Monday, June 30, 2014

What to do when you need to buy used (diapers).

Buying and selling used cloth diapers, it's a thing! A lot of people don't realize there is a huge market for used cloth diapers but there certainly is. eLeMeNO-Pee even has a Facebook buy/sell/trade page specifically for this purpose!

A lot of people would never even consider buying  used cloth diaper and that is totally fine. However, for various reasons, a lot of parents set out to do just that. Some prefer the savings up front and some love the idea of continuing to reuse a very Earth-friendly product in their own family and are not bothered by the idea of using pre-loved cloth!

There are a few things to consider when purchasing used cloth diapers, however. Unfortunately, there are people out there that are less than forthcoming with the information so it's good to ask plenty of questions before you commit to buy so you get a full scope of the condition of the diapers.



A few guidelines to follow:

--Be sure to ask if they are the original owner or if they purchased the diapers used as well so you know what type of lifespan is left

--Inquire about the type of detergent they used. Be sure they did not use fabric softeners.

--Ask them to verify whether they are "seconds quality" diapers or if they were first-quality diapers that came with the warranty.

--Specifically ask if there are any stains, repelling, tears, stink, or buildup.

--When purchasing online, always, always, ALWAYS use Paypal and send the funds as goods/services so you are protected in case the person is dishonest or misrepresents the item.

--If it is important to you, make sure to ask if the person has a pet and smoke free home.

--If it's not a site like eBay with built-in feedback to view, make sure you ask if they have references or feedback on other websites for you to reference. Sites like DiaperSwappers are common reference points in the buy/sell/trade community.

As is the case with all transactions, just be careful and trust your gut. If something seems "off" with the information you are receiving, move along to the next diaper. After the first transaction or two, you will be an old pro and have the swing of things down pat. It can be quite rewarding to score a stash of well cared for yet previously owned diapers for a fraction of the price you'd pay new!

 


Wednesday, June 18, 2014

I'm crunchy....she's not. What on Earth do I buy her?

Admittedly, this is something I have encountered several times over the past few years. It's easy to get so caught up in your own way of living/mothering that you don't even realize what you're doing is not at all mainstream. If you consider yourself crunchy, maybe even just a *little* crunchy, baby showers for a more mainstream mama can leave you feeling stumped!

eLeMeNO-Pee has plenty of products for mamas even if they choose not to cloth diaper, baby wear, or nurse!



One of our most popular baby shower gift items are the certified organic bamboo swaddler blankets from the Austin Tye Dye Co. They measure 50x50inches and are super soft with plenty of stretch for a tight but breathable swaddle. And you can't beat how cute they are - so vibrant and fun!   We also offer a three pack of tye-dyed prefolds that are intended for use as burp cloths.




Another popular product to toss in the baby shower gift basket are  Chewbeads. Never heard of 'em? Oh, how I wish I'd had these when my daughter was a teething little one! She has always, always been a very "mouthy" type child and it would have been so nice to have cute but SAFE jewelry for her to gnaw on as she was working on cutting those teeth!

Chewbeads are non toxic, fashionable teething jewelry that mama can wear and baby can chew!  They are 100% silicone beads and contain no BPA, phthalates, PVC, cadmium, or lead.   They are also dishwasher safe! 

 
Our Colic Calm and Tummy Calm are also popular products with both mainstream and crunchy mamas who want to help their upset babies feel better! Both of these are perfect shower gifts as they are excellent to have *on hand* when the need arises for them. Late night trips to the store are never fun for anyone!






If you're looking for more of a pre-made bundle of products, The Honest Company has the perfect item for any mama-to-be as well! The baby arrival gift set includes all of the most beloved Honest Company infant products including adorable, eco-friendly disposable diapers and wipes, hand sanitizer, shampoo+body wash, lotion, healing balm, and a baby teether. 


eLeMeNO-Pee is so much more than "just" a cloth diapering store - we have products that accommodate families from every walk of life. These items are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to excellent products for mama and baby! Come in and see us weekdays from 9-5 and Saturday from 10-2 and let us assist you in picking the perfect items for the expecting mother in your life!





Thursday, June 5, 2014

A few announcements about eLeMeNO-Pee!

There are a few fun changes on the horizon for eLeMeNO-Pee just in time for summer!

We have changed the store hours for our retail location and the following are our new hours:




Monday - Friday  we are open from 9am - 5pm

Saturdays we are open from 10am - 2pm

We remain closed on Sundays. 


 

We are also excited to announce that this summer we are offering a weekly story hour every Thursday morning at 10am. It is free of charge and we would love to see you and your children! There will be a story, snack, and other fun activities throughout the summer!

Our first story hour is TODAY at 10am. We will be reading the book All the Way to the Ocean by Joel Harper.  Be sure to tell your friends and family - we'd love to see you and your little ones! We are located at 1513 W. McNeese St, Suite B in Lake Charles, LA.



Also happening this week is a sidewalk sale! Our sidewalk sale will be running from today through this coming Saturday so be sure to come in and snag some great clearance-priced items!