Reusable Nursing Pads

Leaking, leaking, and more leaking. Part of the "joy" of a breastfed baby. If you want a way to save $$$, while also helping the environment - and to catch your leaks . . . an easy solution is making comfy, reusable nursing pads. . . 

Disposable nursing pads can add up as unnecessary wasted money that could be saved for baby needs. But with reusable and also focusing on materials you may already at home, it is a great alternative. 

Having a set of seven or more is a great start until you decide how many you need. If you feel you are not good at sewing - they just need to be functional, not perfect. 

Let's get started . . .

Materials:

Flannel/ Cotton Material - for top and/or bottom

Layers of inner material - wool, terry towel, flannel, etc. 

Thread

Scissors and/or Pinking Shears (helps with fraying)

Circular object - CD is perfect

Washable marker

Look around the house for some reusable or new materials (if you prefer). 

For the layer against breast, a soft absorbent material is preferred. Use cotton material or flannel. A receiving blanket is made of flannel. If baby outgrew or you received too many, grab one to use as a topper on at least one side. If you want it to look super cute, use on top and bottom.   

Cut about a yard of fabric for top, or use recyclable items.

Find something circular to draw many circles. A CD that is a perfect size.

I had a Sharpie handy, but would suggest a washable marker instead.  

I grabbed an old wool sweat to upcycle. 

If using a shirt, cut off the sleeves, the neck, the sides.

Cutting sides with the help of a ruler and rotary cutter.

Layer fabric with top, middle, and bottom. These were thick breast pads for heavily leaky breast. I chose to do two layers of wool in the middle, a total of four layers. Less layers can be used for thinner and less leaky breast. 

 If you have a patterned fabric for the bottom, make sure the pattern is facing down. For the top, it should face up. If you notice all the circles, I had too many circles to try and sew. It became too bulky to sew and turn. Cut it down to about a total of four circles: two top, two bottom to help with sewing ease. Pin the layers with needles or clips.

Either use a straight stitch or use a zigzag stitch and slowly sew around the circle.

Cut around the sewing with either regular sewing scissors or pinking shears.

Not always perfect, but again, it's functional. 

If you don't like the exposed edges, you can sew inside out and then top stitch close, 

but that's a lot more time than I care to invest. 

Here is a set where I also sewed a line down both centers to make it contour more. 

These are also thinner.

Easy peasy ... now go run sew you up a few sets or reusable, recyclable nursing pads.