Ok so maybe it's a bit early, but since we don't have enough space for me to properly "nest" with (we're moving soon anyways), I've been thinking about options a lot.

So we've decided that we're going to put our little one in cloth diapers rather than disposables. I was really resistant to the idea at first because I had the image in my head of having to origami a single piece of rectangular fabric into a diaper, held on with pins. But after doing some proper research on the topic, I found out that they make them very similar to disposable diapers! Well, in shape, anyways. There are also disposable inserts that can be flushed down the toilet with solids to make scraping and rinsing unnecessary most of the time.

Is anyone else planning on using cloth diapers, or have used them in the past? Are you planning on using them for environmental, health or money purposes?

Personally, I couldn't care less about the environment most of the time (sorry, but I have to admit to it!) and find the smug tone of many of the sites that sell the supplies needed to be nearly unbearable. It's great that this is good for the environment and all, but what concerns me is the immediate, discernable impact to myself and my family. Less diaper rashes? Great! More money in the bank account? SUPER GREAT! Why can't the websites focus on those points just as much as the environment? They're all valid reasons to use cloth over disposables. To be fair, there were a couple of websites that had these points listed as more than just a passing reference - one even had a very handy table of price comparisons over 2 1/2 years of a couple different brands of disposables and the different styles of reusables. I can't find the link now, but even the cheapest disposables against the most expensive reusable came out in favour of the reusable diaper system. Sure, it was by less than $10 per month over the whole period, but it was still a win.

Haha, well that was an unexpected rant off the side of the entire point, so I'll just re-ask the question: what's everyone else here planning on doing, and why?

I'll be using one size fits all pocket diapers/nappies. Was my 12 week purchase. Spent about $450 on 30 outers/60 inners which should be enough for me not to *need* to do laundry every day too . Will probably get a few more inners in hemp or bamboo for extra absorbency. I'm attracted to the cost saving for sure. I felt there were a lot of good reasons for us to use them.
Both my younger siblings were...traditionally cloth diapered. The whole pins and rubber pants thing. I didn't think I'd be into cloth diapering as a result, but I started looking into cloth diapers about 2 years ago and saw how advanced they had become.
You might also check out the Natural Parenting section of this site, has a lot of info on cloth diapering etc.

I'm going to be using cloth nappies, largely because of the environmental impact as well as the money saving etc. I just don't want to bring my child up to think it's ok to treat the world as a dumping ground, so i have to lead by example right?

I also read some interesting statistics the other day which say that there is evidence to suggest that kids who wear cloth nappies potty train quicker. This is due to the fact that some disposable nappies are so good at 'locking away moisture' etc that kiddies don't always realise they'vre soiled themselves in the first place.

So those are my main reasons anyway, plus the cloth nappies come in super-cute designs!

I'm going to be using a combination of elimination comunication & cloth nappies for my baby. I've read quite a lot on elimination comunication over the past few years & thought it cant hurt to try it.

I am going to buy cloth nappies aswell, i dont know what type yet but its defo gona be cloth. My reasons for using cloth, not only the environmental aspect but i couldnt imagine putting all those chemicals that come in disposable nappies round my babies genital region.

I couldn't agree more. Can the elimination communication method be done from birth or is it only when they reach a certain age?

Yes you can start elimination comunication from birth but some choose to start around 8-10 weeks as the first few weeks are tiring & you are just getting to know your baby & his/her paterns.

If you search for elimination comunication on google you will find lodes of really good informative sites.

I will be using cloth. You will find that a lot of peoples main reason for going cloth is environmental....mine is. I spent ages weighing up everything including the use of washing machine and drier in terms of pollution as well as cost. My biggest environmental reason was actually related to landfill, we are running out of space and nappies, especially the ones that take a long time to break down (if they ever do) are a big contributing factor...I do not want to add my childs nappies to this massive problem when its entirely unnecessary to do so.
Secondary for me was the fact that our bins are only collected fortnightly....disposables SMELL (much more than cloth) and there is no way even with disposables in nappy bags I wanted to put up with two week old nappies sat in the bin outside the front door...yuk!
Then of course there is money. Ive spent a fair bit on cloth nappies (I have over 50....they are so pretty!) but that gives me plenty from birth to potty and means I will very rarely, if ever, have to use the drier for them and can hang dry them instead, even the bamboo ones that take 24 hours to dry out. It works out HUNDREDS of pounds cheaper to use cloth than it does disposables.
Then there is the chemicals, disposables are full of chemicals and cloth is not...simple choice for me there really. I dont want to be putting irritating chemicals on a newborn bum unless I have too, as I dont have too Im not going too!
Also cant deny that cloth is pretty!! I love my coloured and patterned nappies, of course I go for suited to purpose first but who can resist a cow print nappy?!

I am using cloth diapers with Jasmine, and I love them. I will def be using them with #2... pocket diapers are the best though, they are the quickest to dry, I had some AIO's but they took ages.

I think initially I'll definately be using disposable, as it's all new for me, but after maybe 6 months I'd like to swap to cloth nappies. I've heard about them making sure kids are potty trained more quickly...that would be a massive benefit.

My first was disposable diapered as we were in Ecuador and had no washing machine (and there aren't really laundromats) so we had to wash all our clothes in cold water in a cement sink on the roof- I wasn't about to add cloth to that daily chore, lol.

But by the time we had our second six years later we were in Canada, cloth diapers had become very advanced (we use BumGenius one-size pocket diapers, and they are the only diaper #2 or soon #3 will ever need). I do a little EC with Insomnibaby's BMs as he is quite regular and responds well to being put on the toilet and grunted at.

I only have seven diapers- we wash daily so there is not really any smell & we keep used diapers in a dry, airtight little garbage pail (with the step-opener).

I am going to try to formally toilet train #2 before #3 comes along, starting from when he is able to walk independently, since he is doing so well with the EC.

I would encourage you to go for it- quite apart from the environmental benefits (which are considerable- using disposable diapers for the 1st few months doubled our garbage output and we were going to have to buy another bin or go cloth) the savings are tremendous. Also when you are done with the diapers you can re-sell them, for even more savings.