Reusable sanitary towels

[amazedmummy]

I'm thinking of moving over to reusable sanitary towels. Partly for environmental reasons and partly because all the scents etc in disposable ones make me really uncomfortable.
Does anyone have any experience with them? What ones are good? What should I be looking for in a good one? How many should I buy? Sorry. A bit clueless here.

[BettyUnderswoob]

I just bought a pack of 6 from Amazon to see if DD likes them. They look good. She hadn't used them yet, so it'll be interesting to see if she likes them. They're called Eco Lily. No plastic involved.

[TheGinSoakedBoy]

They've gone up in price but still really good value.

[MulticolourMophead]

Reading with interest as I'm planning to get some for DD. It's suspected she has endometriosis and can have very heavy periods (which actually runs in the family, no pun intended). I used a mooncup until my periods stopped, which was fabulous. DD doesn't want to use tampons or mooncups or anything insertable. So pads it is.

[Drbrowns]

I love them. They are expensive to start but I would buy a few at a time and gradually got enough to get through a cycle. Not sure if it’s connected but it took me over a year to get pregnant with my 1st and over 6months to get pregnant with my second but I changed over to reusable pads after my second and got pregnant 1st month trying and I half think it’s because of the chemicals in the disposable ones.

[Jayneisagirlsname]

I love mine from Cheeky Wipes. So much more comfortable than disposable ones. They absorb well, wash well, don't smell and you don't get the burny sensation you get with disposables.

[ironicname]

My teenage daughters and I much prefer reusable towels. They are comfortable and don't have the sweaty plastic feel of always ultra brand. They are a bit tricky for school set up though, but ideal for home use.

[Mesmeri]

I bought reusable pads from Fiona at Hiccups and Juice (small business, lovely lass) about 3 months ago. I really like them. Fairly expensive, but when you add up how many years they'll last and how much you would have spent on disposables, it isn't really. I love them now I'm used to them. It's easy to be hygienic if you get organised with a discreet little wet bag for when you're out.

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

Does anyone know if these (any of them?) are good for VERY VERY heavy periods? By that I mean I sometimes on the heaviest days need to change the biggest heaviest pads every 1,5 hours-2 hours. Would any of the ones people tried be suitable?

[MrsAvocet]

I don't have periods anymore, but I used reusable pads for many years. Unfortunately it is so long since I bought them that I can't remember the name of the company but they were fleece. I found them much, much more comfortable than disposables. I suffer from lichen sclerosus and all dislosable san pro used to leave me in agony by the end of my period, but reusables washed in non bio detergent were a million times better. I also noticed that my periods were actually lighter, though probably lasted a day or so longer with the reusable pads. I assumed it was coincidence but then I read several other people on a forum saying they had experienced the same. Someone suggested that it is because modern disposables are so absorbent that they actually suck menstrual blood out. No idea if that's true - it sounds a bit far fetched to me to be honest - but I have to admit that my periods were lighter and less painful when I stopped using disposable items, so who knows?

[exerciseinmypyjamas]

Would also second minivivi here but they can be quite expensive.

Most of my stash is from Aliexpress though. I've got some absolutely huge 14 inch overnight pads which were around £2 each inc delivery. Searching for sigzazor menstrual pads should bring up quite a wide selection of pads.

[SweetPetrichor]

I just tried some for the first time on my last period. I bought ones from Floating Lotus via amazon. I found them very comfortable and definitely wish I'd made the move years ago. I found disposable ones were giving me a rash, and I'd moved to the 'organic cotton' disposable pads but they're expensive and it was a pain to buy them since you can't seem to get them easily in supermarkets. Since we're in lockdown and I couldn't get my cotton disposables, I decided to make the leap to reusable pads and I'm glad I did.

[SarahTancredi]

Ha yes thats one very good reason to invest. Lockdown made me extremely grateful I had them given the limits applied to san pro and the fact there are 2 of us here who need it. And the fact the scented shit was mostly what was left on otherwise empty shelves.

mona

I cant confirm which ones would he suitable for really heavy flow. Mine arent usually that heavy and i do use tampons for the first couple of days (trying to reduce usage now I dont hate wearing pads so much anymore thanks to the reusables) but they do take a hell of alot. I mean I dont even really see or realise until you rinse them just how much they have absorbed.

I definitely thumb the HYF maxis ( they have a hidden PUL layer I think are worth a shot.

Or some of the bamboo/charcoal ones listed above.

[differentnameforthis]

I made my own, and it is like wearing knickers. Very soft and comfortable. Easy to wash, and store too.

[ofwarren]

I use Bloom and Nora and they cope with my very heavy periods.
I used a disposable one for the first time in ages yesterday and the itch and sweating was awful.
I hardly know I'm wearing the reusable ones.

[Mesmeri]

For heavy days, if I'm going out, I use a liner sized pad on top of a large one (both reusable).

[withadivinebeatlesbaseline]

Really interesting, I keep meaning to look into them. Have just made the switch to reusable nappies and it’s a lot easier than I thought it would be, so this is next.

Also @TheGinSoakedBoy I love the user name and hope it relates to the same band mine does!

[vjg13]

My daughter has learning difficulties and for her last two periods has been really sore from the pads, don't know if it's some kind of allergy. Can anyone suggest a better brand than Bodyform which is what she normally uses. Failing that may try the washable suggested up thread.

[SarahTancredi]

vj

How old is your dd. ? Lilets teens do a longer pad if the teen size is the issue

Theres natura care which are disposable but also chemical free. Might be with a shot?

[amazedmummy]

@ofwarren those are the one stocked in a local independent shop so I think I'll try them so I can buy local.

[TabbyM]

I also have the Hey Girls ones from the Scottish "Trial Period" (very good), cotton ones from a local zero waste shop (also online) Lilah pads (pricey but good, easy to see if need changing) and Cheeky Wipes (ok but harder to see if need changing and can move about).

[whatnow40]

I recommend the Amazon ones too. I've been using them 3 yrs now and all still in great condition. I use them with a moon cup as I have very heavy periods.

[Barbararara]

I can’t remember where mine were from now. I’ve had to use disposables a couple of times when I got caught short and they are truly horrid to go back to when you’re used to washable pads.

[PracticalTacticalBrilliance]

Very late to this but I really like the pads from Cheeky Wipes & have a referral code for 15% off £35 if anyone can use it.

[bashcrashfall]

I have some handmade ones from etsy. I have some of the cheap ones similar to those on Amazon but I found that they leak more and I prefer ones with two poppers.

Getting snug (but not tight!) underwear is also key when using reusables.

[idlevice]

Can I mention interlabial pads - they don't seem to be well known about. They're mini pads that go where their name suggests and can supplement any pad for heavy flow or extra security. I really like them as I hate the feel of stuff coming out & these stop that.