I'm sure that these questions have been asked many times before, but the search function is pretty useless, so I hope you don't mind if I ask them again.

DS is a converted clothie, AF is back ( ) so I thought it is about time I consider converting too. I've had a bit of a look around at a few of the sites, but have a couple of questions. (BTW - not interested in a Diva Cup - haven't used tampons for years, and don't like the idea of it).

How many do you have? One website suggested 20. Is that too many?

How long do they last?

The cost effectiveness of this has got me intrigued. 20 x avg price of $10 = $200 to set up. ~$6mth for disposable = 33 cycles before you are ahead! Surely they don't last that long?

To PUL or not to PUL, that is the question? (Don't like the idea of no waterproofing, but can't seem to find any liners that have it...)

Anyone found any that are just plain, no nonsense girly colours/patterns? ( SOO not a pink/flowery kind of person!)

TIA, Sorry for a bit of a ramble in the middle.

Im interested too more-so for liners rather than pads tho

Sorry OP cant help...

I just started using cloth pads (along with a Diva Cup). I have 5 at the moment but I only use them at night. And I make them myself out of left over quilting fabric, some polar fleece and flannel (like face washers). I sewed up 4 on Sunday so they dont take that long to do.

In regards to how long they last Im sure someone else has first hand experience but I would hope they would last at least as long as 33 times. I only wear each one once a month and I assume they last as long as any other cloth item eg underwear.

I have found them extremely more comfortable, more absorbent and certainly cheaper. I found a left over disposable pad in my bag the other day and thought PFFT I have a better alternative now!

I use them and love them

I have some from obsidian star (her nighttime ones and long oblong ones without the wings), some from wemoon, pleasurepuss and the likes.

Mine are a 4 years old and still going strong

I have from memory
3 night time ones
4 hour glass shaped ones
6 winged ones for various flows.

Hi My Little Pony

I am with you on the flowery/girly patterns, so when I have ordered mine I requested solid colours, which I am very happy with.

I also got mine from http://www.wemoon.com.au/enviromentalchoice.html and this site http://www.clothpadshop.com/category.php?SC=25 has a number of different online shops you can buy from.

Really depends on how heavy your period is as to how many you would need.

My period is SUPER heavy and I find they just don't cut it, I'm afraid. I use them along with a diva cup in case of leaks (fwiw, I have to empty my cup every 2.5hrs on heavy days!) but have reverted to disposables at night. I also use them at the end of my period when there isnt enough to fill the cup, but still the need for some protection.

I have some Happy Heiny's and some Lily Pads which both have PUL, and also some home made ones which I bought off ebay.

Would love to know which ones those with really, really heavy periods use?

i have a mixture of winged pads and insertable liners and also smaller panty liners with wings from www.lunapads.com
I am lucky that i dont have an awfully heavy flow - i find however that my favourite pads are my black ones - i do have pink liners that do show up stain spots.. my black ones are lovely and always look fresh and new!
All up - i have 5 pads and a few thinner panty liners. I keep a bucket of salt water in the laundry and chuck them in when i am finished.. then they go in the wash and then into the dryer usually.
at first i was a little hesitant about using them in public and i still do use disposables occasionally but they are not bulky and the fabric is so much more comfortable that i actually enjoy using them.

I have heavy flow and use pads from naturescradle.com.au they have really nice satin material and a fleece on the other side, they have a PUL layer and I havent had a leak, I use them in conjunction with a Diva cup.

I also like outrageous pads, but not the 2 part ones, only the easypads.

Thanks for the responses ladies! I've had a good look around on the websites you have suggested, and have signed up for stacks of newsletters so am hoping there is a stocking soon of something I like. I'm also considering making my own - they can't be that hard... (or can they?)

I have no idea what to expect from AF - she appeared very vague last week for the first time in 19mths! Can I just mention how much I LOVE breastfeeding, for that reason alone!

Just a couple more questions:
How many do you have in your stash? Do you wash throughout your cycle, or just once at the end?

Thanks!!

http://community.livejournal.com/diy_pads/ is a great little community
I've been lurking there for awhile now to get some ideas so when i get a sewing machine of my own i can whip some up.

My Little Pony - you are sooooo luckly. AF returned by the time each bub was 6 weeks old, all Breast Feed too.

Can I ask though how these pads are kept in place?

Kate

My nighttime ones and the hour glass shaped ones have cord fabric on the back of them and i've never had a problem with leaking even though I sleep roastery chicken style so move around a lot

My other lot have wings with a couple of snaps underneath to snap them in place

Wow. I did not even know cloth pads existed

Thanks for the info Wilding. I may have to investigate this more.

Kate

I am a cloth nut. I love cloth pads. I have just returned to work and am trying to get the hang of a Diva cup, but like you OP, I hate tampons primarily due to the pain factor and am finding the Diva to have similar issues (but that is another post in the relevant thread!)

Sooo...

How many do you have? One website suggested 20. Is that too many? I have heaps, but then I sew my own my own for friends and now friends of friends and their friends so I have quite a growing stash, as I jsut love them and get tempted by the odd one out of each batch.
But to answer your question... It depends on your flow, your washing patterns. If you have a heavy flow, you will need more, as you will need to change more frequently. If you wash every day and then allow a day to dry, then you will need enough at any time to cover say 2 days worth of flow. 20 in my opinion is way too many. I would say 4-5 med absorbancies and say 2 heavy, and a few of liners would definately be more than enough.(again depending on your flow as to what absorbancies you might like the best) I have know many women to get away will alot less. No way to 20 unless you develop some kind of obsession/ addiction to them

How long do they last?
How long they will last will depend on many factors. * how many you have in your stash and their rotation. * how well they are made and the design of such * the fabrics they are made of * your laundry habits, your individual washing machine and all those kinds of things. * in theory they should last many years. I have not yet had to throw any out due to 'wearing out' and I have some that are quite old now, and some favourites, that are definately used alot more than others. Heck I think that they get better with age.


The cost effectiveness of this has got me intrigued. 20 x avg price of $10 = $200 to set up. ~$6mth for disposable = 33 cycles before you are ahead! Surely they don't last that long? 33 cycles - easy peasy they last that long, if they are made well in the first place. and as I mentioned you wont need 20. Furthermore I have to say that even if they cost you twice as much, once you start using them, you will discover they are so much more comfortable and funky that disposables that you wouldnt care even if they did cost you that much. But as I said. They will last 3 years easy and you dont need 20

To PUL or not to PUL, that is the question? (Don't like the idea of no waterproofing, but can't seem to find any liners that have it...) Ah yes to PUL or not PUL? Well again it really depends on your individual flow, and what the absorbant core is made from and the quality of the fabrics including those that you cant see. I personally have a good mixture of both. I like both. PUL for some circumstances, and flow requirements, No PUL for others. Most of my pads have a bamboo fleece and flannelette innercore, so when sewn correctly to compress these fabrics, you really dont need PUL if you have a light to light medium flow. Also how often are you able to change should you need to. If you have a heavy flow or really need the back up due to going out for a while particularly in the first day or 2 and dont want to change when you are out, then a PUL backed is handy. PUL is great and I do love it in the first 2-3 days, but for the last 4 days I just dont need it. I acutally prefer a cotton backed pad if I dont really require the PUL as I find it sits a teeny better and somehow is just more comfy and more breathable or something. As for liners, You dont need PUL. I know obsidian star does some kind of PUL strips you can use as back up for liners should you be some inclided.

Anyone found any that are just plain, no nonsense girly colours/patterns? ( SOO not a pink/flowery kind of person!) LOL I so knwo what you mean.... hence why I started making my own. I too prefer the non grily type. I like the bold colours, red, purple, leopard print, tie died, browns, blacks etc. Some pad makers will do requests. Again Obisian Star I think has from time to time some good fabrics.

I would actually suggest looking at obsidian stars website. I believe she has the most comprehensive cloth pad info out there in the world! I have a couple of pads from her and they are good pads (not like my own personal ones of course )

Good luck with it all. I think dont go buying any starter packs or the like, just try one or two from a particular brand and see how you go and how you like them and you will find you develop a preference and then buy more of the ones you like.

Alternatively make your own. They are great, easy enough to make if you can sew and you can custom them specifically to your desires. If you can sew, you can buy the supplies easily enough online from the nappy supply sites.

Good luck with your quest.

Cheers Helen

Helenmt - thank you SOO much for your detailed response! It's so good to hear from experienced people. I think I've read just about every page on the Obsidian Star website...

I'll look into making my own too, I think. Although I might buy one or two online and take them apart to see how it's done... I've got a bit of bamboo left over from some nappy boosters, so might have a go soon (read: another thing to add to my sewing list...). Thanks for that link wilding! Have just been perusing the site!

station*masters*wife

Now worries
I suck at giving detailed replies but i try my best have always been that way



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My little pony,
Glad you like the link
There's another really good cloth pad link to called
http://community.livejournal.com/cloth_pads/
Obsidian star's one of the mods for it

Ok just to add answer your other few questions that I forgot about when I did my other post.

How many do you have in your stash? More than I need, because I sew them myself.

Do you wash throughout your cycle, or just once at the end? Yes I wash them normally every day, sometimes every second day. This is primarily becuase I do normal household washing this often and they get washed with the normal household washing. I have a small bucket (beach style bucket stolen from the kids ) on a shelf in the laundry. I fill it with cold water and just submerge the used pads to soak. When I am doing a load of washing, I simply tip the bucket water out over my herb garden outside the back door and throw the pads in the wash with the normal washing. I have never really had a problem with staining except for one pad that is topped with a white velour fabric. All the coloured ones, not even a hint of stain. If you place them in cold water as soon as you remove them, you shouldnt have too big a problem with staining, the fresh blood comes out easily. If you leave the blood to dry before soaking they will be more prone to staining. Personally unless you only wash once a week, there is no way that I would leave soaking pads sitting around for the week that I have my AF. You would have to change the soak water daily anyway.

HTH
Helen

I rinse mine whilst in the shower, much like I did with my knickers if I had a leak, then put them in a bucket and wash at the end of my cycle, or when I do a load of washing.

I have around 15 in my stash, but really only use 10 as the others I am not fond of.

I just received some I had ordered from this lady on Ebay. They are fantastic quality so I thought I'd share. Not very expensive either!

She is on Etsy too here

Hope that is helpful,

ali

I have some called Moonpads. They're a cloth pad with bright flanelette patterns of stars and moons over them. The website makes pads and liners of all different sizes and variations. They last 10+ years and I think they're incredibly comfortable and they don't smell

I have just made my own and am looking forward to trying them out once baby comes, I used cotton velour tops, 3 layers of hemp/bamboo and a botton layer of microfibre
....thanks for all the tips, I have taken them onboard for myself!!

http://www.thekindlife.com/post/pads-and-tampons-oh-my

Alicia Silverstone is a fan of cloth pads