Cloth Pads - do you use them? - Page 2

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

I switched over a couple years ago, and will never go back. I love my cloth. I hated sposie pads but my cycle is so light I can't use tampons, even light ones, except on my "heaviest" day. Cloth is so much comfier and super easy to use.

I started out soaking them but stopped after the time I forgot about them for 3 days I don't really find it necessary though. I just put them in a mesh laundry bag that hangs inside my laundry basket. For the ones I am worried will stain I rinse them out first, but most just go in as is. I don't have any diaper laundry so I just do a cold pre-wash on their own and then throw in the rest of my laundry and do a warm wash/warm rinse. I haven't noticed any increased staining or difficulty getting clean since I stopped soaking them And if I don't get to my laundry for a few days, there is so funk issue like with the soaking ones.

[catkendig]

I forget where I purchased mine but I'm quite happy with them. Been using them for a year or so (between pregnancies!). And I do throw them in with the diapers. So far, nothing has stained. Love that I don't ever have to make an emergency run to the pharmacy to get pads.

[RSwildflower]

I started using mama cloth after the birth of my DS for my post-partum flow. People thought I was crazy to start then, but I just didn't want to use 'sposies any more.

Most of mine are Fancy Pads from Touch of Cloth. Danielle is a mom who does this on the side. LOVE her stuff!

I do keep them in a bucket of water, changing water once a day. I add the water to my compost pile for the nutrients. I wash with dipes or towels.

ETA: I found TONS of info on www.diaperpin.com. They have a discussion board similar to this, but almost ALL about cloth diapers. There is a subforum called Women's Health (I think) that is all about mama cloth.

HTH

[wombatclay]

I'm another "no-soak" cloth mama. I started using them in college and have been cloth padding now for... well... more than ten years but I'm not saying how much more! Anyway, they always came clean in the wash...no presoak or anything. Though the soak water makes good plant food.

I've made some of my own (plenty of free patterns online) but currently I also have luna pads and gladrags. I love the different colors and he tie dyes (I always felt bad about getting a pristine WHITE pad "dirty". I know it's not actually "dirty" but why the heck do they make those things white when menstrual blood is red/brown? Drove me nuts.)

I have to agree with a pp though... cloth pads are not really "subtle/slip in the pocket or palm on the way into a stall". I'd suggest either a purse, shoulder bag, or clutch purse. And avoid tight pants or hugging styles as well since cloth is amazingly comfy but not exactly ultra trim.

[tygrss]

I haven't had a post-partum AF yet, but I do have a full stash of mama cloth and I have been using my panty liners (I wear them just in case AF suddenly decides to show up! LOL). They are super comfortable. I just throw them in with DS' diapers. I will likely keep the AF mama cloth separate though. Just personal preference.

[oceane]

I use them exclusively and it's no big deal. I wash them at the end and I don't soak them either, so there's hardly any mess. I'd go with cute colored ones, I got one plain boring set in the beginning and am now reluctant to buy more. but I love cute fabrics! if you don't wash them right away or when you're out/ on vacation, you can put them in a ziplock bag.

[fanniefarkle]

Love 'em!!! As a previous poster recommended, buy a variety of pads--different fabrics, backings, closures. I thought when I ordered mine that I would prefer velcro over snaps, but I wish I had all snaps now! I don't soak mine; I just put them in a box on my toilet where the family cloth goes (a misnomer since I am the only family member who uses cloth "t.p.").

[~Nancy~]

I LOVE using cloth pads.

A friend recommended them when I complained of raw, irriated skin during my period. She suggested that I may be sensitivite to chemicals in pads, so I thought trying cloth may be worth a shot.

I was really squeamish about it at first. I read online what I thought was a complicated, unpleasant washing process. Soaking, changing water frequently.

I bought just 3 pads at first, just to see if I liked them. To my surprise, I really dreaded when those 3 pads were soiled, because I had to use a disposable pad. This led me to purchase enough pads for my whole cycle, plus panty liners for every day use.

This is all I do for cleaning - I toss soiled pads into a plastic dishpan underneath my bathroom sink. Sometimes, I rinse them first by hand, with just plain water, and throw the wet pad under the sink. (into a dry pan, no soaking)

I wash my pads in a separate load, hot water. I use Charlies Soap for all of our laundry.

I am not particular about staining, but my pads have zero stains using this washing method.

I air dry mine, because I like them nice and flat, and this will probably extend the life of the pad..

My favorites are www.vajpads.com

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by covertlycrunchy

This thread is so completely timely for me....I was just looking up this very thing earlier this week. I'm pregnant again, so no AF and since it took 18 months for my flow to return right now I'm focusing on the afterbirth period.

But the few cycles I've had since my flow returned and before I got pregnant again were just terrible, the tampons HURT and I think were really making me sick so I'm thinking of switching. The only thing I'm concerned about it is when I'm at work or seriously out and about. Mostly the work thing tho. What do I do if I can't soak them right away? Can I leave them to dry out? And I don't typically carry a purse so now what do I do with the used ones?? Has anyone had any success finding/making a discreet carrier, small enough to fit in the jean pocket? Will the blood squish out if I try sticking it in my pocket at least until I hit my desk? The thought of a slowly spreading blood stain coming out of my front pocket at work is not something I'm really comfy with, iykwim.

You might prefer to use a menstrual cup, at least for when you're at work, even if you decide to use cloth pads at home. Or maybe use cloth pads at home and disposable pads at work. Or get used to carrying a bag with you to the ladies' room, at least on those days.