I’m a dedicated breastfeeding mama. In fact, I’ve been breastfeeding non-stop for the last three and a half years. During that entire period, the only time I didn’t need nursing pads was when I was in the second half of my pregnancy with my youngest, Keira. I googled it, and apparently the average mama leaks for the first 6-12 weeks until her milk supply regulates. Ha! Keira’s 14 months old, and I still wear nursing pads 24/7.

When you’re at 14 months and counting, disposable nursing pads are not an option for many reasons, chief among them the discomfort, cost, and environmental impact of that many pads. So I was pretty happy to get the chance to try out some Milk Diapers reusable nursing pads.

Felicia is the mom and now grandma behind Milk Diapers reusable nursing pads. As the mother of five children, Felicia knows something about nursing pads, She made the first pair of Milk Diapers when her second child was born 34 years ago. She called them Milk Diapers because they’re made of non-treated cotton diaper fabrics.

My sampling pack came with one pair of white lace covered 4 layer pads, one pair of 5 layer natural pads, two pairs of Moisture Guard pads, and one pair of XL Moisture Guard pads. I appreciated the little stickers that Felicia added so I could easily tell which pads were which.

Anatomy of Milk Diapers Reusable Nursing Pads

All Milk Diapers nursing pads are made out of 100% cotton. The standard size pads measure approximately 5″ across, and each pad has a cross-over dart to help shape it to the breast and to draw moisture into the rest of the pad. The edges are serged to prevent fraying. The pads all have a soft layer of flannel on the side that rests against your skin. The 5-layer pads and 4-layer pads are pretty self-explanatory so I’ll move right along to the Moisture Guard pads that Milk Diapers makes.

Moisture Guard pads have a 5-layer pad to absorb plus a layer of terry backed polyurethane laminate which is porous enough to allow moisture and air to evaporate. They’re finished with a layer of champagne-coloured lace on the outside. The XL Moisture Guard pads measure almost 6″ in diameter and are hand cut with the same materials as the regular Moisture Guard pads. The XL pads are finished with white lace.

Fit & Performance

The flannel layer is so soft on my skin, and it provides a bit of a stay dry feel compared to other nursing pads I’ve tried. That means no clamminess! Overall, the pads worked really well for me. They were comfortable, and I didn’t have any leaks. The darts helped shape the pads to my curves which made them much less noticeable under clothing than my flat nursing pads. The 4 layer and 5 layer pads were virtually undetectable under an unpadded bra and T-shirt. The standard Moisture Guard pads with the extra PUL layer were barely noticeable if you looked carefully, but I think I’ve got bigger problems if someone else is inspecting my bust that closely! The XL pads are noticeable, so I would suggest wearing a molded bra or a thicker shirt if you’ve got these on board.

According to Felicia, the lace on the 4 layer and Moisture Guard pads is there to make the pads pretty and to help keep them from slipping around in your bra, but I discovered another bonus to the lace. I’ve been wearing the Moisture Guard pads at night, and now I can tell which side is which in the dark! I can’t remember how many times I’ve had leaks at night because I accidentally put my nursing pads in backwards. That hasn’t happened once with my Milk Diapers pads.

The XL Moisture Guard pads really live up to their name. They’re huge! This makes them great for overnight because there’s more coverage to accommodate the shifting that typically happens when you’re sleeping. I personally prefer the standard size pads during the day, but if you’re one of those mamas that leaks through regular pads, these could very well be your solution. The extra absorbency helps keeps you dry, and the PUL layer stops leaks from coming through your bra or shirt.

I have several pairs of nursing pads that I can’t wear anymore because they shrank after going through the dryer. They didn’t shrink evenly either; they’re all bunched up in weird places. Milk Diapers nursing pads claim to have been pre-shrunk twice to avoid precisely that situation. I washed and dried one pair of Moisture Guard pads twice (without a laundry bag – yikes!) to see how they held up. As you would expect, there’s a tiny bit of pilling on the flannel, but they didn’t shrink or bunch at all. See for yourself!

Nobody’s Perfect

I like cute colours and prints, both in my baby’s cloth diapers and in my nursing pads. I do wish Milk Diapers offered some more colours or some fun prints. Just because nobody else will see them doesn’t mean I don’t like them to still be cute too!

My Recommendations

These are well-made and functional nursing pads. Milk Diapers nursing pads are surprisingly economical for the quality of the materials and workmanship. I really like these pads and would recommend them to any new or expectant mothers. As a new mama in the early stages of your nursing relationship, you deserve soft, flannel fabric against your sensitive skin instead of a clammy disposable pad. Hopefully you won’t still be leaking over a year later, but if you are, these are an even better investment!

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Shop!

You can purchase Milk Diapers reusable nursing pads on the Milk Diapers website in packs of 4, 6, or 10. Depending on the type and size package you purchase, each pair will cost you somewhere between $2.65 a pair for 4-layer pads to $3.75 a pair for the Moisture Guard pads. XL pads come in packs of 4 for $12.00. You can also buy sampling packs to try out different styles before committing.

Win!

How would you like to win a sampling 8 pad pack of Milk Diapers reusable nursing pads for yourself? Enter to win below. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada, 18+. Entries will be verified.

Giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Mandi!

Disclosure: I received sample items for review purposes. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.