After reading about Dahlia Cloth, don't miss out on the Tula giveaway!
______
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of cloth diapers - they've saved our family countless dollars (especially because they were able to be reused for subsequent children, including a niece and nephew!), they feel better for baby and they are just plain CUTE. There are tons of reusable cloth products that are gaining popularity in the recent years, but it wasn't until the birth of my second child where I dove head first into the world of reusable cloth menstural pads.
Why buy reusable menstrual pads? It's pretty much the same reason why you would choose cloth diapers over disposable, and honestly most disposable products period. They save me money, they are soft and comfortable, they can be pretty, they are much nicer to the environment and you will hear this from a lot of cloth pad users - your period is actually lighter. There are many speculations as to why, and one might call me a conspiracy theorist, but part of me wonders if all those extra chemicals in disposable products affect the menstrual cycle to last longer because that means you need more of their products and they get more money. Even disregarding that, cloth is a beneficial alternative because you are now removing that chemical contact with your body. Montsano stays out of my vagina.
Cloth menstrual pads go by many names; mama cloth, R.U.M.P.S. (re useable menstrual products), moon pads or moon rags. They are useful for women through many phases of life - menstruation, post partum healing, urinary incontience or simply as panty liners. They come in different lengths, shapes and materials.
Many women get a little bit of an "ew" factor when they think about how they will have to care for these pads. Honestly, it takes almost no special care at all. Depending on how many cloth pads you have, you can wash them all at the same time at the end of your cycle or you may have to wash more often to have what you need. I recommend keeping a small wetbag around to place soiled pads into until you are ready to wash.
If you are currently cloth diapering - just throw them in the same load as your diapers. If you aren't, you can wash them by hand with warm water and air dry or wash them in the washer with warm water and dry them on low. I've washed mine with dark towels or sheets without issue. It's also recommended that you rinse them out prior to storing them in the wetbag to prevent staining and making it easier to wash. It's really not rocket science! And if you fall in love, which I am sure you will, you'll grow a stash that will hopefully be enough for one cycle so all you have to do is wash them all at the end and put them away for next month.
So when Amy, the owner of Buttons Diapers, whom I know personally and love her line of cloth diapers, approached me with the opportunity to review her brand new line of cloth menstrual pads called Dahlia Cloth, I jumped for joy! I've been a fan of Buttons Diapers for as long as they have been on the market and knew that the attention to quality, price point and useability from Amy and the Buttons Diapers team would be evident in this expansion of their lines.
If you are currently cloth diapering - just throw them in the same load as your diapers. If you aren't, you can wash them by hand with warm water and air dry or wash them in the washer with warm water and dry them on low. I've washed mine with dark towels or sheets without issue. It's also recommended that you rinse them out prior to storing them in the wetbag to prevent staining and making it easier to wash. It's really not rocket science! And if you fall in love, which I am sure you will, you'll grow a stash that will hopefully be enough for one cycle so all you have to do is wash them all at the end and put them away for next month.
So when Amy, the owner of Buttons Diapers, whom I know personally and love her line of cloth diapers, approached me with the opportunity to review her brand new line of cloth menstrual pads called Dahlia Cloth, I jumped for joy! I've been a fan of Buttons Diapers for as long as they have been on the market and knew that the attention to quality, price point and useability from Amy and the Buttons Diapers team would be evident in this expansion of their lines.
The Dahlia Cloth pads come in three lengths - small (8.5"), medium (11") and long (13.5"). The size you will need may depend on what part of your cycle you are using them for and your own body shape. I like to use longer pads for my heaviest days, overnight or post partum. Shorter pads are nice for the start and end of your period. It's nice to have a variety of lengths to choose from, because for me I have some cycles that are heavier than others, and I can adjust which pads I'd like to use that day.
Dahlia Cloth pads are simple to use. Lay your pad down onto your underwear, just like you would for a disposable pad with wings, with the absorbant side facing you. Tuck the wings under your underwear and snap together. You can expect to wear a cloth pad anywhere from a couple hours to up to five during the day, or longer and more absorbant ones for overnight.
Dahlia Cloth pads are simple to use. Lay your pad down onto your underwear, just like you would for a disposable pad with wings, with the absorbant side facing you. Tuck the wings under your underwear and snap together. You can expect to wear a cloth pad anywhere from a couple hours to up to five during the day, or longer and more absorbant ones for overnight.
Want to know a cute little secret that I love about Dahlia Cloth? If your baby is also wearing Buttons Diapers, only you would know that you and your baby may be matching that day! When I look at my cloth pad stash a smile crosses my face because I get to choose between many different colored patterns or prints. Dahlia Cloth currently comes in Afternoon Tea (a floral print), Meadow (leaves) and Midnight (black).
The pad is made up of several different layers that play an important role to being an effective pad that is comfortable and leak free. The top layer (which comes into contact with you) is a soft fleece. The core of the pad is absorbant microfiber. It is backed by leak-proof PUL (poly urithane liner), which are those prints that I mentioned above. PUL Is the same material that makes cloth diapers and wet bags leak proof. Being a Buttons Diaper user I immediately saw that the same materials are used for Dahlia Cloth. I can rest assured that if these materials can handle the dirty work that my children do to them, they can certainly handle mine!
I tried the medium and long length pads and saved them for my heaviest flow days. They felt comfortable, didn't slide around in my underwear and never leaked. I can understand the trepidation that a woman feels when trying out a new menstrual product - wondering if they can leave the home in fear of having an embarrassing leak. I can say with confidence that I didn't have any worries about that happening.
For this review I had a couple of my mama cloth friends chime in on their thoughts of Dahlia Cloth too. Both of these friends are experienced mama users; all three of us actually worked on The Pad Project that I shared about with you in the beginning of the year. Luda is primarily a Cup user but wanted to have some pads for "just in case," and she loved how thin and comfortable Dahlia Cloth felt. Kelsey was so excited to see the beautiful prints on the pads, "It truly makes a difference for me having something beautiful that time of the month. I am a mom of three boys and trust me my pads are the only place I get to see flowers and the colors pink and purple in my house!" Kelsey tends to have a really heavy flow and she found that the large size pads worked great for her during the day and night.
Buttons Diapers is excited to offer Pierogie Mama readers with the chance to win a 3-pack of Dahlia Cloth pads, in their choice of length (small, medium, long) and print (Afternoon Tea, Meadow or Midnight). Enter via the giveaway widget below, see rules for details.
You can purchase them through Buttons Diapers and on Amazon.
Buttons Diapers is excited to offer Pierogie Mama readers with the chance to win a 3-pack of Dahlia Cloth pads, in their choice of length (small, medium, long) and print (Afternoon Tea, Meadow or Midnight). Enter via the giveaway widget below, see rules for details.
Disclosure: This giveaway is hosted by The Pierogie Mama, the prize is sponsored by Buttons Diapers. This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions and images are my own. I received product in exchange for my honest review, no other compensation was provided. Please see the giveaway widget for full details and rules.
Please email me at thepierogiemama@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to see your product featured.
I noticed you mentioned mama cloth lasts 3 years or so....I should check to see how long I've been using it because most of mine hardly look used! I'm hopeful they'll last much longer :)
ReplyDeleteI really really love the Afternoon Tea print! Would it be weird to ask my hubby for some of those for Christmas?! haha I love the different sizes, perfect for cup users or for heavier days, etc!
ReplyDeleteI'm really trying to be as green as possible. I think mama cloth is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI'm really curious about the microfiber core! I wonder how it compares to my other pads!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that afternoon tea print. WANT!
ReplyDeleteMy next foray into cloth will likely be postpartum again, I need to replenish my stash!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to try mama cloth since I first learned of it on a blog about a year ago. I am allergic to the latex in many regular pads and pantyliners, so it would really help me out. I love the prints that the Dahlia pads offer as well, so these seem like a great option.
ReplyDeleteI love that the fleece is what comes in contact with the skin! If it feels like the fleece on our Buttons diapers inserts, I know that would be super soft and comfy!
ReplyDeleteI love the comment "...if these materials can handle the dirty work that my children do to them, they can certainly handle mine!". Why did I never think of it that way? LOL. I probably would have tried cloth for myself much sooner than I did. Now I definitely don't want to go back. So hard to choose between the patterns. I like them all. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy period seems to be about to start but maybe I can get some before next month!
ReplyDeleteI love the afternoon tea print. It is by far my favourite - totally want to get one of the enormous wet bags in that fabric ;)
ReplyDeleteI have only heard of them being call mama cloth! I have never heard them called R.U.M.P.S. or moon pads! Very cool!!
ReplyDeleteStarted my cycle today and I really wish I had these to try!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to try mama cloth. Seeing his post makes me want to try it even more. Thank you for this review!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is the autumn tea print. The other options buttons/dahlia currently offers don't really turn my crank, but that's ok because I love the blue and pink roses.
ReplyDeleteI like that these are PUL backed. I always worry about leaks.
ReplyDeleteIt's so strange how pretty mama cloth that no one else sees that has such a purpose as it does, makes a mama feel better, lol.
ReplyDeleteI love that the backing has PUL for extra security against leaks!
ReplyDeleteI'm a cloth pad user but need to expand my horizons to different brands, as the one i'm currently using is a bit bulky. I hadn't actually heard of this brand yet so I look forward to trying them!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite print is the autumn tea... I love the contrast of the colours and it's so feminine and pretty. I love how the cloth diaper companies are getting on the rump train too :) it just makes sense
ReplyDeleteI'd love it if they offered these in all the prints of their diapers!...or at least the non-kid prints!
ReplyDeleteI love that they can go for at least a couple of hours at a time!! I'm so in love with the Afternoon Tea print!
ReplyDeleteI learned that these pads are back with leakproof pul fiber!!
ReplyDeleteI wish they had these in their "thicket" print!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking into trying cloth pads for a while. I haven't yet started my first postpartum period but I know it will come so I've been researching cloth pads as well as the diva cup. I still haven't decided which if either I'm going to go with but your review is very helpful. Thank you!
ReplyDelete