New to CD'ing...questions

[SilvanaRose]

I have been reading a ton of stuff about CD'ing here on MDC and many other sites and I am so lost lol. I am thinking that chinese or indian prefolds would be the best way to go both economically and in ease of cleaning (with covers of course), but here are my questions...

-In addition to prefolds I am thinking of getting a couple fitted's. Does anyone have any reviews on Bumkins Bamboo diapers? You can get them at BabiesRUs and I was thinking of asking for them on my registry. They look really nice but I can't find reviews on them.

-I currently use an all natural laundry detergent derived from plant based materials, completely unscented and works extremely well for our laundry right now.....will it be ok with CD's?

-What are some tips on cleaning CD's? Do you really put soiled diapers in the laundry? I know I may sound extremely naive but I want to know lol. We are moving into a really nice new apartment with a stacked washer and dryer and I want to know if it's really sanitary to be washing my own diapers? I have read sooooo many different ways to clean diapers that my head is spinning. You scrape them off into the toilet and throw em in? lol

-Also what is the deal with the diaper pails and liners? Can I just get a regular garbage pail and put a liner in that? What liner is recommended? I personally don't think I will be letting dirty diapers sit for a week, if anything 2 days tops. I couldn't stand myself if I let it go any longer lol. At what point do I scrape the diapers....before they go into the pail or from the pail and into the washer? Which brings me to my next question....

-If I scrape them before they go into the pail then I will need to situate the changing table close to the toilet (cause I don't wanna leave baby unattended!) which ultimately alters my original plan of having the change table in the bedroom. How do you guys do this?

I'm trying to plan and see how things are going to work so I can get a clear picture of how I want my life somewhat organized after baby comes. If anyone has any advice for a complete noob at CD'ing then I would greatly appreciate it!

Is this a good start?

-24 prefolds (newborn size)
-6 fitted diapers (newborn size) (Bumkins Bamboo)
-6 Thirsties covers? or more?
-4 Snappys?
-20 cloth wipes?
-Diaper pail of some sort....and 1 or 2 liners

I can't wait to get started and I look forward to any and all suggestions lol

[Gabes Mommy]

-I haven't used those, sorry!

-It should be fine. Make sure to do an extra hot rinse after washing them to get any excess detergent.

-I have a diaper sprayer, but you can just dunk the diapers in the toilet. Until your LO is eating solids, the poo should be pretty runny. Just a dunk or rinse should do it.

- I rinse my dipes as soon as we're done changing them, and put them in our pail. We have a cloth liner, so I just dump the dipes from that to the washer, and throw it in with them. Just any pail or garbage can should do it.

- I just carry the diaper and baby to the pail and do my thing. I hold him or set him down while I rinse and put it in the pail.

That sounds like a good start to me! I would do at least 2 pail liners so you can have one in the pail while one is in the wash.