
angiepanj - 1st May 2007
LillieFlower - 2nd May 2007 (changed from 20th April after scan)
sampainter - 3 May 2007
maralum - 6 May 2007
Bronzesurfer - 08 May 2007
Chef1980uk - 10 May 2007
Lydia.42 - 11th May 2007
Snaggles - 12th May 2007
Bump – 13 May 2007
dm72 - 14th May 2007
tequilla_slammer2002 - 14th May 2007
Banana1975 - 14th May 2007 - BOY
abijanzo - 20th May 2007
garrapata - 23rd May 2007
mrsrsp - 28th May 2007
jocymru- 28th May
George's Mum - 29th May 2007 (according to the scan anyway!)
Morty_007 - 29th May (day before our 3rd wedding anniversary!)
Becles - 31 May 2007
Lubava - 1 June 2007
Cheapskate - 5 June 2007
Karma67 - 5th June 2007 - had amnio..everything ok and having a BOY!!
Sophiedb – 8 June 2007
Sav - 15th June 2007
Elliot's mum - 16th June 2007 (No 1 is now 3 and No 2 is now 1- are we mad??!)
Katyag - 17th June (2 days after my bday, and the day after our wedding anni!)
famood - 21 June 2007
Chubacheroo - 24th June 2007 (changed from the 23rd)
noodlebutty, (Tricia) - 27th June 2007
Raybells - 28 June 2007
Mrs Steveeeee - 28 June 2007
Lotta Littlies - 29 June 2007
bdpm2003 - 29 June 2007
jenpoptab - 29 June 2007
Lisamiddle - 2nd July 2007
Sam0mule - 5th July 2007
Bargainbabe - 6th July 2007
Twirlypen - 7th July 2007
jo_b - 14th July 2007
janinegr - 15th July 2007
*Louise* - 19th July
Mrs Woby_Tide - 19th July 2007
Valentine x - 20th July 2007
mercurystar999 - 24th July 2007
Welshlassie - 29 July 2007
Eels100 - 26th July 2007
Terminally Short Of Cash - 31st July 2007
Kimmy310 - 1 August 2007
KarieBlue - 1 August 2007
Katym79 - August???
Simone2697 - 2 August 2007 (subject to change - scan 11/01/07)
rina-3rd august 2007
Caleo - 7th August
LoopyLouLou - 8 August 2007
spannie1000 - 13th August 2007
Libert23 - 16 August 2007
Claire Jones - 19 August 2007
catalepticdru - 17 August 2007 using Naegele's formula. Though it'll be guaranteed I'll give birth on any day but this one!!
Shortie - 21st August 2007
Justie - 25th August (or 28th depending on which way you calculate it)
saver_sam - 25th August 2007
Dormouse - 28th August
lou031205 - 8th September 2007
rachelja - 9th September 2007 (2 wks before dd 4th b'day)
LizzieAndThomas- 9th September
skintio (kate) 16th september 2007
Almost-skint (sammie) - 16th september 2007 - same as you Kate!!
vzzbux - 2nd Sept
crawli1 - 21st Sept
nickydee5 - 25th Sept 07
SeptemberBaby - 26 September 2007
Agutka - 30th September 2007
pestcontrol - 30th September 2007
fac73 (Jennifer) - 12th October 2007
incognito - 14th October 2007
jtotheb's wife - 24 October 2007 (twins!)
THE MIDDLEMAN - 3rd November 2007
Curious George - 9th November
nadnad - 14 November 2007
hippychick1 - 15th November
clarkey1000 - 16th November
Cel - 8th December
Ebony - 10th December
jbbonce - 16th december (but hoping to keep my legs crossed til jan)

crawli1

I'm currently working full-time and my employer wants me to go back to work after maternity leave. My job is good but the pay is rubbish so I don't see the point of returning because I have seen jobs advertised in other areas for better pay. What do I do about maternity pay? If I tell my employer now that I don't intend returning after I have the baby, what happens then? Do I need to complete any forms? I'm really nervous about telling my manager too because she has given me a lot of support in the last 7 months while I've been there.
HELP...

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE

purplepatch wrote: »

Before I had my first dd, in pre mse days lol, I was much the same as you with regard to secondhand. But once you've had a baby and seen how quickly they go through clothes, you'll probably think differently. I'm currently selling newborn clothes on ebay and they have done both of my girls and still look almost new. It's such a waste of money buying new. If I buy off ebay, I always wash everything, no matter how fresh it smells, just like to know it's gone through my cleaning process!

Likewise, with large equipment like cots, pushchairs, I wouldn't hesitate to buy secondhand now. You should bin mattresses anyway, but everything can be cleaned up and washed. I bought a graco travel system new for dd1 and hated it, but it was all I could afford. This time for dd2 I bought a mamas and papas travel system secondhand on ebay, was fully prepared to take it all apart to wash it, but when I got it, it was beautiful, all been cleaned, absolutely immaculate. Cost me £70 instead of £500+ and I sold the graco one on ebay for £40 (all freshly washed and immaculate too of course!).

And as for saying you would only have things off someone you know, I just had a mamas and papas prima pappa high chair off a friend and it was totally grotty, took me ages to clean up, cushion was split, cost me as much as one would have on ebay - and as it was a friend, didn't like to moan! Should have stuck to ebay I think :rotfl:

Yes ebay is a good place to pick up bargains and because they are being sold and not given away the majority of items are in perfect condition.I can see your point! I am pregnant with my first child so maybe I will change my mind.
But to be honest im a bit of a clean freak !! But thats just me I tend to worry too much about these things i guess. Thankfully nowadays things have reduced alot in price. We have started buying things and to be honest its all about budgeting and working out what is essential and what is not.

lol anyway im gonna be a new age mommy and have a sling!!

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE

crawli1 wrote: »

I'm currently working full-time and my employer wants me to go back to work after maternity leave. My job is good but the pay is rubbish so I don't see the point of returning because I have seen jobs advertised in other areas for better pay. What do I do about maternity pay? If I tell my employer now that I don't intend returning after I have the baby, what happens then? Do I need to complete any forms? I'm really nervous about telling my manager too because she has given me a lot of support in the last 7 months while I've been there.
HELP...

Im taking a career break when baby comes.Does your work have anything like that?

crawli1

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE wrote: »

Im taking a career break when baby comes.Does your work have anything like that?

I don't think they do - the HR Manager was just telling me about what maternity leave I can take. He never mentioned anything about if I didn't want to go back there (which I suppose he wouldn't if I didn't ask!!). I'm just really nervous about speaking to them about it because I will feel I'm letting them down! Although I'm not and I wouldn't be thinking this way if my pay was decent.

Welshlassie

crawli1 wrote: »

I'm currently working full-time and my employer wants me to go back to work after maternity leave. My job is good but the pay is rubbish so I don't see the point of returning because I have seen jobs advertised in other areas for better pay. What do I do about maternity pay? If I tell my employer now that I don't intend returning after I have the baby, what happens then? Do I need to complete any forms? I'm really nervous about telling my manager too because she has given me a lot of support in the last 7 months while I've been there.
HELP...

You don't have to tell your employer anything about when (or even if) you are planning on returning to work. You have to give your employer 28 days notice ebfore coming back if it is before your maternity leave would be up. If you tell your employer that you are not planning on returning to work you wouldn't be entitled to any maternity pay entitlements that they offer so I'd keep quiet and let them know just before your leave comes to an end that you won't be returning. Look after number 1 and of course your new baby!! :rotfl: