Hellobee Boards

I have never use them. I do know that many people say the system of using prefolds and covers is much cheaper but it was a much bigger PITA for us. Plus our daycare wanted diapers already assembled so we had to use a pocket, Ai1 or hybrid.

http://www.assuntastore.com/

That company is run by an American couple who runs an orphanage in China for disabled children. All the proceeds to back to the orphanage. I have a couple of their diapers and they are actually really nice. Just buy good liners and you're good to go.

Cheapest way to go is definitely prefolds and covers. Do you want to CD from birth or skip the newborn stage and go to one size? Econobums might not fit a tiny newborn right away.

Green Mountain Diapers is reputed to have the absolute best prefolds - http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diapers.htm. They also have really highly rated (and comparably inexpensive) fitted diapers made from their prefolds - http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/diapers.htm#workhorse, but they'll definitely cost more than prefolds.

Personally, I plan to get some Thirsties duo covers (come in 2 sizes so they fit newborns - potty training), A couple of newborn size Bummis Superbrites (they have an umbilical cord cutout) and a mix of prefolds and fitteds from GMD. It works out to be middle of the road cost-wise. The things that make it less cheap (fitteds and newborn sized covers), I figure will be worth the extra cost to keep leaks and poopsplosions to minimum.

Prefolds and covers are definitely the cheapest way to go. I did not like the econobum prefolds though, they are just huge and super super bulky. Even now at 15 months I hate how bulky they are. As an alternative I would get prefolds from GMD (the best) or the Indian prefolds from Cottonbabies. You will need two sizes at the very least (infant + premium, or small +medium). I do like the econobum covers but now the elastic is starting to get worn out on mine. My flip covers have held up much better.

@MrsCB: We have some of both. I prefer snaps, DH prefers no snaps + Snappis.

we registered for econobums along with flips and bum genius 4.0 and AIOs (we want the full spectrum!) and i've found that with sales on the flips, it would be almost the same price to get those on sale! they aren't true prefolds and look super easy to use, so i'm excited. but i can't give you any real life data until LO arrives in january!