Cloth sanitary pads - issues

[Happytimes31]

Hi all, I have eczema so trying cloth pads rather than always. Using some with a minky top, with my trusty m and s pants. However at night they just slip around terribly and it keeps me awake, plus so so itchy. Any thoughts?? Never used to have much of a problem with pads but think my eczema there is hormone related so things do change as we age 😀. Thanks

Do yours not have a popper to secure them in place??

I find once they are on, they don’t really slip.

Though I have found I leak more with these at night so swings and roundabouts

Won’t go back to shop bought liners now though

Could you use a piece of sticky back tape to secure it?

Like any pads its trial and error. Cloth pads come in all shapes and sizes you need to try a few out before you find the right ones. I have a couple of different shaped ones.

I use cloth pads and bought from Honour Your Flow. Perhaps they use different materials. There's a wool inner. I don't ever find they slip round or itch but I only get eczema on my hands and wear big M&S pants with them. I found Always incredibly uncomfortable and gave unwelcome side effects so no going back!

Or maybe a little safety pin at te top and bottom of the pad to stop movement?

Similar to you but I have psoriasis. I find reusable ones a lot kinder on the skin. Definitely try different brands and sizes if they are turning, or try bigger pants that hold everything together more. I wouldn't go back to disposables now and am preparing myself to go mooncup too.

I wouldn't use minky fleece for cloth pads tbh. I make my own and try to make the top with either brushed cotton/flannel type fabric, or a cotton knit. Synthetics next to my skin make me sweaty, then itchy so this may well be the problem.

For night time use I need a much ,longer pad and I also wear period pants with the pad to stop leaks (pants along wouldn't be enough for me).

Your knickers need to be snug to keep them in place.

I would recommend Honour Your Flow - wool backed are excellent.

I was coming on to say exactly what @msnowtybach has said about the pants. Your pants need to be nice and snug around the gusset area to keep them in place.

Isn't minky an artificial fabric? I'd try a natural fabric.

Thanks everyone, going to try a bit of sticky tape until my ones from honour your flow come, thanks for the tip!! The lady suggested I went for undyed ones so what do you all do about stains? Also do any of you have period pants. I have one pair that seem to be very cotton but the new pair is shiny Lycra and the eczema isn’t keen!

I got some period pants on Amazon. They are cottony, but not really absorbent so they prevent leaks but couldn't be used on their own.

@Happytimes31 I think I've just accepted that mine are going to get stained tbh. Most of mine for my actual period (rather than liners) are lighter colours and got stained the first month. I gave up caring after that.

I agree with PP, use natural fabric where possible such as cotton. Also try different brands to see what suits you, I really like eco rainbow.
I used cloth pads for a year then invested in some period pants, after much deliberation I went with modibodi, and I LOVE THEM! So much better than the cloth pads, which I still use occasionally, it changed my life!

I haven’t had any stained yet. They have a bamboo top liner.

I soak it then in salty cold water first before sticking them in the washing machine

Thank you so much! Have ordered some pads from honour your flow, the undyed ones. truetruetrue would you mind giving me a description of what the pants are made of and how they feel? Thanks

I spent a fortune on buying a load of reusable pads from Mother Earth (I think that was the name, can’t remember).

They’re cotton and bamboo but I find they do irritate my vulv and also, they get smelly quite quickly!

Last period I went back to Always pads because I just didn’t have the patience for them. But I really don’t want to use disposable pads if I can help it.

Maybe I’m washing mine wrong or something??

Might be the detergent that irritates you.

Synthetic fabric is the devil for sensitive skin!

Tampons?

If it helps, I didn’t wash the cheeky wipes pads or pants before I used them and once washed by me they seemed to be much less irritating (apart from the moving about issue!)

You absolutely need to wash them first before use. Even if the manufacturer prewashed the material before making them the pads will have been through a manufacturing and distribution process - even if that is someone's sewing machine on their dining table before they were popped in the post.

Cotton topped are less irritating than minky I find. Maybe have a look at different pad widths if the ones you have are too big and moving.

I rinse straight away with cold water, that takes 90% of the stains off then use a stain remover bar before the wash. Don’t let them dry out before washing.

The honour your flow ones have secure poppers and they don't move.

Yes they are great, have them now thanks to this thread.