What will you need - Using cloth

If you choose to use cloth you may be wondering what you will need.

I think for a newborn a good idea is to get terry or flannelette flats or prefolds. As newborns babies tend to need more frequent changes these are a cheaper and more effective option. I would suggest 30-35 which should be enough to wash every second to third day. It does vary as all babies eat and poop differently!
You will also need 4-6 covers. You could get away with 2 or 3 as you air one out as the other is being worn though if they get dirty they need washing. PUL or wool covers are what I recommend as they are effective and you are not likely to get leaks with a well fitting PUL or woollen cover.

There is also the option of using one size fitted nappies (diapers). These are meant to fit from birth to toilet training. If you have a premie or small baby they may be too bulky though to start with.
You can also choose sized nappies which may fit better but you will need to buy more nappies as baby grows.
As baby gets older you will probably change less often so will only need 15-24 nappies depending on how often you wash and your individual baby needs.
You can get disposable/flushable liners which make clean up easy. For a newborn I have heard people just put all the dirty nappies through the wash and that is fine. As baby eats solids the contents of the nappy tends to be more solid and can usually be easy to pick up with the liner and put in the toilet where it belongs.
Some people also use a Little Squirt for messy nappies. This is like a hose which attaches to the toilet plumbing system and makes rinsing messy nappies very easy. I make do without one so far.
You can also use cloth wipes. Some nappy sellers sell them or you can sell your own using polar fleece, terry, sherpa or velour (also note you can sew your own nappies- sorry no experience yet)) I also use facewashers which you can get cheaply. You can make up a solution or just use plain water.

At least one nappy bucket with a well fitting lid is essential. Some people have 2.  I have one, so wash when it is full. Also wet bags can be helpful. I have 2 big bags which line the nappy bucket so I don't have to clean out the bucket all the time. I just throw the bag in with the nappies for a wash. I also have smaller wet bags for going out. I have a woollen wet bag but you can use anything that is waterproof.

How much you spend on cloth is totally up to you. The cheapest option is to use flats with soakers you, a loving friend or relative knits. The most expensive option would be using the well sought after embroidered nappies I have seen. The choice of course is up to you. Some people make a hobby out of nappying their baby. But for the most part using cloth is cheaper than using disposables over time.

Choosing the right nappy - It does depend. What works for my baby and family may not neccessarily work for others. I will link up to a great site about this, see below. Please read my other mcn articles and join the cloth bums group on minti. I will do my best to help to explain and answer any questions.