M.,
Congratulations on the decision! I hope more parents make the same switch for the health of our children and planet!
Timely, the most recent issue of Mothering magazine have an article about cloth diapering with an in-depth info on the different types of cloth diapers. So I recommend to check it out. www.mothering.com
Our son is 19 months old and have been using cloth diapers since day one. We use chinese prefolds, which is most economical of all the diapers, and Bummis Super Whisper covers. I always buy cloth diaper supplies from www.nickisdiapers.com because the shipping is free if you buy diaper covers. Again, Mothering magazine has a ton of ads for websites where they sell cloth diapers and honestly, they are all really good.
For newborns and young infants (0-6 months), you usually need 3 dozen prefolds and and 6-8 diaper covers for twice a week wash routine. When the baby gets older, you only need 4-5 diaper covers since he/she soils the cover less a day. We also use flashable diaper liners, which is a thin tissue paper that catches solids for easy cleaning. Even though it says flashable, many parents claim that it could clogg the plumming, so we throw it away after shaking the poop off in the toilet. It still helps the cleaning a lot. Also, we put thin insert to double up the diaper for the night since our son wets diaper heavily. We use newborn size prefold as insert inside premium size prefold for night time. We use infant size prefolds during the day. As the baby grows, you will need to buy larger diaper covers to fit him/her. Some parents use wool covers for night time as it is breathable and less maintenance, but they cost a lot more than regular covers.
Each prefold is about $1.00-2.00(depends on the size), so for 3 dozens cost about $60 at the most, and each cover cost about $6.00-10.00. You pay up to $250 and you are all set for the first 2 years.
I heard that average baby uses 8000 diposable diapers until he/she is ready to potty train. That is approx. $2000. Imagine all that goes into landfill.
Many web shops where they sell cloth diapers have tips on how to fold prefold diapers as well as common cloth diaper care info. They are very helpful.
Hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, let me know!
--M.