Charlie Banana Mama Cloth Review

** Disclaimer** If talking about your monthly friend makes you in the least bit squeamish stop right now and do not read ahead. No I am not going to get into a whole lot of detail here, but this will be nothing but honest. Thanks!  

When I began my research for cloth diapers I came across the idea of cloth pads, also known as "mama cloth." At first I thought the same thing as I once had about using cloth diapers... Eww. Low and behold I found out that I loved to cloth diaper and thought that giving cloth pads a shot would go over well too.

For the time being I set the idea aside having no idea when that unwanted month visitor would return. After all, some women are lucky enough to go over a year without good ol' Aunt Flo returning while they are nursing. I on the other hand, was not so lucky. When the uninvited visitor decided to show up I was just outraged! My little baby was 100% breast fed and only five months old. Somehow I felt that this was my body's way of shoving in my face that we weren't going to have anymore kids and saying, "Here  you go! Get busy!" Setting all of those raging hormones aside I decided to revisit the whole "mama cloth" idea.

Visiting my favourite cloth diaper site, Sweet Lil Dimples Baby Shop, I found the Charlie Banana cloth pads. Without much more thought I decided that I would give these a try. I had looked up the prices and they were the most cost effective, varying in price from $15.99 to $18.99 for a box of three. Most other companies that I had visited were that price for one cloth pad.

My Stash!

Deciding how many to buy was not an easy feat. Being that I hadn't really had this "problem" in quite a while I had no idea how long it would last or how heavy it would be. I decided to start off with one box of liners (3 liners), two boxes of regular pads (6 pads), and one box of super pads (3 pads.)

Wet bag and Purse-Sized Wet Bag

Within a day or two I ordered another box of the regular, and another box of the super, as well as a Charlie Banana wet bag for storing the used pads in.

Charlie Banana cloth pads are made just the same as their cloth diapers, a PUL outer layer (bottom) and a microfleece inside (top.) They are an all-in-one pad, so no stuffing is needed. The snap on the wings of the pad allows you to attach them to your underwear or snap them shut for easy storage and portability. Each box comes with a purse-sized wet bag for when you are on the go.

I have found them to be very absorbent, durable and comfortable. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would describe a pad as comfortable! The best part about them is that they don't smell and are really easy to clean. Give them a rinse in the sink, then throw them into your wet bag/pail until you are ready for wash time. Any detergent that you would use on your cloth diapers will work for the cloth pads. The biggest surprise with these pads is that they will not stain. Even the pads that I was not able to rinse right away have not stained. The cloth pads can be washed with your undergarments or even with your cloth diapers.


Here are some images of the varying sizes: 

Panty Liner

Regular Absorbancy

Super Absorbancy

All wrapped up and ready to go!

 I think these are well worth their money. I love that I wont have to run out to the store because I am almost out of feminine products, or that I wont have to watch for pads/tampons to go on sale and collect coupons for them. And I also love that once again I am doing what I can to help the planet!


Have you tried any "mama cloth?" Let me know what would make you want to try these or not!