Cloth Diapers... the verdict is in

sort of.

If you're curious about trying cloth I highly recommend doing a trial for yourself! I learned so much and it really helped me decide what I liked and didn't like about each type. Cloth diapers have come a long way since we were babies!

Pros of Cloth Diapers:
-The laundry was suprisingly easy! A few things that made it easier... using a dry diaper pail. Washing more often... they only recommend 12-18 diapers per load so I wouldn't buy too many more than that. It's easier for me to do 1 load every 2-3 days rather than wait a week and do 2 loads that may stain and smell bad. And you don't have to buy as many this way.

For the entire 21 days I never used any kind of stain remover, rinsed out very few diapers and they came completely clean- absolutely no stains! If they are on solids I recommend a liner (it looks like larger more durable toilet paper) that you put on top of the diaper so when they go you just turn it over and flush it. Much less gross. Some people also get a sprayer so that you don't have to dunk.
-I love when I run out I just stick them in the wash and I have a whole new set of clean diapers that I've already paid for without going to the store and forking out another $40 for the jumbo pack each time.
-It feels so good to put soft cotton or fleece diapers on Charlotte instead of rough paper and plastic.
-They seem to fit more nicely

Neither here nor there
-They leak about the same as disposables in my experience. Maybe a little less.
-The kind I like are just as easy to put on and take off as disposables

Cons
- For me personally I wouldn't use the traditional fold diapers with pants over them. They are harder to get on and don't wick away the moisture. If you want to save the most money they are definitely the way to go since they only cost about $2 each. Many cloth diaper people use these during the day then buy a few nice ones to use at night that work better.
-They are a bit bulkier. The pre-fold kind with the separate pants make Charlotte look like a bubble bum they are so bulky. The all-in-ones are just slightly bigger than the disposables. That being said they weren't so bulky she couldn't wear the same size clothes it was just more of a stretch.
-You do end up changing them a little more often. For Charlotte it was about every 3 hours during the day and then she could go all night in a bum genius with 2 inserts. Not all that much more often especially with the nice ones.

Conclusion
-If all diapers were just wet diapers I would switch hands down. Cheaper, nicer, super easy to wash.
-Since they are not all wet diapers I am still slightly hesitant to make the switch. Charlotte is still mostly nursing so soiled diapers really weren't that bad at all... but I've heard it gets a lot worse once she is strictly on table food.
-I wouldn't use them on trips. If it's just a couple of hours around town no problem. But all day or on a vacation I would still use disposables so I don't have to worry about rinsing or carrying them around. It would be more like 80-90% of the time using cloth.
-I would not expect anyone other than Matt and me to change cloth diapers. So all you prospective babysitters out there don't worry! I'm not asking you to rinse poopy diapers!
-Here's the kicker. When it came time to send them back I was sad to return them.

So here's what Matt and I decided.
We're going to buy 6 of the bum genius or happy heiny one-size diapers to start. So as Charlotte grows the diaper expands by using the next higher snaps. They are pretty pricey (about $16 each). They are very nice quality so they hold up well (usually for more than 1 kid) according to reviews. I really liked this kind because they were so easy to put on, they wicked away the moisture almost as well as a disposable so she could wear it all night, and you don't have to buy different sizes. Once Charlotte is almost totally on solids I can see how it's going and buy more cloth and switch completely (except trips) or just use them occassionally if it's too gross. So there you are. Probably more than you ever wanted to know about cloth diapers. Now all the curious people out there know what I decided.

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