Total Newb with CDing- Help?

[GoodNamesGone]

Moving my questions here, was in the wrong forum.

Is there an easy start here? Maybe a Dummies Guide starter kit? I have NEVER cloth diapered a child before. I am sort of clueless and looking for a simple, less exspensive start.

I have a very supportive DH, and I'd like to take it easy on his wallet if I can.

Here's what I know-

I need something adjustable. My baby might weigh as little as 7lbs, but as much as 11lbs depending on how things go- I weighed 11 lbs 4 oz. at birth, DH was 12 lbs 6 oz.... but our baby was almost diagnosed as an IUGR. She's apparently hit a growth spurt and now nobody is sure. Docs and MW are guessing she'll be around 8 lbs unless she's early. Eitherway, the min. weight would have to be below 10 lbs, just in case.

I don't want to bother with diaper pins. Something with snaps looks good to me. If possible, I'd like them to last for the next kid. (not sure what the wear and tear is on diapers)

All-in-one sounds nice too, but if savings are signifigant I'll go with covers and liners.

So, if you were going to put together a starter kit for a NB for somebody who had no idea what they were doing, what would you put in it, what brands? And what is up with wool and knitted stuff? I would think messes would leak right through that...

Thanks for the help!

[MommaShark]

Bummis has 2 kits one for 8-15 and one for 15-30. They are about $145 and $120 respectively. You can find them with free shipping - so don't pay shipping. They come with the diapers, directions, washing info, liners and snappi. All you'd need to provide is a diaper pail liner if you choose and wet bag for trips - although some use plastic bags until they buy the wet bags. I like whamies. The last link below has an all you need birth - potty for under $248 from nicki's diapers. I also like Abbyslane.com but didn't price out for you.

The first size will be a bit large unless you have a big newborn so you could get 24 newborn and 6 newborn covers - I like Thirsties or Bummies Super Snap or make do with a slightly large cover.

Wool is great! But harder to care for and until you get the hang of cloth diapering you may want to wait. I like Imse Vimse's wool bumpy (machine washable!) You lanolize them then wash as needed with a wool wash (not Woolite - if they sell wool, a diaper place will tell you how to care for them!)
Wool absorbs 30-40% of it's weight in liquid before feeling damp and is breathable. I don't like fleece and don't use it . I stay away from synthetics except in pocket trainers for nighttime - because I haven't found an all natural one I like.......

Links:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=511
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=216
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=248
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=247 (this one is all you need for birth - toddler from nicki's....you can add on pail liners too!)

[TheGirls]

I was a total newbie too before DD was born. I'd never seen a cloth diaper in person.

I got 36 prefolds and 4 different covers, plus the BumGenius one-size diapers for nighttime (3 of them). Plus a small wetbag (travel) and two large pail liners. And wipes. And 3 snappi's to fasten them with.

If I had it to do again I'd get fewer prefolds (24 is probably plenty), 5-6 covers in the newborn size and 4-5 in small, and skip the pockets for a tiny baby. When they get bigger I'd get a medium FuzziBunz because they stay in those bigger sizes for FOREVER (she's been in the same size since 4 months and is now 13 months with room to grow - she may potty train out of the size medium)

The pockets are nicer with a wriggly toddler. With a newborn the prefold/cover thing was fine, she couldn't move so I could do it fast.

I wouldn't do AIO's, personally, because I have issues getting them to dry properly. I would consider doing pockets only, but I'd do snaps for sure, because the velcro creates all sorts of wash issues.