If my baby can do it, why can’t I?
In my university days, I bought a reusable pad once, the kind where you insert some absorbent material into an envelope-like pad. But the thing slid all over the place and boy was it a yucky mess to wash after. I was quickly discouraged and never used it again. Fast forward to the birth of my first child in 2002. It was a no-brainer to put our son in cloth diapers, as there was the BUMMIS store right across the street from where I live and the owner, Betsy, was very persuasive.
When my period resumed, I began feeling rather guilty that my son was more ecologically sound than me, throwing away all those pads, month after month. The BUMMIS store also sold the Keeper, which I decided to take the plunge and try. It was baptism by fire, since I first used it on our way to Asia for a four-week visit to see my extended family. As luck would have it, I needed to use it on the way back, too. Ask me anytime for tips on how to discreetly change a menstrual cup in those teeny weeny airplane toilets or in airport washrooms, LOL!
I still needed something to protect my underwear while using the marvelous menstrual cup and I recalled the ad for Lunapads —a Canadian company for once!— in Mothering magazine. I searched high and low for a retailer in Montreal before giving up and ordering online. I was happily surprised by the great friendly customer service, the lovely prints and the quality of the workmanship.
It was pleasant having my period now, not having anymore heat and moisture trapped against me, not hearing the annoying swish of plastic whenever I moved. The menstrual cup kept my pyjamas and bedsheets clean and dry beyond my wildest dreams. And the prints of cats, rainbows and the moon & stars boosted my mood. I could finally wear white and slim fashions with full confidence. I love being free of having to watch for sales to buy feminine products. I have since learned that the most expedient way to clean the liners is to soak them overnight in cold water before washing them. The water I use to water my plants, as I’ve been told it’s nutritious for them!
I am now nursing a 3.5 month old, and am in NO HURRY to see Aunt Flow again. But when she does make her grand re-appearance, I am toying with the idea of indulging myself with a purchase of a new pantyliner in some scrumptuous print to “celebrate” the occasion.
I have been using your products for the past four years and will NEVER go back to disposables. I tell all my friends and acquaintances about Lunapads, even the staff at BUMMIS (I am still working on converting them, they carry another brand of reusable pads). Thank you so much for such a wonderful product. Keep up the excellent job!
PS Suzanne, congrats on the newest addition to your family. Have you considered trying EC (Elimination Communication) with your new baby? I did with my first child from age of 4 months and swore I would start earlier with my second. I started with her at two weeks and change very few poopy diapers as a result. It’s worth it if you’re home with the kids and want to invest in having that kind of bond with the baby. Think of it as the flipside of breastfeeding on cue.
Amy M.
Les mains qui parlent / Talking Hands
Montreal, Quebec
April 19th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Hi Amy. Thanks for your lovely post. As a matter of fact, I do practice EC with Garret and am really amazed with it. I first heard about EC from a friend several years ago and thought, “oh, that’s too ‘crunchy’ for me; cloth dipes is good enough; it’s too late anyways, since Aiden was already a year old.” But by the time Garret came along, I was much more informed and relaxed about mothering. Thanks to the support of my MDC friends locally and online, I figured out that EC is totally doable and downright cool! EC is about reading your child’s cues when they need to go, and is not about early toilet training at all. I love not having to wash poopy diapers and am changing fewer wet diapers than ever before. Practicing EC at home is easy, and I can still practice EC at work since Garret comes to work with me.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:27 am
It’s true, it’s very cool to watch Suzanne and Garret head off to the bathroom, and hear her soft sounds to help him get the job done! I would never have believed it had I not seen it work with my own eyes - it’s a whole new level of parenting that I think is just amazing.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:53 am
Wow… here I am browsing the Lunapads site after not even having had a period for 15 months since I have a 6mo new baby girl… And I find this post. I used cloth diapers with my son years ago, but never made the connection to using cloth for myself until years later. When expecting my daughter, cloth was a no-brainer, but then I too found out about EC. I too had thought it ‘too crunchy’ and unrealistic when I’d first heard about it a few years back, but re-discovering it this time around it made much more sense. At 6 months, we have had only 3 poopy diapers in 3 months and most of the time she’s just in cute little ‘trainer’ undies rather than diapers at all! I just love reading about other mom’s ‘natural’ experiences with the ‘lower ends’ of ourselves and our children, and spreading the word!