Inexpensive Cloth Diapering Tip Sheet
Good covers and prefolds are a great way to diaper your baby inexpensively.
These are GOOD one-size covers for $11.95: http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=2271 To wash daily, I would get 2-3. To wash every other day, I would get 4-6. CottonBabies has free shipping. I priced out kawaii covers and with shipping from theluvyourbaby vs. free shipping and a coupon code at cb, econobums are less expensive and better quality.
These are good prefolds: http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php?cPath=51 Get 10 if you want to wash everyday, 20 if you want to wash every other day. I would get the infant size b/c it's cheaper and you can just fold them into thirds and lay them in the cover. This site has free economy shipping, which is still really fast. There are coupon codes on http://www.retailmenot.com/ (search for cottonbabies) that will get you 5% off your order.
If you can't afford good prefolds and covers yet, I would get the covers. You can put most anything absorbent in them: burp cloths, small towels, t-shirts, receiving blankets, wash cloths, wrap a microfiber towel in a cotton dish towel for night time(make sure that the microfiber doesn’t touch baby’s skin!), buy cotton sheets on clearance or from the thrift store and hem them into big squares to use for diapers. Use wash cloths for wipes. Stick with thin items that can be folded because they are much easier to get clean, especially at the laundromat or if washing by hand. Then if you have some money, get a pack or two of cheap gerber prefolds at walmart. If you go with the cheap prefolds, you might want to grab a pack of microfiber towels (from the carwash section of the auto department--$5) and you can fold those inside the prefolds to give you some more absorbing power--just make sure the microfiber doesn't touch baby's skin. Then, as you have $$ available that you would have spent on disposable diapers, you can upgrade your prefolds, or not.
For a one-day stash, 3 covers=$34.05 when you take off the 5% coupon code. 12 gerber prefolds at walmart=$10.95. 12 microfiber towels at walmart=$5-$8. You could have everything you need for $40 if you wash every night. It is even less to start if you use receiving blankets or t-shirts if you don't have the money for the stuff at walmart. That would mean you'd have all you need to get started for $34.05
