What are cloth pads?
I think the term "mama cloth" became popular because a lot of moms will switch over to cloth pads if they are cloth diapering, as they can all be washed together. Plus teens usually aren't as concerned about the environment or would think something like cloth pads would be gross. I know teen me would have wanted nothing to do with cloth pads.
And I think calling it "mama cloth" can detour younger girls more from trying it as they see it as an "old" thing or a "mom" thing and won't even consider it as an option, so I will always refer to them as cloth pads or reusable menstrual pads.
Making the switch to reusable menstrual pads
My main reason for the switch was because it is more environmentally friendly. You can wash and reuse cloth. My only other reason for the switch is like with cloth diapers, there are so many cute and fun prints!
Some women are concerned about the "chemicals" in disposables and switch for that reason. I never really cared enough to look into it, to me, it sounded similar to anti-vax arguments, where there really is no truth to it.
Like a lot of women who decide to use cloth pads, I did so after I became a mom. We already used cloth diapers and that was going well, so I decided now would be the perfect time to try cloth pads as I can wash them with the diapers.
I am also a stay at home mom, which means I hardly go out, so I don't have to worry about dealing with cloth while out and about. I actually still use disposables if I am leaving the house as it is just more convenient and I don't have to worry about carrying around a dirty cloth pad.
The thing I didn't know when I started looking into cloth menstrual pads was just how many different sizes, designs, and absorbancies there were! I decided to start by going with ones that were the similar size of my disposables and I only started with seven as you can see in the image below:
Some women are concerned about the "chemicals" in disposables and switch for that reason. I never really cared enough to look into it, to me, it sounded similar to anti-vax arguments, where there really is no truth to it.
Like a lot of women who decide to use cloth pads, I did so after I became a mom. We already used cloth diapers and that was going well, so I decided now would be the perfect time to try cloth pads as I can wash them with the diapers.
I am also a stay at home mom, which means I hardly go out, so I don't have to worry about dealing with cloth while out and about. I actually still use disposables if I am leaving the house as it is just more convenient and I don't have to worry about carrying around a dirty cloth pad.
The thing I didn't know when I started looking into cloth menstrual pads was just how many different sizes, designs, and absorbancies there were! I decided to start by going with ones that were the similar size of my disposables and I only started with seven as you can see in the image below:
I knew this wouldn't make it through more than a day, but I didn't want to invest in something I wasn't sure I would stick to just yet. I, of course, ended up loving them, and am now working on building my stash!
The cloth is surprisingly more comfortable despite the pads feeling thicker. This could be because they are designed to fit my body better, whereas all disposables are one size fits all, which they really don't in my opinion. Plus the material is softer, whereas disposable pads are so scratchy and itchy.
Where can you buy cloth pads?
My favorite place to shop, however, is Etsy! There are so many crafters out there that make cloth pads and the best part is most of them will make custom pads for you! As I mentioned before, there are tons of options out there and that is what makes cloth better than disposables as you can have them designed to fit your body shape a lot better.
Here are some of my favorite Etsy shops for cloth pads:
How many do I need?
I have irregular cycles, so finding the right number of pads has been tricky. I currently have 26 total and don't feel it's enough. Some cycles I bleed more than others and find myself running out. Other cycles I have just the right amount. It also depends on how often you wash, I usually do one wash in the middle of my cycle, so if I didn't, I would probably need double the amount I have.I think the key when making the switch is to start with a few, and just add until you feel you have the perfect number. If you are like me, you would still have some disposables hanging around so you will have a backup if you run out.
I haven't been brave enough to go cloth at night, so I do still use disposables at night, and as stated before, I prefer to use disposables when I'm out of the house. If you, however, want to make a complete switch, a wet bag will also be something you want to have so you have a way to store the pads when you are out of the house.
How do you wash them?
If you already cloth diaper, then you just wash them with your cloth diapers. If you do not cloth diaper, you would first wash them in a normal cold wash or prewash, and then you would want to do a heavy duty cold or hot wash. I prefer to use hot water for the main wash as I personally feel it gets things cleaner, but cold water is fine too.
A lot of sites will recommend hand rinsing them in cold water first. Even some of the shops I buy from give you care instructions, and they often say to rinse and ring out before washing. I find this isn't necessary as the cold prewash does the rinsing for you. My pads have come out clean without a problem, even the prints with white on them come out unstained! However, If you want to rinse before washing, that's totally up to you! Like with cloth diapers, it's all about finding a wash routine that works for you.
For drying, I just throw them in the dryer on medium heat. If you want, you can hang dry them or use low heat.
Have you made the switch?
Have you used cloth pads? How did it go for you? Let me know in the comments!
