How many cloth diapers do you need starting off with a new baby? I don't work but I do go to college...and we have a washer and dryer (thank God...just got it :p ) at home so I can do laundry every day or at least every other day if need be.

I have been getting mostly fitted diapers and I think I have about 15-20 all togeather though some are different sizes so she probably couldn't use them all at the same time.

Also I only have like 3 really small ones...I have been buying mostly medium ones b/c I weighed just under 11 pounds when I was born and my husband was a good 8 1/2 (and as adults I'd say I'm average sized and he's small for a man) Also I've been measuring big at all my appts...so I think we have a big girl on the way!! But how long did it take your baby to start fitting into mediums? I don't want to spend a bunch of $ buying newborn or small sizes if she'll only wear them a few weeks.

Thanks for any help you can give...this is our first baby and so I'm playing it all by ear. And everytime I mention using cloth diapers to anyone (mainly family) they look at me like I'm crazy and say I'll change my mind after the baby comes. I'm commited to really giving this a shot though...I think I can make it work.

Beth btw is due April 4th :)

The last two times, I had three dozen dipes to start with; they were a combination of one size and prefolds. I used motherease for the one size and bummis over the prefolds. I really liked having 3 dozen.

So, I am making my own this time, and this is what I am doing. It's probably going to be too many, but I would rather have too many than too few.

I made one dozen newborn size dipes, but they look like a big newborn size, so I bet I get at least a couple of months out of them. I made 14 small sized dipes; again these look kind of big, so I'll use them probably from the start folded over, and I bet I get up to 4 months or so with these. I made the Otobre small dipe which is HUGE. I made 24 of these, and I know it will go through the first year if not farther. Also, just in case I am wrong about each, I am making 2 dozen flat dipes. I bet I use the flats more than the fitteds just for the trimness factor.

On a side note, I measured large both times, and DS was early, so I won't count him. However, DD was only a bit before her due date, and she wasn't 8 pounds. So, your size does not necessarily mean a big baby. Also, big babies run in my family. DD was more than a ppound smaller than the next bigger baby in my family.

36 diapers will last 2-3 days or so.

Sounds like you have a pretty good stash in the works :-)

I would get some smaller diapers as well since in my family we were all big babies and my sisters kids were 9 pds 13 oz. and other sisters twins were 8 pds 4 oz and 6 pds 13 oz for TWINS! So I assumed ds would be big too. But he was 7 pds 11 oz.:) And ontime.

I have bought WAHM covers. My plan is to have 25. I am assuming I will need to do wash every 2 days. I ordered smalls with cross over tabs. I also have 3 dozen preemie prefolds to stuff in them. I don't use pins/snappis - I fold them in 3 or 4 the short way and lay them in.

I ordered from Cute Booties (when owned by Doris - but the new owners use her pattern I believe) and Wiggle Worm Bottoms.

Well my supply just got a big boost! A lady from a military wives forum I also go to sent me 10 diapers for free...she said she had to many and her hubby told her to get rid of some. I couldn't believe how nice she was though...she could have sold those on ebay and she wouldn't even let me give her money for shipping.
They're Kooshies all-in-one size medium.

So I think I am good to go now except I might get a few small ones still...the mediums just look so big. I've been mostly getting fitted b/c hubby wants them as simple as possible. (and really I do to)

That is great!