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Lets face it, getting started with cloth diapers can be a difficult task. You need to know the lingo, the types of diapers, how many you need, how to wash them and its hard trying to process and disseminate all the information! I know, I was new to all of this once too and I still remember trying to figure out what all I needed and what these strange words were!

The Lingo:
Prefold - a diaper that must be folded and pinned (or laid in a wrap but I've never gotten a good fit that way) It comes usually in 4x6x4 or 4x8x4 layering. That means the diaper is divided into 3rds, lengthwise, and the sides are 4 layers thick and the middle layer is 6 or 8. These are the cheapest way to go and a good starter to see if cloth will work for you or if you are on a tight budget. Don't get these in a store. Only get Chinese Prefolds or Diaper Service Quality Prefolds (DSQ's) These are the only ones that stand up over time and are absorbent. Store brands are a complete waste of time/money. COVER REQUIRED! Click here to see SAHM Chinese Prefolds Cost: $20-$30 per doz.

Contour- a diaper that is shaped, usually like an hourglass. These can also be pinned or laid in a wrap. They take 1 step out of the prefold process (the folding) and some have elastic legs to help keep messes in. COVER REQUIRED Cost: $30-$40.00 per doz.

Fitted - now we're getting into diapers more along the lines of disposables. Fitted's come in wide varieties and fabrics (mostly flannel, knits and terry cloth but others as well) They have elastic waist and legs and have a variety of ways to close them like snaps, Velcro and some you can chose to pin. These are fast and easy to use. COVER REQUIRED Click here to see SAHM Fitted Diapers Cost: $5-$10 each

AIO's (All In Ones) - most like a throw away diaper. These have the cover built into the diaper already. The style is that of a fitted diaper and offers the same types of closures. The big drawback is they are expensive, in fact the most expensive diaper style. Still, they are less in the long run compared to disposables. Many people have a couple of these for baby sitters and those inexperienced with using cloth. NO COVER REQUIRED Cost: $10-$20 Each

Covers:
Pull On - the cheapest type of cover. Do NOT get vinyl covers. They don't breathe and its like wrapping your baby in a shower curtain! Nylon, ultrex, etc. are good fabrics. Pull ons can offer a good fit at the leg but if you have a big mess you have to slide it all the way down the legs to get it off. Something to consider! $1.50-$4.00 Each

Velcro/Snap Covers - Most covers have leg gussets. Look for this, it helps with the fit. Look for quality fabric, not plastic or vinyl. Click here to see SAHM Covers Cost: $6-$12 Each

Wool - I haven't tried these but they are supposed to be really good. They are expensive though. Usually a whole system is not based on wool covers but 1 is used for night time/extended time. Cost: $15-$25 Each

Washing and how many diapers you need
You pretty much want to wash every 2-3 days. Anymore and things will get moldy and stinky, and less is more work.
To Wash -
Put all diapers, soiled and wet (rinse off any solids you can in the toilet or sink before putting in laundry pail) I haven't noticed a difference in washing with cold/warm/hot water! I use cold now to save money. Use 1-2 cups of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. This helps the pH balance. If you wet a soiled diaper right away you shouldn't have stain problems. If you do put them out in the sun. It will naturally bleach out stains. Never use chlorine bleach. You will be buying all new diapers if you do. Line dry or machine dry according to the manufacturer. Some AIO's can not be dried with the machine or on the hottest setting. Also plastic will soon crack, become brittle and break, another reason to avoid it.

How many do you need?
About 15 a day. You need to change every 2-3 hours (this is how often you SHOULD change a disposable, they just feel drier but the bacteria is still there!) Make sure you have enough to get through accidents, like when they poop 2 seconds after you change them, and if you get a little lazy with starting the wash load. Remember newborns may need to be changed every hour so you need about 20 per day for them. For covers you need about 3 per dozen diapers. I like to have a lot of covers so I have a lot more then a 3/12 ratio. Covers you can just air out and reuse over and over until wash day. If they get soiled then put them in the diaper pail to wash.

Tips
Change frequently. This reduces bacteria growth, keeps baby happy and fresh, lessens rashes and more. If you cloth diaper right you will have less rashes then disposable diapers and usually no rashes at all. If rashes are a problem, change more frequently, use a fleece liner (fleece stays dry and keeps wetness off the skin) use plain water instead of disposable wipes (check out our wipe recipes to add essential oils etc...in the wipe solution)
Don't be afraid to try new things and use different diaper styles. I use prefolds and fitteds (usually 2 prefolds at night/fitted in the day)

Ask questions. I have a message group at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/clothbabydiapers?as

Hopefully this is a good starting point for you. If you have more questions please write to info@sahmdiapers.com If you think there are other issues that should be dealt with on this page please email me. Also more info, specifically about SAHM Cloth Diapers, can be found on the FAQ page.