The number pairs of reusable breast pads you will need depends on many things. This includes;
- Quality of the product
- How much milk you produce
- How often they will be washed and dried
- Do you want spares for the hospital or nappy bag
Quality – The quality of the pad will have a big impact on how many you will get. If you buy cheap, non absorbent breast pads you will go through a larger amount. Concentrate on quality over quantity. And one of the advantages of reusables over disposables is you don’t require as many. Ours is made with high-quality absorbent materials. Which will last for your breastfeeding journey.
How much milk – The amount of milk you produce will determine the quantity. If you leak a large amount then expect to have to buy more. While light leakers won’t have to get as many.
How often you wash and dry — Washing and drying causes wear and tear. The friction of being washed regularly will mean they will be less absorbent over time. So if you have only a few pairs and have to wash them daily they won’t last as long.
Spares — Do you plan to keep spares? One set in your hospital bag, one for your nappy bag and another for the pram? If you decide on keeping spare sets, plus the ones you use day to day you will need a lot more.
The number of pairs of reusable breast pads you will need depends on the quality you buy. How much milk do you produce? How often do you wash them and if you want spares? So you should buy 7 pairs. One set to put in a nappy bag. And 3 pairs to use day to day while the other 3 are in the wash.
Although the reusable types are worth it. The initial outlay might be too much for your circumstances. So you can use alternatives to get you by. Or you can use a mixture of disposables and reusable.
Written by Luisa Figueroa. I am the owner, designer, and maker of the My Little Love Heart range of nursing pads. I’ve been in the fashion industry for over 15 years, specialising in baby accessories for the last 7.