best things about cloth pads:

• better for the environment, and therefore everything... inc. my state of mind and mental health.
• health: PFAS have been found in disposable pads and tampons. for people with sensitive skin or health issues, cloth pads are likely to be healthier for you. no more diaper rash from disposable pads, and tampons can be very risky, health-wise (toxic shock syndrome). cloth tampons are also risky for the same reason.
• comfort: soft fabric against your sensitive areas instead of cheap, flimsy plastic that feels gross.
• much less anxiety about leaking - they are SO much more reliable than disposables. I would recommend cloth pads to those with heavier periods.
• love your period: look forward to your period! they feel so much better than disposables for all the reasons listed above, but they are also very cute and fun. you can choose to buy cloth-pads with patterns. in general, cloth pads are adorable.
• less scary than trying a menstrual cup, ehehe.

things to consider:

• money: it's likely to be a lot of money upfront. you have to take a risk and spend money on something that you might not like. you might make savings, but you'd have to calculate this for yourself.
• cleaning: cleaning is a necessary extra job. supposedly putting the pads on a rinse before and after the main wash gets rid of stains.
• leaking: i've only ever leaked when i was packing up to move house and when they were getting old.
• longevity: after apx. 4 years, my bamboo fleece and one of my cotton pads ripped. the old cotton ones have also started to lose their ability to hold as much blood as they're supposed.
• on the go: having to keep a used pad in a waterproof washbag in your bag could be anxiety-inducing/ impractical? most fold up though and you can buy individual wrappers. people have said that they could not smell them and that this was not an issue.
• new habit or routine: learning how many pads you need to buy/ use in a week may or may not require some time or effort.
• research: research can be time-consuming and/ or annoying depending on your circumstances.
• may need to test different materials for preference. fleece can feel too hot; cotton can feel too wet, etc.
• liners are only good for indoors as they don't stay in place while on the move, due to their small size.

my personal opinion is that i would 100% vouch for cloth pads. the comfort and environmental benefit is an unbeatable pro. i'd never go back to disposables, as wearing plastic on your delicate areas feels wrong, and is likely to be unhealthy (i.e. pfas).

the biggest issue with cloth pads was money, due to having to try out different pads. i have a batch that i spent a decent chunk of money on that i don't really use that much, for example. in my experience, cloth pads last 4 years (but I do wring mine by hand after rinsing them). when i was first buying them, they were said to last 10 years - certainly hasn't been the case. i also resent the implication of exceptionally soft fabrics - with use, my very soft bamboo pads became harder and more uncomfortable. fabric softener is discouraged with cloth pads.

for those that are tight on money, or don't like the sound of cloth pads, i would suggest looking into a menstrual cup. the menstrual cup is likely to be cheaper. just make sure you do your research before making any change.

cleaning doesn't tend to bother me much, but i could see how it might be a no-go to someone who finds chores bothersome. the process of changing from disposables to cloth-pads was actually quite quick - although i wasn't working at the time, which may make a difference.

♡ happy perioding! ♡