There are many different Imagine diapers already in our rotation, including flats and prefolds, AIO diapers and newborn diapers. It’s a brand that consistently performs well and fits within our budget. As a bonus, Imagine brand diaper products ship for FREE when you buy from Nicki’s and Diaper Safari.
I recently bought Erik and Ingrid the Imagine AI2 diaper with some of my affiliate earnings at Nicki’s (every time you shop there using my link I earn a small commission which allows me to keep bringing you these helpful diaper reviews, so thank you!).
Here are the basic features of the Imagine AI2 diaper:
- A two-part system which consists of a waterproof diaper cover and snap-in inserts
- Adjustable one size cover fits from 8 to 35 pounds
- The 2-layer waterproof cover has a wipe-clean-and-reuse interior, front and back flaps to hold inserts in place and double leg gussets
- Inserts are made of 4 layers of microfiber and 1 top layer of microfleece; available in size 1 (birth to 19 lbs) and size 2 (20 to 35+ lbs)
- Retail price for the shell is $14.95 and the 3-packs of inserts are $13.95
Size one inserts measure 5.5×12 and size two inserts measure 5.5×16. They have pale blue stitching around the edges. Being 5 layers thick, they are very plush and super absorbent. Using snaps on the back side, you can attach them to the diaper cover, or simply tuck them under the flaps without snapping. For a smaller infant, fold the insert under at the front or back.
You might wonder if Best Bottoms inserts are compatible with the Imagine system. The answer is yes. Best Bottoms inserts are slightly trimmer through the crotch since they are contoured, but they were slightly less absorbent in my testing than the larger, plusher Imagine pads. So go with whatever floats your boat; for me, with being so busy with 7 children and 2 of them in cloth, absorbency wins out over a slightly trimmer fit.
If microfiber is not your thing, then rejoice! Because the Best Bottom inserts are compatible with this Imagine AI2 system, you can opt for the hemp/organic cotton inserts instead (also sold at Nicki’s).
I guess that would be one improvement for the Imagine AI2 system – for there to be cotton, bamboo or hemp inserts instead of just the microfiber.
You might have another question in mind. What about Imagine diaper covers? How are they different from this Imagine AI2 cover? The AI2 has a few extra features. To summarize:
- Imagine AI2 covers have two layers of waterproof PUL
- Imagine AI2 covers have front and back flaps inside
- Imagine AI2 covers are $14.95 and Imagine covers are $10.95
Fit: Our Trumpet print AI2 looks so cute on both Ingrid and Erik. Double snaps at the wings are a favorite feature of mine because they keep the fabric from curling back and just look better. There are no hip snaps on this cover, but it doesn’t sag or droop. Two less snaps to fasten is fine by me.
She’s chubby and he’s slim; I can get a good, snug fit on both body types, so bonus points to Imagine for a diaper that is truly adjustable. Imagine one-size covers do tend to run big and might not fit at 8 lbs. (luckily, there is a separate line of Imagine newborn diapers!). The good news is that you can stuff this diaper with pretty much whatever you want. The coordinating microfiber inserts are great, but I’ve used lots of other diapers with our Imagine AI2 cover: toddler-sized flats and prefolds, plush fitteds and extra doublers.
Absorbency: The double layer of PUL on this cover really makes a difference, as do the microfiber inserts, which are more plush and slightly larger than typical synthetic inserts. Nothing seems to get past the two layers of waterproof fabric and the double gussets; in my testing it has been 100% bulletproof, even through the night. Just last week, Erik wore the diaper with 2 of the microfiber pads snapped inside overnight for 12+ hours! This is not one of those diapers that will leak if you don’t change it first thing in the morning.
Nicki’s Diapers has very generously offered to giveaway an Imagine AI2 set to one of my readers! It will include a cover in your choice of color/print/closure (snap or hook and loop) plus a 3-pack of inserts in size one or size two.
And there’s more! For a limited time you can get 5% off your cloth diaper order at Nicki’s with this exclusive coupon code: ZEPHYR
Great review! I’ve been wanting to try Imagine brand cloth diapers, they’re such a good price!
Great review I like snap ring a ding
I like this diaper in indigo.
Trumpet please!
If I win, I would choose Rawr!
I love the Rawr print!!
We have one Imagine pocket that we really like, so I would LOVE to try to AI2 system. We already have flutter <3 and would love to see LO in Trumpet! Thanks for the chance!
I’d definitely try for free! Marigold and trumpet are cute. I have a cover in rawr already. =)
We’re in the market for newborn diapers right now, so I’ll have to look into those. I really like the Flutter print (with snaps) or the Ring-a-ding for something more neutral.
I seen imagine covers before, but I never noticed the awesome features of their AI2 cover. It really has everything you could ask for; snap-in inserts, front and back panels, double gussests… it’s so versatile! I would love to win an Indigo cover with snaps!
Is this giveaway open to Canada as well? I didn’t see if it was US, US/CAN, or WW. Thanks!
Yes, it is. Thanks for entering! ~Anne
I love the Trumpet print, but Rawr is also really cute! Thanks for mentioning the newborn covers…I’ll have to look into those!
Oops! I clicked bonus entry by mistake…how do I undo it? 🙁
The bonus entry is a free one, no need to do anything. You can claim it! ~Anne
Okay. Thanks!
I love that thus have cute colors and prints. I’ll have to try a cover once the LO gets here!
Trumpet looks so cute on your kiddos, I think I’d have to choose that 🙂
These diapers are so cute and adorable! I love the elephant print!
Great review, would love to check it out. I would love a trumpet print diaper
I love the rawr and trumpet print. These diapers look great. I love wipeable pul in diapers so you can use the cover more than once. That really cuts down on laundry a bit haha.
So I know with some AI2s, you can’t reuse the outer shell. Can you with this brand?
Yes, you definitely wipe, dry and re-used the shell.
I love the Emerald Snap. It’s such a pretty color green (and it will be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day next year!) Rawr is a fun print, too. I’ve heard how so many people love Imagine, and I’d love to try them out! Thanks for posting so many helpful reviews and giveaways!
I’d love to put a OS AI2 Ring-a-Ding on my little’s bum!
Just bought 4 newborn aio from Imagine and after this review I can’t wait to try their other diapers as well
Thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful review.My son and beautiful daughter in law will be having their first.we have been debating whether or not to go this way.with this you have been a tremendous help.
Congrulations on the your grandchild coming, Anita! ~Anne
That is a great review! Thank you!
I’ve never tried the ai2 but I love all my other imagine products. I love the ring a ding print and trumpet is super cute.
I think the elephant print is cute!
Thank you so very much.you are very kind.
I like the emerald green and the rawr dinosaur prints from imagine.
I love the tree friends print!
I love that elephant print!
I would choose ring-a-ding. That’s one Imagine print I don’t have yet. Thanks!
I love the girly prints for our little one!
I am a HUGE fan of the Imagine diapers. I only had one in my last stash, but would love to add some more for child #3.
These are definitely among my favorite diapering systems!
I like that there are 2 layers of PUL.
Would love trumpet!
Hi! My name is Jorie! Mother of 2 lovely babies! I am new to the cloth diapering world! This is a great review and it helped me out! Thanks so much 🙂
Welcome, Elizabeth! ~Anne
I like the dinosaurs print.
Thanks for your review, particularly for the close up of the inserts and comparing the Imagine & BestBottoms inserts in the Imagine AI2! I love the Rawr print, so we already have it, but we’ve just been using the BestBottoms inserts or prefolds (the flaps are nice for prefolds) with it, I’m not a huge fan of MF but I’d been wondering if I was missing out not having the inserts specifically designed for the shell. Are the placement of the snaps on the inserts any different between the brands? I always thought the BestBottoms inserts extended just a little bit longer than ideal for the Imagine Ai2 and that perhaps the Imagine inserts had snaps placed a little closer to the edge (we also also use Softbums AI2s which has ‘compatible’ snaps but has them placed much closer to the back edge of the inserts & shell, so that while they snap in they don’t really ‘fit’ all that well mix matched). If we won, I’d love to have the Trumpet print! We already have the matching Imagine Baby Legs ( free gift from a previous Nicki’s order).
Karen, that’s a great question! Yes, the snaps are placed differently on the Imagine inserts and the Best Bottom inserts. The snap is about 1.25 inches from the edge on the Imagine insert; it’s about 2 inches from the edge on the Best Bottom insert. However, both of them work just fine in the shell. In the picture, what you see is a medium stay-dry Best Bottom insert; it fits with a little room to spare at the front so I’m sure the large would fit as well. ~Anne
I’d love Ring a Ding!
I love the elephant one! That’s perfect, because I’m planning on doing a jungle-theme nursery. Thanks for posting this! 🙂
Great review! I’ve been trying AI2s with baby #2 and I really like them… it would be great to try one of these! The trumped print or raspberry color are my favorites.
the elephant print looks just like bummis! i love them!!
Trumpet is such a great print!
I’d choose a snap closure ring-a-ding or rawr cover!
I like trumpet
I like Ring-a-Ding or Snow!
I love RAWR! What an adorable print! Thanks for the review and giveaway! 😀
I want the ring-a-ding!
I’d love the Rawr print.
I love that Trumpet print that you bought!
I love the Trumpet pattern.
We just had our first boy after 4 girls.I think the grey ring a ding would be a good choice. ☺
Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win!! I would choose the Ring a Ding pattern if I won 🙂
Love Snaps and the pattern Flutter.
Thanks for the review. I was on the fence about buying the imagine brand, but now I plan on purchasing 🙂
I love the prints from Imagine (we have Rawr, Trumpet, and Flutter) so I may have to go with Ring-a-ding.
Love the review, as I do all of them in my time of need (shopping for a whole new stash!) Thanks for the extra tid-bit about using the hemp/cotton soakers instead, because I’m looking for that direction over microfiber after other input. 🙂
A whole new stash? How exciting! ~Anne
I would pick Ring a ding
I really love the print your little models are sporting. It’s a truly cute gender neutral print. So many of the gender neutrals one are either not really gender neutral or boring. The cute little elephants with a yellow background is perfect!
I love Flutter and Trumpet but since our little one expected in August is going to surprise us I have to go with Trumpet as my winner this time.
Ring a Ding!
I love the flutter print!!!
I would pick the Rawr print. 🙂
Elephants are my favorite animal, so I have to say that the Trumpet print is adorable!!
Ring-a-Ding (snaps)
I have a couple of Nicki’s brand covers… I’ve always wondered how similar Imagine AI2 are to them.
I would pick Rawr hook and loop!
I would love to have trumpet in the snap version