how many cloth pads?

[DeerMother]

Obviously this differs from woman to woman and probably even cycle to cycle, but how many will I need or what would be a good number to start with?

[Purple*Lotus]

I personally bought a kit.

It is obviously going to depend on how heavy your flow is and how often you do laundry.

I myself have:
6 overnight pads.
10 regular pads

I have two inserts for all of the above pads. Plus I have a stash of about 20 inserts left over from another kit I had many years ago. I am a heavier person so I prefer the new kit I got because they were much longer. The old kit I will still use for a pantyliner, I have 9 of those. But the 20 inserts from that kit work fine as extras for the new set, just in case I need more protection. I only have 9 from the old kit left because the snap on one broke

I usually do laundry every three or four days with this amount.

[DeerMother]

Originally Posted by Bunnyflakes

I personally bought a kit.

It is obviously going to depend on how heavy your flow is and how often you do laundry.

Would this be a lunapad or gladrags kind of kit? I was hoping to buy from a wahm. Dc are almost out of diapers so I was hoping to just wash at the end of my cycle.

[Purple*Lotus]

I ordered mine yeas ago from Gladrags, back before I knew of MDC and WAHMs

[crunchy_mommy]

I started out with 2 overnight, 2 heavy, 8 regular, & 4 light...
I am ordering a few more... 1 or 2 more overnight and a few heavy/regular. This way I should only have to wash once at the end of my cycle. I wish I just ordered more to begin with lol because even though I have a 1/2 pack of disposables left I haven't wanted to use them once I realized how nice the cloth feels!! (So the disposables are now in the back of the closet for emergency only!)

I got mine from a wonderful WAHM, they are really cool & affordable & she worked with me to save me $$

ETA: here is her website http://gemcloth.webs.com/

[KristyDi]

If you want to buy from a WAHM check out etsy. I made my own so I haven't bought any, but there are tons there.

[SeekingJoy]

I wash as I go, but have enough to make it 3 days or so with a medium flow that lightens through my cycle. I also use a Diva cup periodically.

2 overnight pads with 4 liners
3 regular pads
12 liners

I actually prefer using just the liners on days 2-4 in underwear I adapted to be like these. I used ric rac to make the panties and just change the liner each time I go to the restroom.

[Freedom~Mama]

Sorry to hijack the thread but about how much has everyone spent on their stash of Mama Cloth?

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by Beautiful~Life

Sorry to hijack the thread but about how much has everyone spent on their stash of Mama Cloth?

$67 (including shipping) Didn't want to spend that much but I got sucked in (and have no time to sew my own)!! hehe!

That's for:
1 wetbag
3 overnight
5 heavy
12 regular
4 light

[lilyka]

wow! I think you got a great deal!

I just put in an order for 3 overnight, 12 heavy, and 9 medium and it totalled $175 . I think 2 dozen is what I had before and it was plenty.

[crunchy_mommy]

Hehe you made me feel better, I didn't want to spend a lot because I *could* make them myself if I had the time/motivation, so I thought $67 was a lot!! LOL!! I agree, 2 dozen seems like a good amount

[Ellien C]

I have about a dozen medium flow pads from Sweet Cheeks diapers.com (Luna pads). This works fine for me. I have 2 heavy flow pads (which were overnight pads when I bought them) which I only use the first 2 days. I may get 3 more heavy flow pads and 3 overnighters for my post-partum period. I really need some light flow pads.

One thing I would say is to just buy 1 or 2 pads to begin with. I bought 2 other kinds of pads (with wings and snaps) and I totally hate them. I did NOT think I would like the New Moon Pads without wings, but I totally do.

[possum]

I have about 12 covers and 40 inserts of varying thicknesses. I was as I go with family cloth and towels. Instead of having very thick inserts for heavy days and thin ones for light days, I just stuff multiple inserts for heavy days and use one for lighter days. I feel like they are easier to get clean and dry this way.
I made mine from flannel, t-shirts, and sweatshirts I had on hand and spent probably $3 on snaps and $10 on the pattern and shipping back before there were free ones on the internet (at least that I could find).
Melinda

[lilyka]

Originally Posted by Ellien C

I have about a dozen medium flow pads from Sweet Cheeks diapers.com (Luna pads). This works fine for me. I have 2 heavy flow pads (which were overnight pads when I bought them) which I only use the first 2 days. I may get 3 more heavy flow pads and 3 overnighters for my post-partum period. I really need some light flow pads.

One thing I would say is to just buy 1 or 2 pads to begin with. I bought 2 other kinds of pads (with wings and snaps) and I totally hate them. I did NOT think I would like the New Moon Pads without wings, but I totally do.

same here. New moon is what I had before and it is what I am getting again. I dobn't see any benifit to wings and I certainly don't want to assembling anything.

[UberMama]

Mine were a gift from someone through a WAHM on here. I wish I remembered the site or the person who sold them.

That said, I have either 6 or 8. My AFs are 2-3 days long at most and light to medium, so this number is perfect for me.

[lilyka]

oh hey, I gues the length and flow of your period is pretty important when determining how many pads you need

I said 2 dozen but I have 1-2 very heavy days (even with the most absorbant cloth I have to change every hour or two, and with the most absorbant disposables every 2-3 hours) and then medium to light for the next 4-6 days. So obviously someone like me would need more than someone who had a couple days of medium to light flow.

[momo7]

My daughter will be "starting" soon......I would really like to get a kit for her...would one of you please tell me what would be a good "starter kit" ? I also want enough so that she won't be short on pads too....tell me what to buy.

[crunchy_mommy]

Momo7 -- For someone who hasn't started yet it's hard to say how her flow will be... I'd recommend maybe:
3-5 overnight
6-8 heavy
8-12 regular
3-5 light
...and then go from there. I find I'm all set with about 2 dozen total but I remember my AF being a whole lot heavier when I was a teen... Maybe she can also choose her own fabrics & styles! The woman I got mine from had TONS of fabric choices & a few different styles (curved, straight, wings w/ snaps, etc.) I'd definitely recommend getting her several different options (if money allows!) so she can figure out what she likes. I would've loved cloth pads as a teen, I wish I'd discovered them sooner!!!

[momo7]

Originally Posted by Bunnyflakes

I personally bought a kit.

It is obviously going to depend on how heavy your flow is and how often you do laundry.

I myself have:
6 overnight pads.
10 regular pads

I have two inserts for all of the above pads. Plus I have a stash of about 20 inserts left over from another kit I had many years ago. I am a heavier person so I prefer the new kit I got because they were much longer. The old kit I will still use for a pantyliner, I have 9 of those. But the 20 inserts from that kit work fine as extras for the new set, just in case I need more protection. I only have 9 from the old kit left because the snap on one broke

I usually do laundry every three or four days with this amount.

Please explain exactly how they work...because they are not "throw-away" I am not sure exactly how the pads work....such as inserts and covers and such...all of this is brand new so I am flying blind here trying to figure out exactly how they "work" or are put together"

[alinae]

I bought a starter set in the beginning to make sure I like them. I checked prices on several companies and finally bought them off of ebay from a midwife/doula. I've had them for 3 years and they are still in wonderful condition. I spent $25 for 14 which included:
3 11" overnight maxi size pads w/wings

3 8.5" normal to heavy flow pads w/wings

7 6.5" light flow or everyday pantyliners w/wings

1 6.5" WING for wingless pads/liners

I personally have to have wings on my or I leak...

I have since purchased 2 more sets from her and still love them. They are comfortable and I have never leaked or had any problems.


ETA-Mine are also AIO. They don't have inserts etc. I don't know if that makes a difference in price, etc