Any reusable pads/liners users?

[bubbaray]

OK, so I'm just about ready to order a Diva from a local site here, its 20% off currently. I could pick one up at the drugstore tomorrow for full price (instant gratification, LOL).

BUT, this site has all of its products on sale and I thought maybe I should try out some reusable liners. DH thinks I've lost my mind. I could get matching bags for the Diva and liners too. Because, really, its all about matching stuff for me.

Anyone use reusable liners?? I can't imagine anyone I know IRL using them and I am CERTAINLY NOT going to start that conversation, LOL.

Help!

[bubbaray]

Bumpity bump bump.

Come on, crunchy mamas. Tell me what you think....

[s_gosney]

I can't give you any info, but just wanted to say that I am sitting here chuckling thinking about how one would go about starting such a convo IRL. :)

[brittone2]

nak-
yes-started w/ them PP (after 2 yo dd's birth). Bought from Jen of mom and me creations-not sure if she's back to sewing after Samuel's death :(

[m448]

I use pads I make myself. I make the kids diapers and just use the scraps up - would never want to do it for a living. Mine are simple but just what I wanted. I just traced a winged pad that I had around and lengthened/expanded the back for good coverage then used two layers of flannel for the soaker plus another layer as the top and a bit of PUL for the bottom. Added a few snaps and tada done.

What I didn't expect was them to be so functional AND thinner than any pad I'd ever bought in the store. I toss them in the wash with the diapers.

eta: here's a pic of the pads when I made them
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v34/marielle448/IMG_3972.jpg

The floral and doggie are again scraps, normally I'm not a fan of cutesy for myself.

[bubbaray]

I ordered these ones
http://www.lunapads.com/product.aspx?ProductID=23&deptid=35&AddStickers=False

Local business (yeah me for supporting it), plus they had the cheapest local price on the Diva cup that I could find ($34.99, minus 20%). I figured if I was gonna get the Diva over the Mooncup or other (b/c the Diva is Made in Canada), I might as well order it from a local business too.

Anyway, I should have them all by next week. I'll report back with what I think.... They are custom making me the pantyliners in "Cocoa Kaleidescope", which to me looks like the Carnival fabric that my old bEco was in! :)

FWIW, I also ordered their Luna pouch, Pochette and peri bottle (so I can rinse the Diva at work if I need to). Go big or go home, LOL!

[brittone2]

LOL. You sound committed ;)

[bubbaray]

or maybe I should BE committed.... ;)

[maestramommy]

I do have a stash of reusable liners that I bought from Jen Backus. They worked pretty well, but back when dh was doing laundry, he absolutely REFUSED to touch them beyond stuffing them into the right machines. I had to hang them up to dry. I guess it's moot now that I'm doing the laundry.

[mamaoftwins]

Go big or go home, LOL!

:hysterical:

Ok, so I was all gung-ho about the Diva and reusable pads yesterday, but haven't been able to bring myself to order yet ... I'm still thinking about it, but you're making me just want to go for it! :)

[karolyp]

I'm not a big fan of luna pads - but I really like these two etsy sellers:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5159753

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5733338 (she has great prices!)

[bubbaray]

I'm not a big fan of luna pads - but I really like these two etsy sellers:



Crap. OK, why not. I could still cancel my order....

They are local, they are cute.... I'll be using them only as pantyliners with a Diva cup.


HELP!

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

I use Glad Rags, I just started a few months ago. So far so good...

[hellbennt]

i'll come out of lurkdom, LOL! been thinking about getting pads, too...but how do you wsh them? I don't actually even mind hand-washing..bcse I don't see how I could put them in w/ the rest of the laundry...but what to do when out & about? a wet bag? I love bags, LOL! but wouldnt it be stinky in my purse? ack.

[bubbaray]

i'll come out of lurkdom, LOL! been thinking about getting pads, too...but how do you wsh them? I don't actually even mind hand-washing..bcse I don't see how I could put them in w/ the rest of the laundry...but what to do when out & about? a wet bag? I love bags, LOL! but wouldnt it be stinky in my purse? ack.


I plan on washing them in the washing machine (and possibly in the dryer -- I asked the lady at Luna pads and that is what she does). I'll do a small load of just them (all at once?). She said she soaks hers first.

Luna pads sells Moon Pad wet bags (http://www.lunapads.com/product.aspx?ProductID=88&deptid=6&) for when you are out and about. I don't think I'll need those much as I'll be using the Divacup.

I ordered the Luna Pouch (http://www.lunapads.com/product.aspx?ProductID=154&deptid=6&)and the Pochette (http://www.lunapads.com/product.aspx?ProductID=155&deptid=6&)

Lunapads has a YouTube video about transportation options: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkuzvMgYFzA&feature=channel_page


HTH

[hellbennt]

there's everything on youtube:D
thanks!

[MamaKath]

I use pads I make myself. I make the kids diapers and just use the scraps up - would never want to do it for a living. Mine are simple but just what I wanted. I just traced a winged pad that I had around and lengthened/expanded the back for good coverage then used two layers of flannel for the soaker plus another layer as the top and a bit of PUL for the bottom. Added a few snaps and tada done.

What I didn't expect was them to be so functional AND thinner than any pad I'd ever bought in the store. I toss them in the wash with the diapers.

eta: here's a pic of the pads when I made them
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v34/marielle448/IMG_3972.jpg

The floral and doggie are again scraps, normally I'm not a fan of cutesy for myself.

Those are some of the nicest ones I've seen! I keep looking around trying to decide what to order and most of them look like they aren't quite right. LMK when you open up on Etsy! ;) JK. :) Where can you buy PUL? Can you only purchase it online?

[m448]

LOL - mamakath.

I usually buy the pul through coops on yahoo when I don't have to have it right away (right now there's one on yahoo - colormeflannel that just wrapped up and it was around $5/yard). Otherwise there are vendors online that sell it in stores (like sewzannes, she's got super fast turnaround on her orders). I squeak out as much as I can from my diaper fabrics so I make the diapers, then use the scraps for breast pads (round like coasters) and my pads.

If you're interested in making some I can send you a free tracing of my pattern. It's just a soaker and then the piece for the winged portion. Just let me know. Oh and thank you so much for the compliment.

[MamaKath]

LOL - mamakath.

I usually buy the pul through coops on yahoo when I don't have to have it right away (right now there's one on yahoo - colormeflannel that just wrapped up and it was around $5/yard). Otherwise there are vendors online that sell it in stores (like sewzannes, she's got super fast turnaround on her orders). I squeak out as much as I can from my diaper fabrics so I make the diapers, then use the scraps for breast pads (round like coasters) and my pads.

If you're interested in making some I can send you a free tracing of my pattern. It's just a soaker and then the piece for the winged portion. Just let me know. Oh and thank you so much for the compliment.
OK now I am thinking I'll need a serger to go with the PUL, lol. DH isn't going to be fond of the "But honey, I am saving us money by buying all of these things instead of the stupid disposable pads each month, lol. :hysterical: I would like the pattern, that would be great. Thank you!!! :)

[caleymama]

Go big or go home, LOL! :ROTFLMAO: :bighand:

I have a Diva and reusable pads/liners, which I definitely need when I use the Diva (I have super heavy cycles).

I just searched around for some of my favorite stuff online and a lot has changed since I bought some of it - some isn't available any more :(. Of the stuff that is:
some liners from Pink Lemonade Shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5257355&ga_search_query=pinklemonade&ga_search_type=seller_usernames) at etsy
pads from seller joyfulllivingnaturals (http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/joyfullivingnaturals_W0QQ_dmdZ1QQ_in_kwZ1QQ_ipgZ50 QQ_sopZ12?_rdc=1) at eBay

As for soiled pads, when I'm home I just rinse them and put them in small Bummies tote bag (http://store.naturalbabies.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=2814) left over from our CDing days that I hang on the inside bathroom doorknob. When I'm ready to wash them I take the whole bag to the washer, do a small, short cold cycle w/ no detergent and then a small cycle on hot w/ detergent (less than I'd use for a normal load). I hang them all to dry on a rack all the time. For liners that are used at the tail end of the cycle or mid-cycle, I just put those in with my normal laundry and wash with a regular load and then hang to dry. For storage while out and about I just use a small ziploc for anything soiled (really don't need it very often) but would love to get a Happy Tushies Momma Pad Bag (http://www.happytushies.com/category_s/53.htm) or an SMJAE Mama Cloth Bag (http://hyenacart.com/SMJAE/index.php?c=12) at some point. I had a bigger SMJAE wetbag for diapers that I loved but it's long been sold.

[caleymama]

I'm not a big fan of luna pads - but I really like these two etsy sellers:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5159753

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5733338 (she has great prices!)

Both of those look great! :thumbsup:

[daisymommy]

LOVE them! There was actually a long post over in the diaper forum last year about "mama-cloth" I gave my whole glowing testimonial about how it has changed my life :D

I just came back to add that I did a search in the baby-butts forum for "mama cloth" hoping to find that thread for you, and about 10 pages worth of old stuff came up! Man, we really talked about that subject a lot back in the day!

[karolyp]

Crap. OK, why not. I could still cancel my order....

They are local, they are cute.... I'll be using them only as pantyliners with a Diva cup.


HELP!


Sorry for the late reply! But i got a luna pad (not liner) that don't like cause it has a rickrac strap to hold the insert in place. i got a gladrag liner, but didn't like that either cause it was too small. my fav liners are the ones from moonbee's and lola's loft, and i love lola's loft pads.

as far as washing them - i put them in a zip lock bag at work, then, once home, put in a sink of cold water to sit in overnight. then in the morning i rinse out with cold water and put in a bag (a reusable grocery shopping bag) till it's time to do laundry. Then the night before I start with the laundry, i put all the pads in a bucket with oxiclean and HOT water and let them sit overnight, the next day i rinse again and throw them in the machine with all the other clothes and they come out nice and clean!

does this help?

eta - clarification!

eta one more thing - i really like the pads from moonbee's too because their made from hemp and because they completely unfold which helps a lot with cleaning.

[bubbaray]

THANK YOU!!!

Yes, the Lunapads "pads" are different than the pantyliners. I don't think I"d like the ric/rack set up either. The lady said that was so you could add more liners to adjust for your flow. The pantyliners aren't like that, more like the Etsy ones you linked to.

Anyway, I hope they work out. THanks for the GREAT instructions. The pantyliners I got come with a mesh washing bag too, so that is one less thing for me to go out and purchase.

[bubbaray]

:ROTFLMAO:As for soiled pads, when I'm home I just rinse them and put them in small Bummies tote bag (http://store.naturalbabies.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=2814) left over from our CDing days that I hang on the inside bathroom doorknob. When I'm ready to wash them I take the whole bag to the washer, do a small, short hot cycle w/ no detergent and then a small cycle on hot w/ detergent (less than I'd use for a normal load). I hang them all to dry on a rack all the time. For liners that are used at the tail end of the cycle or mid-cycle, I just put those in with my normal laundry and wash with a regular load and then hang to dry. For storage while out and about I just use a small ziploc for anything soiled (really don't need it very often) but would love to get a Happy Tushies Momma Pad Bag (http://www.happytushies.com/category_s/53.htm) or an SMJAE Mama Cloth Bag (http://hyenacart.com/SMJAE/index.php?c=12) at some point. I had a bigger SMJAE wetbag for diapers that I loved but it's long been sold.


Just an FYI, the Happy Tushies Momma Pad bag and the LunaPads Moon bag are the same or virtually the same bag -- Happy Tushies makes it for LunaPads.

[bubbaray]

If you're interested in making some I can send you a free tracing of my pattern. It's just a soaker and then the piece for the winged portion. Just let me know. Oh and thank you so much for the compliment.


OK, I'm curious. I wonder if I could make my own liners.

What is PUL? What is a soaker??

Sorry, I have never CDd, so I am out of the loop....

[JTsMom]

PUL is a waterproof fabric that keeps diapers/pads from leaking. I think it's supposed to be a "safer" version of something like vinyl. A soaker is the thing you stuff in a diaper to absorb the bulk of the pee.

[m448]

What JTsmom said Melissa. The soaker is the inner absorbent layer (I use about 3 layers of double napped flannel for the inner hourglass shape. Then I cut one large layer of flannel (the shape of the pad which includes the wings) and one large layer of PUL. The pul means Polyurethane Laminate which is basically a knit polyester that is laminated on the inner side to make it waterproof. With the PUL it allows me to make a super thin pad that never leaks. I first sew the hourglass soaker to the flannel top layer with a zig zag stitch then I stack the PUL with the flannel sandwich on top and surge around the edges. If you didn't have a serger you could just do a tighter spaced zig zag around the edges with minimal unraveling. Best part is you can make it any shape that fits you. I like a more bulbous rear to the pad to catch that wonderful gush you get by standing up LOL.

Mamakath just PM me with your address and I'll send that right out.

[caleymama]

Just an FYI, the Happy Tushies Momma Pad bag and the LunaPads Moon bag are the same or virtually the same bag -- Happy Tushies makes it for LunaPads.

Excellent to know - thanks! I haven't shopped for this kind of stuff in a while.

[m448]

As far as washing I'm pretty pragmatic (read: lazy) so I think that diapers and pads don't need to be stain free or pretty for their function LOL. However, my pads really don't get stains. Even in the PP stage I was using a small hydrogen peroxide bottle to spritz on the pads before dumping in the dry diaper pail as a precaution but honestly I stopped that and my pads were still stain free with no rinsing. FWIW I usually wash diapers about every other day.