(no subject)

[ocelot]

One of the things we've received secondhand is a big old playpen. Emphasis on big. I want one of the little ones with a bassinet to use as a safe place for naps, and this just doesn't fit the bill - it's a kid cage and that's all. Not really what we're looking for.

Last night I decided to go ahead and stick it up on freecycle (the message still hasn't gone through, in fact). I'm sure I could get $25 or so on craigslist for it, but since I got it for free and it was close to something I did need, it didn't feel right.

Today I stopped by the SPCA thrift store on a whim. They had an Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper. For $5.50.

Those of you who are parents probably know what a deal that is.

It's older, so I'm not sure what the actual value would be if I resold it (a newer one would be around $75), but a quick glance doesn't reveal any recalls for them. All parts seem to be there, along with three sheets. I'm not sure it 100% fits our needs - I know it can be used as a playyard, but does the side come up so that it can be used as a bassinet without being attached to a bed? But even if not, we can almost certainly trade it for something that does fit our needs perfectly.

The only downside is that now I don't get a chance to test my bedlike item on the registry hypothesis :)

I like when things work out.

ETA: Even better, rubbrduckage was the first to reply to the freecycle post. Yay, it's going to someone nice and I won't have to deal with flaky pickups and all that!

Comments

[sagefemme11.livejournal.com]

So cool when things work out like that, so perfect.
Must be feeling mighty large over there. Keep up the good work baby-growing!

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

I'll post some pictures tomorrow, but actually no. I mean, I do feel big, but not as big/uncomfortable as I imagine the people with really big bellies must feel.

And yes, many things have worked out very well. I hope the trend continues.

[telemicus]

For the arms reach co-sleeper I think it is appropriate (as I slowly learn when to speak American!) to trot out my quintessential Californiaism:

Dude.

I've heard that those sleepers actually go for MORE when they are sold used on ebay than if they are bought new, and this is because they are in-demand outside the US but the company that makes them is too lame to ship internationally, so eBay is the only non-US source!

Is your theory about beds on registries that they get bought first? My first gift from the registry was also for my birthday, the inlaws bought me the crib!

I have not yet ventured into the garage to find the oodles of little baby clothes we have, so there are just a handful of clothes in the package that hubby just took to the post office, along with diapers and a couple of other wee things :D What is your clothes situation for the pending little one?

We still have 2 bassinets and a big mobile so let me know if you have anyone driving through LA who could drop by and pick them up?

I have been known to sell things that I originally got for free... but we were selling the stuff to get much-needed cash, so I dealt with the guilt twinges :)

Last thing - I send stuff via USPS in recycled boxes and padded envelopes all the time, in fact I don't think I've used a new box or padded envelope in at least 5 yrs!

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

I think "Dude" was exactly what I said when I saw it. Then I ran in and paid before someone grabbed it from me :) It's a little crazy - this thrift store tends to be overpriced, but it's staffed primarily by college kids who probably had no clue what a co-sleeper even is.

Last time, my mom was absolutely frantic to buy us a crib. She even sent us a check to buy one, even though we truthfully said we had an used one that we could put together if needed (we thanked her and told her we would put it towards a bed for Leif when he got old enough for his own). The rest of my family was similar, though not to the same extent. So I theorized that if something even vaguely bed-like was on the registry, it would get bought, even if it was at the bottom of the list and ranked lowest priority.

I actually just finished sorting and putting away the baby clothing. Of the stuff we have now, we have very little 0-3 month clothing, a few days worth of 3-6 month, and a few bigger one piece things which may end up working at around 3-6 months if this baby has a long torso like Leif did/does. I don't know what is still in storage - at least a few more 0-3 month things, anyways.

I ended up using a different box anyways because the old USPS box I had just wasn't fitting. But it's an old starbucks box :)

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I don't normally have qualms about reselling stuff I get for free, but in this case it didn't seem right. And I'm quite happy with how it worked out.

Not sure what we'll do with the co-sleeper when we're done. On one hand, I'm sure we'll be able to use the money still. On the other, giving and trusting that things will work out seems to be working very well. Or maybe we'll just keep it for the next, though I don't see that happening soon enough to be worth it.

[rubbrduckage.livejournal.com]

Ha! I didn't even put it together that that was you. I've been looking for a fence to make a bigger play area in the backyard, but in the meantime this will work and is good and big to keep A out of the pool. We should get together next week to swap play yard/clothes/sling, if that works for you. I was about to offer you our pack n play with the basinette insert to borrow, but then I read about your cosleeper steal. Man, what a deal! What thrift shop was this??

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

It was the SPCA thrift store.

Keeping kids out of pools is probably an ideal use for the thing.

I currently have no plans next week, especially in the mornings. I keep meaning to go to LLL meetings, but since it's only once a month I always forget, or I'd offer just to meet there. Or we're having a party on the 16th, and you all are welcome to come then if that would work better.

[barelyproper.livejournal.com]

Yay!