Do You Need Breast Pads With Reusable Cloth Pads?
By Honour Your Flow | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: ヒントとお手入れ
Breast pads and cloth pads solve different problems. Here are the common myths about reusable breast pads, plus honest care facts before you buy.
Quick answer
No, reusable cloth pads do not replace breast pads. They serve different jobs: cloth pads absorb menstrual or postpartum flow, while breast pads absorb leaking milk. You need breast pads only if you are leaking milk, and reusable breast pads are a practical washable option.
Why cloth pads and breast pads are not interchangeable
Cloth pads are shaped and positioned for menstrual or incontinence flow. Breast pads sit against the nipple and areola to catch milk leaks. Using one in place of the other usually means poor fit and the wrong absorbency in the wrong place.
The overlap is in care, not function. Both benefit from a waterproof backing and machine washing, but breast pads need a soft skin-side layer because nursing skin can be sensitive.
When you can skip breast pads
If you are not leaking milk, you do not need breast pads. Leaking varies widely between people and across feeding stages, so decide based on what you actually experience rather than stocking up in advance.
If you leak only occasionally, a small set may be enough. If you leak heavily, you may need more changes per day, which makes washable pads more practical than disposables.
The honest limit of reusable breast pads
Reusable breast pads are washable, so you need enough pairs to rotate while one set is in the wash. The supplied Butterflies pads are a set of two and machine washable up to 60°C, which helps with hygiene but still means planning laundry.
No breast pad prevents leaking; it absorbs it. If you are unsure whether you need pads at all, start with a small set and add more only if you find you are changing them often.
Myths about reusable breast pads, with verdicts
- Myth: Cloth pads can double as breast pads: False. Cloth pads are designed for menstrual or incontinence flow, not milk. Use breast pads for leaking milk and cloth pads for their intended flow. Check the product's stated purpose before substituting one for the other.
- Myth: Everyone needs breast pads: False. You need them only if you are leaking milk. If you are not leaking, you can skip them. Buy a small set first and add more only if you leak often.
- Myth: Reusable breast pads are hard to care for: Not necessarily. The supplied Butterflies pads are machine washable up to 60°C. Wash them with your usual load and keep enough pairs to rotate. Count your daily changes and buy at least two days' worth if you wash every other day.
Product facts to check before buying
- Butterflies Organic Cotton Reusable Breast Pads: Set of 2 breast pads with an organic cotton jersey print against the skin, an inner organic cotton jersey layer, a waterproof PUL layer, and an undyed organic cotton jersey backing; 11 cm across and machine washable up to 60°C. The skin-side cotton and waterproof backing are built for milk leaks, and the 11 cm size gives you a concrete fit reference before ordering.
Butterflies Organic Cotton Reusable Breast Pads
