Along with cloth diapers, I’ve been using washable nursing pads. I use the cotton pads at night, and during the day I use reusable silicone nursing pads. (Yup, they’re pretty much pasties. They’re kinda strange at first, but they keep moisture off skin and clothing, which is key to comfort.)
I was able to make three pads from the insert. I traced an existing pad on the insert and cut out the circle. The insert was three layers, too thick for a nursing pad. I took out a layer from two would-be pads to create a third pad. The final step was sewing the pads together with a tight zigzag stitch to finish the edges.
My handcrafted pads are a bit scalloped on the edges because there’s no dart to make them more conical. Consequently, they don’t stay in place as well as the store-bought pads. They’re also a touch bulky, which means they’re not the smoothest under clothing. Because I’m wearing them at night with pajamas, I don’t care too much. I think it was a good use of a item that otherwise would have been underutilized.
I think a crafty mum easily could whip up more polished nursing pads using layers of cotton flannel. The darts would be dead easy, too. Now that I think of it, I may make some nursing pads for my next friend who is expecting. There are lots of cute flannel prints begging for a project.
What store-bought baby gear have you re-created at home? Lay your projects on me! Maybe I’ll try them out myself!
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