We bought a dozen Bummies Prefolds (cheap), some covers including a couple wool covers, a Drybees, Kissaluv and AMP fitted diaper each for overnight (so I only have to changer her in the morning), and 6 Bum Genius one-size pocket diapers for outings etc. That covers us for 3-4 days, easy. We wash every 3 days or so in the basement laundry room by putting the diapers through 2 cycles with Country Save soap.

All in all, it’s no big deal.
.-= Accidental Pharmacist´s last blog ..Cloth Diapering In An Apartment =-.

I wanted to add that cloth diapers are SO easy. Most people really have no idea. They are an extra load of laundry every few days and you don’t have to iron, fold, etc. And using cloth wipes saves a ton over buying those, too. But once you get into it, there’s almost no difference in ease of use except that when you are low on diapers, you don’t have to go to the store, just run the wash!

We bought almost all of our mother-ease diapers for about 70% of retail on craigslist and they were brand new, never used. A lot of people decide to try it and change their minds – so always check the deals online! I have also bought 4 pockets and almost all out covers, plus wetbags and wipes, on clearance and sale online for 50-80% of retail. You can get the top brand diapers for half price if you don’t mind having last year’s colors and patterns and styles.

Thanks again for the advice! I think I mentioned this, but want to put it out there for others… We decided to go with trifolds and covers. First, they are so much cheaper, easier to wash (we live in an apartment with no washer or dryer), and I personally love the diaper covers out there. I also knit/ crochet and am looking forward to trying to make some wool covers. Plus there are some really cute ones on Etsy.

Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I really think this will be doable.

I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts as to the cost effectiveness of cloth diapers when you have to pay $.50-$1.00 per wash! Running diapers through twice will get even more expensive.

Also, my friend actually made this sprayer for her toilet to help her in cloth diapering – maybe that will help someone: http://gidgetgoeshome.com/2008/08/25/diy-tutorial-make-your-own-diaper-sprayer/
.-= Laura´s last blog ..The Frugal Map =-.

When you start feeding solids, invest in bananas. As long as your baby doesn’t have any problems with constipation, half a banana a day will make for nice, solid, “plop” poops. This should also cut down on diaper rash, because the poop comes off baby’s bottom easily.

Tide is the recommended detergent for Happy Heiny’s, and I’m just now considering stripping my dipes for the first time because of a smell. (My son is 28 months old.) I would worry more about the fabric softener and fragrance residue from other people’s clothes in public machines. A quick spray bottle treatment with vinegar and a towel wipe-down might go a long way to solve this problem.

I would recommend line drying covers or pockets whenever possible. The elastic in our dipes needed to be replaced after about a year when they were mostly dryer dried. That’s a fairly simple, cheap repair (less than a dollar per diaper), but it would be very difficult without a sewing machine.

I will say, I don’t have a diaper sprayer and I’ve never sprayed Savannah’s diapers. We’re still in the breastfed-poop only phase. I just throw them as is in the wash and and they come clean. (I do have to do two wash loads, though.) I’ve noticed that Savannah’s blowouts are definitely a lot more contained than with disposables, which is nice.

I would echo your point that there is no shame in disposables. I didn’t start cloth until Savannah was 8 weeks old because of moving in between that time. Sometimes I wish I could switch back – they’re so much more convenient, so much less laundry, and clothes fit better! But I’m committed to the cloth. :-)
.-= ashley @ twentysixcats´s last blog ..I guess it’s naptime =-.

All the best on your cloth diapering…it sounds like a lot of work at first, but once you get into the routine it should be okay.
.-= Lulu´s last blog ..How I Save Money At CVS: Valentines Day 2010 =-.

And really, diapers and their contents are gross no matter if you use cloth or disposables. You get over the ick factor pretty fast (especially when it’s your own baby!). Some people swear that cloth dipes have less explosive blowouts than disposables. I didn’t get the opportunity to test that theory this time around, but I do think it has merit. Johnny had plenty of explosions in disposables, and if you’re doing all that laundry anyway, why not just wash the diapers too?

Mrs. Money — I know you’re supposed to do that and I wonder how many others do, or if they just throw it all away. I just think plopping makes for less smell in your trash can and is more sanitary and better for ground water and stuff.

I just wanted to say: technically, you are supposed to put ALL poop, even from disposables into the toilet so it’s not in the landfill, but how many people do that?!

Good job, Kacie! Great tutorial. :)
.-= Mrs. Money´s last blog ..How to Make Mouthwash =-.