Fitted cloth vs disposable Nappies

Before having Eve, I thought that I would like to have less impact on the environment and try out cloth nappies.  I didnt want to purchase a full set for in case I didnt like them but got a stash of 11 from different companies.  I tried a few different types from Baby Beehinds (http://www.babybeehinds.com.au/) and also Cushie Tushies (http://www.cushietushies.com.au/). 

My experience with these when Eve was a newborn was that they would leak and then get everything full of poo or wee.  This meant that I had to not only wash the nappies but also had extra sheets and clothes to wash. From 3 months on they are working much better and not leaking as much now.  Also, with Sydney winter weather instead of line drying them I was mostly putting them in the dryer which meant that all the extra water and electricity was and extra impact on the environment anyway.  I then tried out biodegradable nappies which worked out on almost double the price per nappy.  They worked fantastically well but definitely not a cheap option...  So here are my thoughts on Cloth vs disposable nappies:

* If you are using Cloth nappies to save money in the long run - great option - make sure you get enough so that you only have to wash every 2nd day
* If you are living in a nice dry warm climate where nappies can dry on the line these are a great option - especially from 2-3 months on as they are a much fit then and doesn't leak anymore
* Consider using cloth nappies whilst at home and disposable whilst out, and perhaps even cloth nappies during the day and a disposable at night as this will assist bubba in sleeping longer without having to change the nappy
* If you dont like the idea of cloth nappies, want to do your extra bit for the environment and can afford it, go for biodegradable.
* or if your budget doesn't allow for biodegradable nappies and you dont like the idea of cloth nappies look at other ways of saving the environment e.g. using natural baby products, washing detergents and cleansing products; using baby's bath water to do washing and ensuring that you dont leave heaters and lights on unneccessarily.