Cloth nappies

So, I'm not big on the huge Green Movement. Not so much because I don't think its a good idea, becuase I do... But more that 'green' seems to be the new black and its hard to see what actually make sa difference and what is just marketed as being 'green'.
...That, and all the people that seem to hassle me/judge me the most about formula feeding and being a working mum (even while my partner stays home), seem to be those lean mean green crunchy parenting machines that ONLY use cloth nappies or else.

So going along with them, just quietly, instinctively makes me want to hurl.


With Zander we were not keen on going there. For those above reasons and also... Cloth nappies to us are in our brains as being those horrid big squares of fabric with the pink edges that you have to master some origami skills to even fold and then secure onto the poor unsuspecting child with those scary arse 'safety pins' (that so could easily stab into the precious flesh of my child). Oh and the poop on cloth thing. Gross. The extra washing put us off completely.

But we spend a fair amount of money on disposable nappies and with impending baby number two I'm seriously thinking about doing the cloth nappy thing.

So cloth diapering mothers (or attempted cloth diapererers) out there... give me your feedback and answer me these questions...

1. What the hell is the difference between all in ones and 'pocket' cloth nappies?
2. Are they very absorbent? like would they work as well as a disposable or do you just become used to the cloth nappy ways and deal with the fact they are not that absorbent?
3. Night time? for those elusive babies that sleep through the night and you don't want to wake?
4. In reality, are they hard to clean? how do you do that?
5. Can they be washed in cold water? and well? (hot water washes are so expensive, its almost worth getting disposables and destryonig the planet so i can save a few bucks :P)
6. WHAT ABOUT THE POOP!? How does one tackle it?
7. Do they go all mouldy if you don't wash them asap?
8. How many cloth nappies do you need?
9. Nappy rash.. is it worse? Some people swear cloth nappies makes it better but ZJ has never had problems with the right brand of disposables.
10. And finally... recommendations.. what do you recommend as a great brand/type? And what system do you use when it comes to this stuff and how much extra trouble is it really.

Seriously.. give me all your feedback. You love it? You hate it but do it anyway? You did it but gave up? Tell me what you really think.