It's time for the image of cloth diapering to change...
If you use flatfold or prefold diapers, yes. However there are other affordable options out there, such as fitted diapers, pocket diapers, and contour diapers. You can usually find nice quality All In Ones (diaper/cover all in one, put on/taken off like a disposable diapers but it's washable) at a good price as well. Prefold and flatfold diapers are by far the cheapest way to go if you are looking to save money, but fear not folding is NOT hard! You may be intimidated by all the different ways to fold, but once you find the one you like best you will be a pro at it, and be able to fold diapers in your sleep!
As for the bulk, it depends on how you fold and what type of diapers you use. Some prefolds can be bulky depending on the type of fold you use. You have to experiment with folding to find your favorite and the one that fits your child right. When it comes to actual cloth diapers - again you have to experiment to see what diaper fits your child right. Every business makes their diapers a bit different, with different fabrics and thickness. Before supplying your nursery with cloth diapers it is wise to experiment with diapers before buying a lot of them to make sure they fit. The best way to go about experimenting is to find diapers used on the internet - there are many wonderful forums (such as at www.diaperpin.com) and message boards (try diaperswap on yahoogroups, amongst others) where you can find diapers used at a low cost.
Some people do still use pins on their cloth diapers. I have never used pins on my daughter's diapers though! I am a big fan of the affordable and clever Snappi Diaper Fastener, which is very user and baby friendly. No poking baby!
Diapers such as the all in one, pockets or fitteds will almost always have their own fastening device - either snaps or hook and loop (Velcro, touchtape, etc.)
If you are using a prefold diaper under a cover that needs to be closed with Velcro or snaps, you may not even have to secure the diaper so long as the cover is able to be fastened. However, if you use a pull up style cover, you will need to secure your diaper or it will shift and come undone.
While we're on the subject of covers, I want to go over what diapers will and will not need a cover. All In One diapers will not need a cover as it is already sewn on the diaper. Some pocket diapers may need a cover, but most do not (if they do need a cover they are usually referred to as a pocket fitted). Fitted diapers, contour diapers, prefolds and flatfolds will all need a cover.
This is a common misconception about cloth diapers. Honestly, in all the time I've been cloth diapering my daughter the only time she leaked was when I was starting out and didn't know what I was doing. Since I've done my research and done my own experimenting, she hasn't leaked once since - even when she sleeps through the night (10-12 hrs).
The most common reasons your cloth diaper will leak are:
If cloth diapers are washed correctly, they come off the line or out of the dryer smelling fresh and clean. Storing cloth diapers isn't a stinky ordeal either - here are some helpful tips to keeping a clean smelling nursery:
Are cloth diapers inconvenient? I don't think they are - even with washing them and putting them away. But there are different styles of cloth diapers to fit every preference. I find cloth diapers much easier when compared to having to run out and buy disposable diapers and then having to lug them in, and find a place to store them (and then take out the endless trash associated with disposables). When it comes to leaving the house, I might pack in a couple fitted or pocket diapers just to make diaper changes super quick (I get nervous with my daughter on changing tables in public areas and want the change to go as quickly as possible) and take up less space (folding a diaper requires a bit more space just as you lay the diaper out and do your fold). In today's cloth diapering world there are many supplies made to make cloth diapering EASIER! Cloth diapering is not the same as when your mom had to use them!
Nope. You should wash your diapers at least every three days at the most to protect your fabric and prevent odors. You can wash 12-24 diapers at a time per load so you'll probably do a max of two loads every time you wash (more if you have more than one child in diapers). I have two days a week as "diaper day" where the diapers and pail liners are washed, the pails are scrubbed and disinfected. You can line dry your diapers if you'd like, or put them in the dryer. Watch your covers though - you may want to line dry those (or just hang them over your curtain rod in your bathroom).
You can start to use cloth diapers at any point before a child is fully potty trained. After you are into the training pants stage of potty training, there are many great businesses who make cloth training pants for children that are very comfortable and functional. There are even pull-up style cloth pants for children who still wet the bed.
As a side note - you can cloth diaper your child from the day it is born until the day it's potty trained. Even premature babies can be cloth diapered as there are diapers made for the tiniest babies!