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Bummis Fabulous Flo Reusable Cloth Pads Review

I have a lot to thank my cloth diapers for. Yes, there’s the obvious reasons like all the money we saved, all the trash we kept out of the landfill, and healthier (and cuter!) bums for my babies, but there’s still something else. Thanks to my reusable cloth diapers, my mind was opened to the possibility of using eco-friendly, reusable menstrual products too. No more plastic for either of us!

Reusable cloth pads offer similar benefits as cloth diapers: less waste, more economical, and fewer toxic chemicals next to sensitive lady bits. As a proud Bummis ambassador, of course I had to try their Fabulous Flo cloth pads!

Bummis Fabulous Flo cloth pads

Bummis Fabulous Flo pads are made with the same quality materials and craftsmanship we’ve come to know and love in their diapers. I love that they’re made in Canada from fabrics milled in the US: soft, breathable organic cotton and a PUL backing. You can see in the pictures how each pad is contoured to fit comfortably.

Some other pads are made with cloth only, but I’m always kind of paranoid about that. Especially if we’re talking a full-on period day, I just feel more comfortable with a waterproof layer on the bottom. Bummis Fabulous Flo pads all come with a layer of cute, breathable, and waterproof PUL for extra security against leaks.

Bummis Fabulous Flo PUL

Lemme start by saying that normally I’m a cup girl. My preferred method is a menstrual cup, with or without a cloth liner as backup. I know not everyone feels comfortable or wants to use a menstrual cup though, so for you I used both a cup/pad combo and pad only through my last cycle.

Bummis liners do triple duty for daily freshness, light days, and as back up for my cup. The 7.5″ (19cm) organic cotton liner snaps on easily and feels soft, comfortable, and barely there – exactly what I want in a cloth liner. It’s the perfect partner in my cup plus liner combo.

Next I tried a Bummis 9″ regular pad, also secured with one snap. It’s a bit longer than the liners I’m used to, but not that much thicker. As I’m not used to wearing pads, I was a bit worried it would feel bulky or bunch up, but once I had it on I pretty much forgot it was there. And no leaks! The dimpled organic cotton fabric helps “grab” any liquid so it can be absorbed quickly. Note that this fabric isn’t considered stay dry like minky, but I found the dimple fabric helped in this area too.

Bummis Fabulous Flo organic cloth pad

In comparison, at 11″ long (28cm) and 3″ wide (7.5cm), the heavy pads are just slightly too wide for me to feel totally comfortable during the day, but they’re perfect for full coverage overnight use. The unique two part heavy pad is designed to allow you to replace the absorbent pad and reuse the PUL liner.

Bummis Fabulous Flo heavy pad

Once prepped (washed and dried), the cotton pad is designed to be slightly smaller than the liner. This allows the liner to catch any leaks and prevents the pad from wicking, especially while sleeping. I had no leaks, so clearly they’re doing something right!

heavy pad prepped

Caring for Bummis Fabulous Flo Cloth Pads

Bummis provides really detailed care instructions for their pads. If you’re new to cloth pads, you’ll want to read this first. It’s a great source of info about storing (wet or dry) and washing your pads. You only need to wash them once before using, but they’ll continue to increase in absorbency every time you wash, just like cloth diapers. Bummis also carries waterproof Fabulous Flo bags designed to store your clean and used pads separately in one cute wet bag.

Let’s talk about stains for a minute. If you’re concerned about staining, Bummis recommends rinsing out your pad immediately after use while rubbing with a bit of detergent or hand soap, then soaking them in cold water until laundry day. We’re all friends here, so I’m going to be perfectly honest and tell you I don’t do either of those things. They’re cloth pads for my period. Nobody but me is going to be looking at them, so I really don’t care if they’re stained as long as they’re clean.

I just throw my pads in the machine with the rest of my laundry, then line dry them. Remember these are organic cotton though, so you can expect some shrinkage. Not to worry, Bummis has built in a shrink allowance. They do recommend air drying their liners to make sure they don’t curl or twist in the dryer. I find the liner dries pretty quickly, and if I hang overnight it’s good to go in the morning.

Shop

Bummis cloth pads are available direct from the Bummis Boutique. Shop for Bummis baby products at Lagoon Baby in Canada or Diaper Junction in the US.

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Win a 3-pack of Bummis Fabulous Flo Cloth Pads!

Win Bummis Fabulous Flo cloth pads

Bummis wants to help you green your period! One winner will win a 3-pack of Fabulous Flo pads in choice of liner, regular, or heavy. Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the US, 18+. All entries will be verified.

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Disclosure: I received sample items for review. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ. This post contains affiliate links. This West Coast Mommy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I will receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you. This income helps pay for the operating costs of my website – thank you for your support!

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