We scored 5 postpartum pads on what they're made of, what parents and testers report, and value. Our top pick is Cardinal Health Curity Maternity Pads (14 count), with a Cradle Score of 82.
Highest Cradle Score of the 5 we scored. The hospital pad, and the only one of 18 that earned a perfect score in Babylist's…
Materials & safety score of 88. Babylist's best thin pad: an organic cotton cover, chlorine- and fragrance-free, that…
Parent consensus score of 86. Built for bladder leaks, which also happen postpartum, and it scored top marks for…
Value & longevity score of 78. A long, six-layer pad made for postpartum bleeding, with a full materials list and no…
| # | Product and Cradle Score | Materials & safety | Parents | Value | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 82Cardinal Health Curity Maternity Pads (14 count)About $11 | 70 | 92 | 86 | Low |
| 2 | 80Rael Organic Cotton Overnight Pads (12 count)About $9 | 88 | 72 | 80 | Low |
| 3 | 80Frida Mom Postpartum Pads (18 count)About $12 | 80 | 80 | 78 | Low |
| 4 | 79Amazon Basics Incontinence, Bladder Control & Postpartum Pads (39 count)About $12 | 66 | 86 | 92 | Low |
| 5 | 69The Honey Pot Company Herbal Postpartum Pads with Wings (12 count)About $9 | 58 | 74 | 82 | Low |
Scores out of 100. Materials & safety and Parents each count 40%, Value 20%.
Must-have Bleeding after birth lasts about 4 to 6 weeks after a vaginal birth or a C-section, and period pads can't keep up in the first two weeks.
Secondhand: Buy new. Single-use hygiene item.
Tip: Pads only: no tampons or menstrual cups until your provider clears you. Skip scented pads while you heal.
Absorbency and leak protection matter most in the first two weeks; thinner organic cotton pads work once bleeding slows. Avoid fragrance, which can irritate healing tissue.
3 have a safety or materials point to know about, noted in the reviews below.
The hospital pad, and the only one of 18 that earned a perfect score in Babylist's hands-on test for capacity, leak protection and absorbency. Bulky and a little short, but it does the job of the first heavy days.
Babylist's best thin pad: an organic cotton cover, chlorine- and fragrance-free, that held the most of any thin pad. Too thin for the first heavy days, but a good switch once bleeding slows.
A long, six-layer pad made for postpartum bleeding, with a full materials list and no fragrance, chlorine or dyes. Strong on capacity and leaks, but it feels heavy once it's half full.
Built for bladder leaks, which also happen postpartum, and it scored top marks for capacity, leak protection and absorbency in Babylist's test. The cheapest per pad by far.
Absorbent pads with a cooling herbal layer, and Babylist's best cooling pad. The cooling comes from menthol, mint and lavender oils and camphor, and Babylist advises avoiding scented pads while you heal; the tester got a headache from the smell.
Cardinal Health Curity Maternity Pads (14 count) has the highest Cradle Score of the 5 postpartum pads we scored, at 82 out of 100 (Good). The hospital pad, and the only one of 18 that earned a perfect score in Babylist's hands-on test for capacity, leak protection and absorbency.
Rael Organic Cotton Overnight Pads (12 count) scores highest on materials and safety among the postpartum pads we scored.
Cardinal Health Curity Maternity Pads (14 count) has the strongest parent and tester consensus, based on the praise and complaints that keep coming up in hands-on reviews and parent communities.
Amazon Basics Incontinence, Bladder Control & Postpartum Pads (39 count) (About $12) scores highest on value and longevity among postpartum pads with a Good or Excellent score.
None of the 5 postpartum pads on this page has an open recall in our latest check. Always check the CPSC recall database (or NHTSA for car seats) before you buy or use a product.
Every 2 to 3 hours in the first few days, then about 3 or 4 times a day once bleeding slows. Soaking through a pad in an hour, or passing clots bigger than an egg, is a reason to call your provider right away.
About 4 to 6 weeks on average, after a vaginal birth or a C-section. It is heaviest in the first week or two and gets lighter and paler over time. Use pads, not tampons or menstrual cups, until your provider clears you.
There's no legal definition of "non-toxic", so we score specific things: materials, certifications, ingredients and independent test results. Of the 5 postpartum pads we scored, Rael Organic Cotton Overnight Pads (12 count) has the highest materials and safety score, at 88 out of 100. Each product page lists exactly what we checked.
Each score is 40% materials and safety, 40% parent and tester consensus, and 20% value and longevity. Every product page lists its sources and when we last checked it, and brands cannot pay for placement.
Missing a postpartum pad? Tell us what to score next.
Request a productSee all postpartum products, or compare any three side by side.