I'm a FTM starting to prep for our baby's arrival in early October. I want to cloth diaper but we live in a city apartment with a shared coin op washer and dryer and after doing the math we determined it will actually be cheaper to go with a diaper service rather than trying to wash ourselves. My H and I both work full time so I'm not sad about not having to do extra laundry and we plan to hire a nanny so doing 100% prefolds and covers shouldn't be a problem.
Being that we're going with the diaper service this is what I've put on our registry/plan to buy.
4 Thirsties covers in XS (for newborn stage)
4 Bummis Super Brite covers in 8-16lb size (for newborn stage)
4 Thirsties Duo Wrap Snap size 1 (for when baby is a bit bigger)
6 Snappis
Diaper pail, liners and a diaper sprayerI'll most likely hand wash the covers or throw them in when I wash our towels. I'm sticking to mainly newborn/infant sizes right now with the plan to buy some larger sizes as baby grows. Will that be enough covers? Anything I'm missing?
Re: Using a diaper service - missing anything?
I would say that you will need fewer covers and snappis - like half as many of each. The weight range on the Duo size 1 is 6-18 pounds, so you will likely be able to use it sooner than you think.
What I recommend adding is a couple of small wetbags for when you (or the nanny) is out and about. I have a Bummis fabulous wetbag (the same fabric as the superbrites) and really like it.
I would check with the diaper service you plan to use about whether or not you will need the liners or a diaper sprayer. When I used a service with DS, they had their own pail liners I was to use (you don't want to lose yours) and I didn't need to remove poop from the diapers.
Also, like PP's said, you don't need quite so many covers.