I regret to announce that effective immediately Mama Cloth Boutique will not be selling cloth pads to USA Customers. FDA regulations states that Cloth Pads are classified as "Medical Devices" and require FDA annual registration of $3700 (which will increase regularly). As a small business (Work At Home Mom). I cannot absorb these fees at this time. I do hope these rules are temporary. Every cloth pad maker shipping to the States is affected, and there are many of us pushing for changes to be made. Please visit the links below & sign the petition!
Please note this is only effecting CLOTH MENSTRUAL PADS. Accessories & other items such as Wet Bags, Wrappers, Nursing Pads, Baby Wipes, Teething Covers, Mug Cozy's will all be available for purchase to USA customers but we will not be able to ship Cloth Pads. I am very sad to do this and I do apologize to all of my lovely U.S ladies. I am very grateful for all of your business but we just cannot absorb such a hefty annual fee! As a small WAHM shop we have no choice but to suspend the shipping of Cloth Menstrual Pads to USA customers at this time. All other items will ship to the United States, but not cloth pads.
Please be patient as I update my website to reflect this over the next few days. USA Customers may still order from us but if pads are purchased you will be refunded for those items & we will ship the balance of your order.
A HUGE thank you to my U.S. Customers & friends for all of your support the past 2 years! I thank you all for the support and I do hope to see you return and order other reusable cloth items.
My take on all of this...A quick rant.
Pads should not be labelled as "MEDICAL DEVICES". This implies that menstruation is a medical problem or disease. Natural function of our bodies is not a medical problem and Cloth Pads should not be labelled as such. The FDA is not respecting a women's right to have a choice about which products they use to manage menstruation. If they really cared they would be a bit more concerned with
investigating the toxic ingredients in 'FDA Approved' disposable
products and going after those companies. This is why I refuse to pay this ridiculous fee. Disposable pads are generally loaded with toxins (and FDA approved) which tells us they really don't care about your protection.
How are Cloth Pads any different from selling undergarment items? Cloth Diapers? Baby Wipes? Cosmetic Pads? I can't help but have a feeling that with the huge trend and increase of Reusable Products these past few years we must have all put a nice dent in brand name disposables stocks. This has to be affecting someones pocket hence why they are cracking down more than ever. These fees are smothering Canadian WAHM businesses who are forced to freeze shipping to the USA and putting USA makers out of business.Thanks FDA! Also thank you for not allowing my USA customers to make the choice about the products they use for menstruation and limiting there availability.
Please check out the links below & PLEASE, PLEASE sign the petition to lower/eliminate the registration fee for Pad Makers! This doesn't just effect the makers. This effects YOU! Your options will now be limited to those companies (generally large corporations) that can afford these fees & your selection to reusable cloth pads and menstrual cups will be more limited.
First, let me say thanks for considering Mama Cloth! Your wallet & your lady bits will thank you!!! :)
I cloth diapered my daughter, used
cloth baby wipes, nursing pads, and now our family has made the switch to all kinds of reusable products including
Kitchen Cloth, Cloth Cosmetic Pads, Hankies, Mama Cloth & more! The savings both
financially and health wise has not gone unnoticed! I am so happy you are
considering Cloth Pads for yourself or even just showing some interest by reading this post.
I am always here to help! If you have any questions please don't ever hesitate. I feel like I have heard it all at this point. My world is
TMI. Period talk is part of my everyday. Cloth pads fill my house, my world. So please, don't be shy if you do contact me with a question. It's important we find the best cloth
pad solution for you!
TIPS WHEN SELECTING YOUR PADS:
I would first suggest you start off by looking at what you currently use in disposables. What length of pads do you most often use? Don't forget to consider things like Panty Liners and Thong Liners as an option for lighter days or when using a cup or Organic Cotton Tampon. Heavy flow pads are also available to those looking for more protection for Post Partum or Overnights.
Pay attention to your cycle, how long it lasts, and if there is a pattern to it (ie. light flow for a few days, heavy flow, then tapers off again??) Do you notice a pattern that may help you determine the type of pads you will use? Pay attention to the pads for one cycle if you are unsure. What lengths and styles do you use and how many? Some women use no panty liners at all yet others tend to have a cycle that tapers off at the end and require some light day pads or liners for protection during those final days. We are all so different so it's important to take a good look at your cycle to help determine this. Another option is to just try a few and build your stash slowly. Many people choose this option if they find it's a bit expensive for them to purchase an entire stash at once. This may require more washing but it is definitely do-able.
Another good thing to ask yourself is how often will you do laundry? Everyday? Every other day? Every third day??? If you are cloth diapering you can just throw your Mama Cloth in with your diapers. If you are diaper washing every day or every other day you may NOT need a big stash of Mama Cloth to start off with. However, it is always nice to have a few extras to keep in your purse or as a back up so keep that in mind.
Still unsure?? My web store carries a few assorted bundle packs if you
would like to sample a few of the styles before investing in a stash custom to you (see the image below). Choosing an assorted bundle is a great way to try out a few different pads, fabrics or lengths before deciding on a favorite. This is a great option if you are unsure or tend to be a bit indecisive (like myself) ;). Pad bundles available are shown below and can be purchased at our web store.
************************************** TYPES OF MAMA CLOTH PADS...
1) PANTY LINERS: Panty Liners are approximately 7.25"-7.5" in length. They have an adjustable snap with 2 fit options. Best of all they come in a few different
fabric options & price points.
COTTON FLANNEL PANT LINERS:
Made with 3 Layer soft flannel fabric. Comes in an assortment of fun prints & colours! Great for light spotting, bladder leakage or pregnancy. This is our thinnest panty liner.
ORGANIC BAMBOO VELOUR PANTY LINERS:
Made with 3 Layers of soft Organic Bamboo Velour. This fabric is as soft as butter on the skin & washes beautifully! All dyes are Eco-Friendly. These liners are a great option for those with sensitive skin! These panty liners are slightly thicker than our Flannel Liners offering a bit more protection for heavier spotting & bladder leakage.
These panty liners offer the protection of a pad but with the thin panty liner shape/length. A great option for Petite Women or Teens to use for light flow because they offer the most protection of all our panty liners. The Organic Bamboo Velour fabric is what is touching the skin, very soft & a great option for those prone to skin irritations. The absorbency layer is Hemp Cotton Fleece which has antibacterial properties and offers about 3x more absorbency than regular cotton. The PUL fabric is the layer protecting your underwear. This is a commonly used fabric for cloth diapers. It is waterproof and breathable!
2) THONG LINERS:
Thong liners are approximately 6.5" length and come in two fabric options. Great for light days or those using a Menstrual Cup.
FLANNEL THONG PANTY LINERS:
Made from 3 Layers of Cotton Flannel. Single Snap closure. Comparable in size/shape to disposable thong liners.
ORGANIC BAMBOO VELOUR PUL BACKED THONG PANTY LINERS:
Made from 1 Layer OBV (Organic Bamboo Velour) & 1 Layer PUL Fabric. These Thong Liners offer a thin but leak proof protection. The OBV Fabric is the fabric touching the skin and like ALL of our OBV it is dyed with Eco Friendly Dyes. The PUL Fabric offers a leak protection layer to protect your undergarments.
3) AIO Pads (All-In-One Pad)
All-In-One or A.I.O pads mean the pad has an insert sewn IN to place and does NOT need to be folded, stuffed, or removed for washing. A.I.O Pads are the
closest thing you will get to using a disposable (but much healthier and much more comfortable). You just rinse it, use a stain stick if
necessary, then toss it in your wet bag or pail for the wash.
Our A.I.O pads currently come in two fabric options and two lengths (so 4 pads to choose from shown below). 9" COTTON FLANNEL/HEMP A.I.O PAD:
Made from 2 outer layers of soft Cotton Flannel & 2 absorbency layers of Organic Hemp Cotton Fleece. The outter shell of the pad is a Cotton Flannel Print. The absorbency layer (insert) is a double layer Organic Hemp Fleece
which offers anti-bacterial properties & is over 3-4x more absorbent
than Cotton Fleece. These pads are great for Regular-Heavier Flow and come in a variety of fun prints/colours. The cotton and hemp is not overly bulky and extremely breathable making this a great day pad or summer pad. Like all of our pads (except Thong Lines), these pads offer a double adjustable snap.
12" COTTON FLANNEL/HEMP A.I.O PAD:
With the same features as the 9" Flannel pad above these pads offer slightly more protection in length. A great option for those looking for a bit more underwear coverage.
9" OBV/HEMP/PUL A.I.O PAD:
This pad is the same shape/pattern as our 9" Flannel/Hemp pad but using Organic & PUL Fabrics. The outside layer touching the skin is a soft Organic Bamboo Velour dyed with Eco-Friendly dyes. The absorbency layer (insert) is a double layer Organic Hemp Fleece which offers anti-bacterial properties & is over 3-4x more absorbent than Cotton Fleece. The side touching your underwear is made from PUL fabric used often on Cloth Diapers to offer a leak proof layer. These pads are a fantastic option for women looking for a less bulky pad with Moderate-Heavy flow. The Organic Bamboo Velour is always a fantastic option for those with sensitive skin & the PUL backing is a great option for those worried about leak protection!
12" OBV/HEMP/PUL A.I.O PAD:
This pad is the same shape/pattern as our 12" Flannel/Hemp pad but
using Organic & PUL Fabrics. The outside layer touching the skin is
a soft Organic Bamboo Velour dyed with Eco-Friendly dyes. The
absorbency layer (insert) is a double layer Organic Hemp Fleece
which offers anti-bacterial properties & is over 3-4x more absorbent
than Cotton Fleece. The side touching your underwear is made from PUL
fabric used often on Cloth Diapers to offer a leak proof layer. These
pads are a fantastic option for women looking for a less bulky pad with
Moderate-Heavy flow. The Organic Bamboo Velour is always a fantastic
option for those with sensitive skin & the PUL backing is a great option for those worried about leak protection!
4) Pocket Pads:
Pocket pads are similar to pocket diapers. You fold & stuff them yourself. We offer Pocket Pads in two lengths (9" Here or 11" Here).
These pads are only made in Cotton Flannel with Cotton Fleece Inserts (one
insert is included with the purchase of each Pocket Pad). Custom orders in Organic Fabrics or with PUL backing are also an option. Please contact me if you are interested in a Custom Order (minimums may apply).
Additional Cotton Fleece inserts can
be purchased on our web store as well as Organic Hemp Cotton inserts. I often suggest Pocket Pads to women for Postpartum use, Heavy Days and Overnights. These pads are bulkier than my A.I.O style pads (especially if you double up on inserts). I
personally only use these pads for overnights or heavy days but some of my customers swear by them. They are kind of like a hybrid
pad as well because you can stuff the insert inside the pad like a
cloth diaper, or use the elastic option on the top of the pad to add an extra insert (or even two). I have known some women to just use the shell instead of purchasing panty liners as well. This is a neat option for those on a budget.
For PP use you can also make "PADSICLES" to soothe the 'Ouch!' post baby while still offering leak protection. Check out this video I found on You Tube for an easy DIY PP Pad Project. This video shows a recipe for Disposable Pads but you may do the same with our Pocket Pads or AIO pads. In fact, if you are using Pocket Pads you could just freeze the INSERT portion of the pad and adding it to the flannel shell when ready to use.
We also have a few accessories available that makes traveling and storing Mama Cloth much easier and more discreet.
Wet Bags & Reusable Pad Wrappers are also available on my
website and are a great way to keep soiled Mama Cloth, Cosmetic Pads, Cloth Diapers contained until ready for washing. All Wet Bags & Pad wrappers are made from Waterproof Breathable PUL Fabric & can be machine washed.
All Mama Cloth products are machine washable and fabrics are hand selected and hand sewn by myself :)
I hope that this post has helped you. If you have any questions or are still unsure about what you need to get started please feel free to CONTACT me or leave a comment below :)
Welcome to my Mama Cloth Blog! My name is Meg. I am an (almost) 30 year old Mom of 1, Wife, Fashion Designer turned SAHWM & Owner/Designer/Sewer for Mama Cloth Boutique. For more info about me and my Mama Cloth Boutique visit my ABOUT ME section of my website. I am so excited to start this blog and use this space to share tips, tricks and info about Reusable Cloth Alternatives & Healthy/Sustainable Living! I get asked a lot of questions about reusable cloth products (especially my #1 seller... cloth Menstrual Pads) & I figured it would be a great way to share more detailed information about my products & discuss all things cloth & crunchy. Check back soon for more Ramblings from this Crunchy Cloth Addict ;) -Meg.
I regret to announce that effective immediately Mama Cloth Boutique will not be selling cloth pads to USA Customers. FDA regulations states that Cloth Pads are classified as "Medical Devices" and require FDA annual registration of $3700 (which will increase regularly). As a small business (Work At Home Mom). I cannot absorb these fees at this time. I do hope these rules are temporary. Every cloth pad maker shipping to the States is affected, and there are many of us pushing for changes to be made. Please visit the links below & sign the petition!
