1) Purchase makes the difference. You need wool pants and prefolds with Snappis, or Kushies (I like) or Kuslavas (love) for newborns. You need to order at least 24. Newborns need to be changed an average of every 2 hours, which means you'll go through about 12 a day, not counting those lucky times you just changed and then they go. That gives you supply for two days, no washing. With a newborn, it's important to have backups, and have enough that when you want to rest you can, and not worry about diapering for at least a day.
They are extremely expensive, but worth it (you can get at least 2 children's use out of them). Do not purchase cheap cloth diapers. They put dies, harsh chemicals, and bleach in the cloths. If you don't care about organic cloths, let me tell you what it will do to your precious new baby: pussy, giant, painful blisters and rashing. If you do some research you will find that a rash is often a response to the skins sensitivity to foreign agents and toxins. Dies and bleach are terrible for your skin, and when mixed with amonia, it will leave a rash you will worry and worry over.
2) Cloth sits on the skin, whereas disposable absorb and leave a dry, outer layer. Cloth does not do this. I have all in one diapers, inserts/stuffers, and prefolds. You will not be able to find these in most chain baby stores. I suggest stuffers. These diapers have a pouch where you place extra cloth to absorb messes, and a different material on the outer to push away wetness. All in ones have a insert sewn right into the inside, where messes get stuck and you have to use gloves and lots of scrubbing to remove. I have BumGenius, which are most popular, and I hate them. I have Fuzzibunz, love love. KawaiiBaby, minxies especially, great for night time and so, so soft. I have Kangas and Romparoos, which I also love. ThanksMama.com has great stuff and great deals. Order an assortment when the baby is little, and try them out before you order more. I would stay away from plastic pants. They don't allow the skin to breath. For extra absorbance, try woolies pants. They go over the diaper and help with leaks, and they breath.
3) You want to be careful about what you wash them with; there is soap you should consider. What goes into detergent is not regulated by the FDA, and it's actually quite poisonous. Often things like eczema can be caused by harsh soaps. I have 'chicken skin', and now I use a home made detergent and it's much more mild. As for the idea of not getting things clean, you can read any medical advice on bathing infants: most times warm water is more than enough to get them clean. As for diapers, don't let them sit without rinsing, and invest in a microbial wet bag. I put mine inside a hamper with a lid exclusively for diapers. This way, regular clothing is not exposed to feces, and you can clean the hamper once the bag is removed for the wash. This way everything feels, and smells 'clean'. I use a diaper genie, customized for my bag, add baking soda a bit of lemon zest to help with odor. Facing the hard truth, plastic, despite it's many downfalls, is just easier to keep clean. Keep a bucket just for rinsing, no household chemicals. In cloth diapers, they build up and make them less absorbent, and they are bad to put on sensitive parts of the body, no matter how many times they've been washed. I use a sprayer (can be purchased at any hardware store) hooked up to the shower (toilet runs and uses more water) run over a bucket for catching messiness (keep gloves if you don't like the mess). And don't fret about getting a bit of miss in your shower! All of your plumbing goes to the same place, but our cultural concepts of 'cleanliness' make us feel mess in the shower is icky (and it can be if you get it on bare feet without cleaning it). Clean it, and make sure your drain is clean to avoid smell (try baking soda) and rinse it down. You can dump the bucket in the toilet, and keep the wet bag near so you can transfer them wet. You can safely leave your cloth in a microbial bag for 2 days without risking any kind of stench or well, microbes. As for the fear of 'not clean', that is a cultural fear. The fact is, bacteria lives in feces. If you rinse it, and keep it from molding, by washing properly (lots of scrubbing which the washer will do) with a very soft soap, it will be just fine. As for staining, they make organic products. I like to use handmade soap bars for the ingredients in my laundry bars/ and for making laundering soap. For diapering, keep herbal scenting to a minimum if you make your own. Babies can be sensitive to all kinds of natural things as well. The best and safest results for stains are simply "sunning". You can hang a clothes line and put them out to sun. The sun has a natural bleaching affect, which you've seen if you've left a sweater in your car too long.
A Suggestion
As a dedicated 'clother' I would suggest an old fashioned washing tub, and a washing board. These things will help you keep your diapers in tip-top shape without much fuss!
Learn what you can about soaps and other products that will surround you and your baby. Skin is an organ, and absorbent organ, so be sure you know exactly what is going on, and eventually, in your infant. The FDA has yet to regulate these products, so you really never know what you're going to get.
I love my cloth diapers, but they are a ton of work, and the investment is a stretch. If you want to save the environment, you can always get chlorine free diapers, and compost them. You will save money in the long run with cloth diapering, but it won't feel like it. As they get older, you have to use more and more diapers, (and messes get bigger, and messier!) and your utilities bill will most certainly rise due to increased laundering. It's a life choice, so be dedicated and prepared. Put it on your registry and tell your family it's important to you, and I'm sure they'll support you and be happy to oblige the purchase.
