reusable nursing pads - Stuff Parents Need

Best Reusable Nursing Pads: Bamboobies

May 21, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 79 Comments

One of the very first posts I ever wrote for this site was about the best disposable nursing pads. I had such strong opinions about them, and I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences with other moms; they were one of the reasons I started this blog in the first place, if you can believe it.

I still stand behind that review, but I didn’t know at the time that reusable nursing pads even existed. Thanks to other mommy bloggers, I learned about them and have really enjoyed trying out various types of reusable pads. I like that they are washable, that they save money, and that they are more eco-friendly (no icky chemicals on me, thanks!).

But what I don’t like about them, or at least most of them, is that they are also bulky, just like most other disposable pads. I’ll take bulky reusable pads over bulky disposable pads any day, but guess what? Those aren’t your only two choices! I have found reusable nursing pads that are SUPER trim and SUPER soft. They are like a little swatch of luxury!

They are called Bamboobies. And as the name suggests, they are made of bamboo, which is by far the softest material I have yet to try for a breast pad. They feel so darn nice! And they are super thin, too. I have some other thin reusable breast pads, but they just don’t cut the mustard. I’m usually leaking through them within 1 1/2 hours…what’s the point of that?! Bamboobies have a leak-proof outer lining, and I can tell you from experience, they truly don’t leak.

Also, Bamboobies are heart-shaped, which is much more flattering than the round disc look that most nursing pads have. The heart shape also doesn’t give you that crumpled look that you can so easily get with round pads. You can’t see your Bamboobies through your clothes, which is more than I can say for most pads.

Bamboobies are made from organic materials, but even goes beyond that wonderful step. They also use sustainable fabrics and advocate for fair labor practices by hiring locally in Colorado (hooray for Made in the USA products!).

I know I will be purchasing more of these and ditching most of my other cloth breast pads. Why wear something uncomfortable and ineffective when a product as wonderful as Bamboobies exists?

Buy it!: Babmboobies products begin at $16.99. You can also save 20% off your purchase by using code SPN20!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $16.99 credit to Bamboobies, which is enough to get you either a pair of regular or overnight Bamboobies, or you can apply the credit toward any other purchase in the shop! Woo hoo!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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(Maternity Monday) LilyPadz: Discreet, Unique, Reusable Breast Pads (GIVEAWAY!!!)

January 9, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 78 Comments

This may sound really strange, but the issue of breast pads is one of the reasons why I decided to start blogging in the first place. I was so struck by the vast difference in quality of different products on the market and I wasted quite a bit of money trying to find something that wasn’t bulky and just all-around awful to wear. I really wanted to share my thoughts on the topic with other women (and I had a million other blog post topics, as well). And so, a post on disposable breast pad comparison was one of my first!

Since that time, I’ve learned SO much about all the different options out there for breastfeeding women. We aren’t limited to what we can find in the aisles of Target, ladies! And just like I now know that reusable diapers are an awesome option for babies, I’ve been intrigued by reusable options for breast pads, as well. Anything I can do to save some money and be a bit more eco-friendly is worth checking out!

Today I’m featuring a breast pad that is really and truly unlike anything else on the market, and after having seen it for myself up close and personal, I simply must sing its praises. I will be recommending LilyPadz to every single expecting and breastfeeding mama I know, for sure!

LilyPadz are reusable breast pads, but they are not made of any sort of cloth. They are made of silicone, which as you know, does NOT absorb any liquid. Scratching your head about how in the heck this could work as a breast pad? They are actually designed to keep your breasts from leaking at all in between feedings! AMAZING! They have a slightly tacky side that, when applied correctly, keeps pressure on the nipple and keeps you leak free until it is time to remove them and feed the baby. Now, I don’t think they can work a miracle and keep you leak-free for 8 hours when you have a newborn, or anything, but when used properly, women report great success with them.

I do think that this will not be the product I use for the first few weeks of breastfeeding, as I recall that being a time when my milk was sort of out of control. It was also a time when I needed to make frequent use of lanolin products. While you can use lanolin with LilyPadz, you are advised to use it sparingly and be extra careful to wash them well each day. I think that I’ll just turn to these once my hormones get a bit more under control and breastfeeding becomes slightly more predictable.

While I can’t yet speak to their effectiveness at preventing leaks, I have practiced applying LilyPadz and I can say that they are easy to apply. I’m also happy to report that they are SUPER DUPER THIN. Like, so thin I couldn’t really believe it. I may have actually squealed a little bit at the thought of getting to wear something so discreet this time around. Joy of joys!

LilyPadz do require an oil-cutting soap to be used on the pads daily in order to keep the tacky side working properly. I received a starter kit, which is what I would recommend to anyone interested in this product. It comes with one pair of LilyPadz, one bottle of LilyWash (a silicone cleanser) and one box of LilyWipes, which are great to use if you are away from home and need to clean the pads.

LilyPadz are a fabulous product, and I would highly recommend them to anyone! You can purchase a starter kit for $36.95, and can purchase them online here or check out the store locator for your nearest retail option.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a LilyPadz starter kit!

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Washable Nursing Pads for Evening Use

March 13, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 73 Comments

Breastfeeding for me has been a very satisfying experience, though it has certainly had its share of challenges (which is another post altogether). For those of you out there who are just getting started, I promise that things really will get better in time! I can’t promise that it will become the easiest thing you’ve ever done, but it will get better.

Several months ago I wrote some initial thoughts about disposable nursing pads. My opinion still holds that if you are going to use disposables, the Lansinoh pads are the best ones on the market. There will come a time, though, when you really don’t need to wear nursing pads very much during the day. This was such a, “Hallelujah!” experience for me when it happened. I seemed to need nursing pads during the day for longer than the average nursing mama (I was still using them daily until Darah was about 4 1/2 months old). Now I really only need them at night. Since things have calmed down a bit and I don’t need to use them during the day, I decided to give washable nursing pads a try, and I have to say, they are working really well for me!

Let me introduce you to Brandi, and her super fun Etsy shop, Pannaz. The nursing pads at Pannaz caught my eye for a few reasons. 1. I loved the blue damask pattern that was offered (it is SO me!). 2. The price for a set just rocked my socks off ($2.00!?! Wow!). 3. They are made with 4 layers of flannel, and as a result are really soft. After spending months using something with a plastic backing, this sounded heavenly.

Brandi sent me a set of nursing pads to try out, and I have really enjoyed using them. Adding them to my laundry pile is no big deal, at all. They have been washed many times at this point, and all the stitching is still in place, and the fabric gets softer after each wash. I don’t have experience using this type of nursing pad at the beginning stages of breastfeeding, and I can imagine that they aren’t quite as absorbent as the Lansinoh pads. They are also a bit thicker, so I could see where wearing them out in public could be difficult, depending on the type of shirt you are wearing. But for the second half of the breastfeeding experience, I think these are absolutely perfect. I would recommend that you get at least 4 pair of nursing pads so that you have enough to get you through until you do laundry again (assuming that you do laundry every few days).

Brandi’s shop has more than just nursing pads, and I wanted to highlight just a few of my personal favs that she sells. Check out her reusable bags, her large blankets for babies and toddlers (priced so beautifully at $9!) and her soft-soled shoes (watch out for a review of these in the coming weeks). I am really impressed with the products offered on this site. Brandi gets her inspiration from her own kids as well as her love for bags and shoes. It is awesome when someone has the talent to see something she loves and then make it herself! Brandi says, “I truly enjoy the whole process of the creation…from designing the item to picking the fabrics for it to creating a finished product.” You really can see the love she puts into her products, which is something you just don’t find with mass-produced merchandise.

Buy It! I see these as one of those things that new moms have no idea that they need, but that they will thank you for if you get it for them! I’m making a note to buy some of these to include in baby shower gifts. At $2 each, you really can’t go wrong! Buy a few sets for yourself or an expecting mom you know today!

Win It! Brandi wants to get you off to a great start with breastfeeding, or help you go green if you are currently breastfeeding. She is offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader 2 sets of reusable nursing pads. Woo hoo! The contest will run until Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the two patterns you would choose for your nursing pads (you can also choose 2 sets in the same pattern). You will win what you choose, so be sure and pick out your favorite pattern!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only 1 extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Become a fan of Pannaz on Facebook
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
6. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received product samples in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.