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| I am looking to switch from disposables to cloth menstrual pads and dont want to waste my time/money trying to search for a good quality brand. I wanted to know if anyone uses cloth pads, and if so, what are your thoughts/opinions about what I might want to look for in a product. Too bad Motherease doesnt make them-my search would already be over-lol :-) |
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I've mostly used cloth pads as back-up to a Diva cup and I haven't used a ton of brands but here it is... I've used Domino pads and Lunapads and liked both. For using by themselves I think I prefer the simplicity of the Domino pads. The Lunapads are kind of a two piece system, where you place a kind of liner on top of a waterproof pad, held in place with ric-rac. I like the pantiliners (the liners are just one piece, it's just the pads that are two piece) great for back-up and the quality is excellent (my pads show almost no signs of wear and I've had some for 7-8 years!), I just prefer a one piece system.
I've used the Domino pads for two cycles now and they're fabulous as well. Only time I had a leak was when I used a pad that wasn't long enough for nighttime. I move a lot at night so I need something long, wether it's cloth or disposable. I am testing these out for my daughter (who showed signs of starting her period last year). I bought a full set and figured I'd try them out so I could give her advice in how to use them (I'd never used just pads before) and then just put them through a sanitary cycle before she needs them. Anyway they're great so far but I can't say how they'd last over the long run since they're fairly new to me. They're very soft (organic bamboo velour) and there's no PUL which is nice because they're more breathable. They're fleece backed for water resistance and that seems plenty. They way they're made there's a gap between the pad and the fleece backing (to let water & air through when washing & drying). Out of curiosity to really evaluate them I've checked and I think out of both cycles only once did any liquid go through the whole pad to even be in contact with the fleece backing so they're very absorbent. I got a few for my mom for light incontinence and last I heard they were working well for her and she liked them.
I also really like the color choices, we choose a dark pinky tie-dye pattern that seems to really hide stains well. Either that or the pads don't stain at all because even though I didn't rinse the pads at all I can't see any stains at all.
The Lunapads are a small Canadian company, very mommy friendly apparently (I remember someone here mentioning once that they went to their offices and they had a play area for staff's kids etc...). They're available on their website or from various other specialized websites (online CD stores and the like). I've also seen them in person at many natural food stores.
And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the Domino Pads were. I was expecting them to be uncomfortable when wet and they really weren't that bad at all, it wasn't a soggy/yucky feeling like I was expecting. Not sure if all pads are like that or if it's the bamboo velour but they were nice & comfy!
Domino Pads is a US wahm, far as I know they're only available on her website. They were really easy to use/wash. I just put them in a wetbag when I changed them and then at the end of my cycle I put them in the washer, soaked for about an hour, spun out the water and then washed in a regular hot cycle with detergent. Came out clean and stain-free! When I use my Lunapads as back-up for a Diva cup I don't even put them in a wet bag (since it's for back-up they're just barely soiled). I just put them in a lingerie bag and then wash with whites (not sure why I wash with whites, usually they're washed on cold like anything else, guess it's just habit).
HTH,
Karen. |
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| Wow-thanks for all of the great info. I had read up a little on Lunapads, but hadnt heard of Domino pads. I will definitely look into them further :-) |
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If you decide to buy something from Domino I recommend signing up for their newsletter and/or 'liking' them on Facebook. You'll get a discount code with both. Not sure if you can use them together or how much the Facebook one is worth but the newsletter one was worth 5%. Not a fortune but it's so easy it's worth it. And I haven't received tons of annoying emails, just one email a month and that's it.
Karen. |
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| I really like my luna pads. I just started using cloth pads in May, and they've been great. I bought one of the complete packages off the website, and I keep wishing I had few more of the liners that go on top, but if I wash every other day I'm doing alright. I find they stay in place pretty well, and the night time ones are long enough for night time. Good luck! Definitely worth the switch! |
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| I have used a few different ones. I have tried Happy heiny's and really did not like them. The did not wash well either. I have tried Fuzzy bunz just for liners, and really like those. I primarily use swaddle bees for my pads. I REALLY like them. I also use them for over night, and have not had a leak yet, but I don't move at all during the night. Hope that helps |
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hi. i use 100 percent organic cotton sorella-luna pads (not related to luna pads.) these pads are a one piece system with no waterproof backing. the liquid will not go all the way through the pad in my experience. i use the heavy/post partum ones because i have a heavy flow. if you take care of them properly (NO ironing!!) they will work properly. i made that mistake with my first set of pads and now they are ruined. they still work, but they are stiff and misshapen. the second set of pads that i bought still retained their shape and softness and still work beautifully and feel extremely comfortable. i will break that set out 3 days after i give birth in july to our new baby after i am through with the disposable absorbant underwear phase. a set of 6 heavy flow pads only costs $36 which i love since we are on a fixed income and cannot afford anything that is really really expensive. i would suggest trying these first because they are so inexpensive. they also offer a sample pad for $9 and that includes shipping. the website is
http://sorella-luna.com.
good luck to you. |
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| You all have really helped me tons in my search and I think I will try a trial of a few different brands which one-piece systems I like for pads vs. liners. I have to admit that I was a little hesistant about going cloth, but hearing your great feedback boosts my confidence :-) |
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| OK-one more question...I think I have some good ideas for organic pads...any good ideas for organic pantyliners? |
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| sorella-luna does not make panty liners i dont think. i just wear the heavy flow pads until i am finished with af. btw i forgot to mention that if you did not take a look at these pads before, they have wings that snap around your panties. actually, the smaller pad that they sell is made for light to medium flow so you can use those as panty liners i think. just remember do not iron these pads even if they are a bit warped when they come out of the dryer. they will easily flatten back out by hand. i am still wondering what in the heck to do with these 6 pads that i ironed. they still work, so i do not want to throw them away. i just don't like the fact that they retained their warped shape after ironing them. nothing i do takes that shape out because i guess the iron set it that way. |
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| I do think I will try the Sorella Luna pads as well as the SwaddleBees (I like the Stay Dry option). I like the fabric as well as the simple/basic look (Im a very classic style kinda person). My cycle still hasnt returned after the birth of my 10 week old son, so Im sure I still have plenty of time to find a pad I love as well as a liner. I thought about the Diva Cup, but I tried something similar years ago in college and thought it very uncomfortable-I also feared (probably irrationally) that the cup would tip over inside of me making a very embarassing mess. Has anyone tried the Diva Cup? |
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| you are probably thinking of the disposable instead cup. that is really not supposed to be used for menstrual flow. from what i have read, the instead cup can be used as a conception aid, or a barrier method of contraception. i have done tons of research on the diva cup and keeper as well and there is no way that they can tip over inside you because they form an airtight seal in your vagina. they do have a learning curve to them though. that is to say, they cannot be inserted exactly like a tampon. they have to be inserted just right or they will leak. i thought about using a cup as well but am really hesitant to try because i have heard horror stories about people trying to get those things out once they are full. |
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I use the Diva cup. And it is great. It is like you don't even have your period. There is a learning curve to them. By the second time I had my period I was a pro and no leaks. It really is not too hard to take out, you just push down like you are giving birth ( but minus the pain LOL) and scoop the cup out. I don't use it all the time though. I don't wear it to work, because I find that when I am doing heavy lifting ( which I do often)it slides down a little. But this only happens when I am @ work & lifting HEAVY things. Hope that helps
I forgot to mention...they won't tip over. They are sort of suctioned in there. When you take one out for the 1st time you will understand, and will never be worried it will spill over again |
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| Yeah, I WAS thinking about Instead. I cant believe its intended for contraception. It was so uncomfortable, I doubt Id feel sexy enough to even entertain the idea-lol. And, thanks for the Diva Cup info. Seeing as how I sit all day at work, and that its more comfy than instead, it might be a good option for me. I just need to see what my flow is like post baby. Ive always had a pretty light flow-and for only 3 days-so, if it remains the same, I may not need all of the protection the Diva Cup provides. |
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| My flow is about the same as yours. You can wear the cup for upto 12hrs. I have even used it over night. I just like it because it is just so much cleaner that pads. |
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| I haven't used a cup since with an IUD my flow is very light, but don't forget that post-child you might not have the same discomfort issues that you had before. You may have some initial tenderness, depending on scarring, etc., but you may find that something like that is no longer uncomfortable. |
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I've never tried the Instead personally but they're not really the same as a Diva cup. The concept is the same in that they're an internal product that 'catches' menstrual blood, but the design is quite different. So just because one didn't work well for you doesn't mean they all won't.
Sorry Firedancer but you must be mistaking the Instead for something else because it is indeed designed as a menstrual cup and not at all appropriate for contraception. All advertising and the packaging itself says exactly that...
I personally love love love my Diva Cup. There is a learning curve just because it's so different than anything most women are used to but once you get past that it's absolutly wonderful! Most comfortable thing ever!
Karen. |
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| Does anyone have opinions on pads with PUL? are they breathable? |
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| karen... i did read somewhere that some women do indeed use the instead cup for a barrior method of contraception or for a spirm catcher when they are ttc. it would be too uncomfortable to use all throughout a period and it is still disposable, so trash is still being contributed to the land fills anyway. sorry if my tone sounds kind of snippy. i am having a really bad case of nausia this morning. |
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I'm not saying I like or endorse the Instead, I've never even tried it. I'm just pointing out that you were mistaken when you said that it was made for contraception and not period use. The opposite is true.
I know that some women use it for ttc and perhaps some use it as contraception as well, but that's not it's intended purpose. And I have known at least 2-3 women (online) that found it very comfortable and always used it for their entire period. I'm sure it's like anything else, works for some, doesn't for others...
Karen. |
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