West Coast Dipes makes some of the BEST cloth diapers I have ever used for my son. Their reusable cloth pads line for mamas, called Bear Necessities, wasn’t a far stretch for them, and I’m glad they did.
About Bear Necessities Pads
Can I brag on my friends, y’all? I met the owners of Crunchy Boutique when my son was a year old. One of the owners, Lauren, had a one year old son at the time, too. She and her family had just opened the only Black-owned natural family and baby cloth diaper store in Texas, and it was so refreshing to finally find a likeminded community of Black moms.
The Crunchy Boutique family is always seeking ways to solve problems, so on top of selling cloth diapers by other brands, they started creating and selling their own brand of cloth diapers – West Coast Dipes. These diapers have been some of the best that have I ever used for Little Boo. Never ones to stop at innovating, they also saw the need for affordable reusable menstrual pads. Thus, Bear Necessities was born.
Price Range | $4-$9 per pad
Size Range | Bearly There to Bear All Plus
Color Options | Brown/White combo, All White
Material | Waterproof outer layer, Microfiber inner layer, Organic bamboo/cotton layer
| Name/Size: | Best For: | Measurement in inches – measured wing to wing, front to back: | Price: |
| Panty shields | 7″ x 6.5″ | $4 | |
| Light days, daytime | 7″ x 10″ | $6 | |
| Light days, daytime | 7″ x 10″ | $7 | |
| Heavy days, nighttime, postpartum | 7″ x 13″ | $8 | |
| Heavy days, nighttime, postpartum | 7″ x 13″ | $9 |
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Bear Necessities Reusable Cloth Pads Review & Ratings
My Bear Necessities Reusable Menstrual Pad Review
Over the past 6 months, I have been reviewing three different brands of reusable cloth menstrual pads. Here are my thoughts about Bear Necessities pads:
Pros:
If you’re on a budget or just starting out, Bear Necessities are one of the best ways to get started with reusable cloth pads. The price point is unbeatable. The quality of the pads is great – they are thick and super absorbent. Sometimes they feel a little too thick, but then I remember the pads I wore after I gave birth to my son. Those disposable pads were uncomfortably thick. Bear Necessities’ super absorbent layers are noticeably thick, but not to the point of being uncomfortable.
Related post: Black-Owned Cloth Diaper Brands
Cons:
After having tested a few brands of cloth pads, one thing that I’ve noticed is that light colored pads hold stains more. I clean them all thoroughly and know that they are properly sanitized, but light colored fabric like the white of the Bear Necessities pads just holds on to stains more visibly. Unfortunately, that is one of the downsides. But luckily, it is only cosmetic. There are extra steps that can be taken to get rid of the stains if you only use natural cleaning products like myself.
How I Rate The Bear Necessities Reusable Menstrual Pads:
| Price | ★★★★★ |
| Varying Sizes | ★★★★★ |
| Ease to Wear | ★★★★☆ |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Absorbency | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★★ |
| Ease of Cleaning | ★★★☆☆ |
| Sustainability | ★★★★☆ |
More Bear Necessities Period Products:
Bear Necessities exists alongside many other natural living products at Crunchy Boutique, ranging from natural baby products to natural self-care products. Here are a few more items that they offer that can be helpful when using cloth pads. I personally use both sizes of wet bags, which are bags that keep water/liquids in the bag. They are perfect for holding clean pads when out and about and soiled pads when you need to change.
Mini Wet Bag– perfect for on the goWest Coast Dipes Wet Bag– with snap handle, perfect for use at homeCloth Menstrual Pad Bundle– a starter kit
My period stats:
Here is some information about me. Hopefully it will be helpful when judging if this review of the Bear Necessities cloth pads is helpful for you!
About me:
Height – 5’2″
Weight – 105 pounds
Hip – 34″-35″
General Size – Small to Medium
Preferred Menstrual Products – I only wear pads – I do not wear tampons or menstrual cups. I’m looking forward to trying period underwear.
Flow – Light to Heavy
Changing Frequency – 3-6 times per day
Favorite Aisle Pad – Super Pad for heavy days, Maxi Pad for normal and light days
Final Thoughts on Bear Necessities by West Coast Dipes
Bear Necessities reusable pads are a great intro to wearing cloth pads, especially if you are on a budget. This price point will help so many people on their sustainable journey in this aspect of their life. Since Crunchy Boutique also carries several other sustainable products, one could easily invest in other sustainable swaps when ordering pads.
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