I think Laylasmum has made her point!
I disagree. We found using real nappies far superior to disposables. I had made a vague plan to use real nappies for our baby, but hadn't got round to it before she was born. When we brought her home we used a selection of disposables, from P*mpers to Eco-disposables, and wer horrified , firstly by the smell and secondly by the volume of waste generated by one tiny baby!
We used Tots Bots, which fit snugly, are very absorbent and don't leak, with a variety of covers, but settled on Bumpy wraps eventually.
You can use flushable liners to dispose of the poo down the loo, which is far less smelly than having full disps lying in your bin (even in bags)till you have the energy to go out to the dustbin; or you can use fleece liners, which you have to hold in the flush to "sluice", then wash with the nappies. Fleece liners keep the skin lovely and dry.
Washing just isn't a problem, I went back to work full-time when dd was 4 months old, and she is now, at 3, still in Tots at night. Dry-pailing (i.e. not soaking) in a bin with a snug lid is pretty much smell-free, and you can wash at 40 or 60 overnight and either line, radiator or tumble dry depending on your wishes.
Real nappies save you a lot of money compared to disposables. Don't let anyone tell you that the calculations don't include the cost of detergent, electricity, wear and tear on your machine, they do! Also you can re-sell them, and recoup some of your initial outlay, saving even more money. I bought dd's Tots size 2s 2 years ago for £5 each second hand, and they are still going strong. I expect to make around 3 each for them even in their well-used condition, when I eventually sell them on.
There is the environmental argument, but i suspect your dh has already given you all the gen on that, but there is also the "what would you rather have next to your delicate skin?" argument. I'd go for soft fluffy terry rather thsn paper any time. Yes, if you want o keep your baby comfy, you do need to change a cloth nappy regularly, but just because a disposable nappy can accommodate 12 hours worth of wee doesn't mean that it should.
Also, nappy rash isn't caused by wet nappies, it is caused by wet and pooey nappies staying on for too long, whether they are cloth or not. The combination of bacteria and urine releases ammonia which burns.
As for choosing your system, try a few and see what you like. Most good nappy retailers will sell/ lend you a selection pack to try out. We love our Tots, but they're not for everyone, as they do give a "big-bummed" look!
HTH