Karen Sent Us A Question:

Hi DWD,

I am planning on using LANACare Nursing Pads when I have my baby in August. I was wondering if it was safe for the pads to use nipple cream at the same time (if needed)?  I emailed other companies to find out if they have any added ingredients. One brand contains: Lanolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and PEG-3 Sorbitan Stearate. Thanks.

DWD Answer:

Hello Karen, thanks for your question! Yes, it is fine to use lanolin ointments with the pads (lanolin is the natural oil in wool). Some women find that the ointment may build up and feel greasy. If the spots will not come out with regular washing of the pads, you can boil them (strictly per care instructions on the nursing pad inserts). This will melt the lanolin and disperse it evenly throughout the water.

Best wishes for you with your newborn!

-DWD

Erica Sent a Question:

Hello,

I got a pair of LANACare Woolen Nursing Pads and I love them, except I seem to leak through during letdown while feeding. My son is only six weeks old and I don’t know if my letdown is just too much or something? Any suggestions? Do you do exchanges?

DWD Answer:

Thanks for the question, Erica! Most often, your milk supply will adjust itself more closely to your baby’s needs as time goes on, so that the leaking will subside. We would be happy to send you a set of different pads to help with this. We have two possible solutions…

We can either send you a set of Ekstra Nursing Pads in the same size
or
We can send you a set of minis to place against your skin inside your current pad as an extra layer.

Kathy Sent a Question:

Hi DWD,

I have two sets of the nursing pads. The first set I purchased has become very stiff, heavy and sticky to the point that I have to wash my hands after touching them. I use the Lanolin Soap to wash them and follow the directions, but the stickiness never comes out. I think the pads may have absorbed the Lanolin ointment I have been using, but shouldn’t it come out when I wash the pads? For some reason they have also shrunk considerably and are about half their original size. I only wash in lukewarm water and air dry. The second set I have seems fine though.

Can you please tell me if there is a way to get the stickiness out of the pads? Would washing them in Woolite clean better than the Lanolin Soap? Thanks.

DWD Answer:

Hi Kathy! The stickiness is most likely from a build-up of lanolin ointment, rather than the soap itself. This can likely be remedied by boiling them per the care instructions included – First, place in lukewarm water in a small pot on stove. Bring to rolling boil, dipping the pads beneath the water surface with a spoon (they tend to float to the top). Boil for several minutes and this will melt the lanolin and redistribute it more evenly. Remove from heat; let the pads remain in the water until lukewarm.

You can then rinse the pads in lukewarm water and place to dry. If the stickiness is from excess lanolin, you probably won’t need to wash them in the lanolin soap for replenishing. And, as an FYI, the gradual change in temperature will prevent the pads from felting, which placing directly in boiling water will cause. Since the other set seems okay, I would suggest continuing to wash them with the lanolin soap, which will replenish the lanolin better than Woolite would. It is the action of the lanolin that maintains the self-cleansing action of the wool.

We’re not sure why one pad would felt and shrink and the other wouldn’t. You could use these smaller pads as an inner extra layer within the other pad, if you want to make sure you do not have any leaking if you are away from home for an extended period of time.

If through all of this you feel you would like the pads replaced – let us know what style/size they were.

Kristyn Sent Us a Question:

Dear DWD,

I purchased two pairs of nursing pads and had some good luck with them at first. I have taken care of them with my wool wash according to the instructions, but they have little to no absorbency and have essentially been rendered useless.

I love the idea of these pads for my hot climate, so is it possible that there would be something wrong with the two pairs that I purchased? As I understand it, I should be able to wear these nursing pads just as I would wear disposables, correct?

DWD Answer:

Thanks for the feedback Kristyn! We’re sorry the pads haven’t worked well for you. Regardless of where you bought them, we are willing to try to see if we can come up with a solution. Ekstra is the style that works best for women who leak through the other styles – it has a layer of felted wool between the two layers of regular wool, to give more of a barrier.

If you do not have this style, we could send it to you to try. If you do have this style and find that you leak (it is not common but there have been women who experience this), then we offer to send a set of size Mini pads to try as a layer between your skin and the outer pad, to provide extra absorbency. Thanks again for the feedback.

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Nancy Sent a Question:

Hi DWD,

I bought your LANACare Baby Wool Blanket (size 26 x 34). Can you suggest where I can find a blanket/duvet cover that fits it? Thanks.                              

DWD Answer:

We appreciate your question, Nancy! This was a new one for us – as the Baby Wool Blankets are most often used directly in contact with your baby/toddler. They often become that favorite snugly blanket that they carry with them everywhere.

I am not familiar with where you would be able to find a cover in those dimensions – nor does LANACare carry this item.

We will pass it along to LANACare and contact you if we get any positive responses.

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Julia Sent a Question:

Dear DWD,

I have a question regarding the diaper covers. I have not used them before and wonder if the baby’s clothing will get wet as the wool wicks the moisture. Does the wool draw the moisture out of the cloth liner or just absorb the excess that the liner cannot absorb? Is there such a thing as a wool liner? It would be great to keep moisture away from my baby’s bottom with wool. Thanks.

Julia

Danish Woolen:

Thanks for the question Julia! The covers have 2 panels of felted wool (3 layers on the “Night” version), which create a barrier effect because it is so much more dense that the wool used for the other items. The cotton soaks up the moisture, and the excess goes into the wool.

Ideally, one should change the cover when the cotton diaper is changed and let it air-dry until you use it again with the next diaper change. The moisture in the wool will evaporate away and the lanolin will cleanse any urine odor. This way you can avoid leaking, when the wool gets saturated with moisture.

We do have woolen liners intended as an extra layer within the diaper cover if needed at night, or as your baby gets older and voids become larger in volume. It could be placed directly against the skin, but the intention of the cover is to be used along with an inner cotton diaper.

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