Thanks to Bridget for this Frugal Baby Tip!

I switched to cloth about a year ago and haven't looked back once. I
heard about this on a neat radio show by Susan Powter and thought I'd
give it a try. For pads, I picked up some terry cloth at the fabric
store as well as some linen. I made rectangular shaped pads with the
linen on the inside. The terrycloth I cut so that it was one layer,
and I put (I think) about 8 layers of linen inside as a liner. I sewed
the linen layers together into one bunch, slid them into the
terrycloth cover and sewed up the end. I find them extremely
comfortable and easy to care for.

To use them, I just soak them in an ice cream bucket full of cold
water when they are full, usually for about a day. If they are really
stained I put a couple tablspoons of Amaze laundry soap into the
bucket too. When finished soaking, I drain the water out and throw the
pads into the washing machine with the rest of the wash and they wash
up fine. I noticed after months of use the four pads that I'd made had
the dye fade a bit where they commonly get stained, but it hasn't
affected their efficiency at all. As well, after washing, it's good to
make a point of straightening out the linen inside to keep it from
scrunching up when drying. Since I've been
using them, I've never had a leak to stain my clothes - Yay!

In addition to the pads, I searched and found a couple large sea
sponges. I cut them to the appropriate size and use them as tampons. I
find they are quite comfortable if you get the outside edge of them a
little damp before using them (so they are not scratchy and dry thus
making me uncomfortable).

They absorb quite alot which is very good for me as I always have
quite a heavy flow. When things are the heaviest I use them in
conjunction with my cloth pads, and have no worries about leaks. I
find that I need only one pad per day, and if I'm busy at work only 2
sponges in an 8 hour time period. I bring a small ziploc bag with me
to work, and after thoroughly rinsing out (and then wringing out) the
used sponge I store in the ziploc till I get home.

The sponges don't need near as much soaking as the pads do, and I
throw them in the wash with everything else as well. It helps to throw
the pads and sponges into a mesh bag for washing so you don't have to
dig through the whole wash to find them after. The sponges I don't put
into
the dryer as they dry really fast on their own. The pads go in the
dryer with everything else.

Oh yeah, I don't use anything to attach them to the panties as I made
the pads quite long and they don't seem to move around at all. (I
found the commercial plastic etc. pads were never long enough and I
was always getting stains so made my cloth ones the right length for
me). But I guess if you need snaps, you need them right?

I hope this info on my experience helps. I found the whole process
fairly easy, and it makes things much easier for me cost-wise,
health-wise, and in peace of mind as well.

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FRUGAL BABY TIPS
Taking care of baby (and mom!) needs naturally, doesn't have to cost a
whole lot of money! Money-saving tips on diapering, diaper washing,
safety, slings and baby carriers, toys, clothing, nursing, menstrual
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