Imagine and Nicki’s diapers are both part of the Planet Wise family. Nicki Maynard is the super smart and innovative lady behind these brands, which continue to gain a following year after year. You can find these brands, with free shipping, at my affiliate, Nicki’s Diapers.

Today I’m going to review and compare the Imagine pocket diaper with the Nicki’s pocket diaper, since they are “sister” brands. And I want to thank you all again for making today’s review (and giveaway!) possible in part, because whenever you shop using my affiliate links at Nicki’s Diapers, I earn a small commission that can be used for purchasing review diapers and prizes. It’s a win-win for us all, and I truly appreciate your support! I’m also really grateful to Nicki’s for allowing me to be a part of their affiliate programs.

Both of these are one-size diapers which adjust to fit from 8 to 35+ pounds. The outer is waterproof PUL with a microfleece lining and pocket opening. The Nicki’s print at left is called Spring Rainbow; at right is the Imagine diaper in Indigo. Both have 2 sets of snaps on the rise, which gives you 3 size settings (small, medium, large).

Here are the diapers opened up:

And here are the inserts. With the Nicki’s pocket you get one standard 5×15 microfiber insert. With the Imagine pocket you get an adjustable microfiber insert. Snap it back to make the insert smaller. It adjusts from 11 to 12 to 14.5 inches.

Both diapers are very similar in terms of size and cut. Here are the shells laid one on top of the other to illustrate. The main difference I see is Imagine pockets are wider across the crotch.

Here’s a quick recap to compare the features of the two diapers:

	Imagine	Nickis
Snap Colors	Colored to Match Diaper	Colored to Match Diaper
Insert	Adjustable Microfiber	Standard Microfiber 5×15
Lining	No Pill White Microfleece	Color-Coordinated Microfleece
Colors	8 Prints/Colors	20+ Prints / 8 Colors
Wings	Double Snaps	Double Snaps Plus Crossover
Openings	1 Back Opening	1 Back and 1 Front Opening
Branding	Designed Exclusively for Imagine	Designed Exclusively for Nicki’s
Shipping	Free	Free
Price*	$12.95	$12.95 Prints and $11.95 Solids

*Prices updated for 2016

Performance: With both pocket diapers, you can expect typical absorbency for a 4-layer microfiber insert. Two or three hours is max for us. The microfleece is very plush and soft and resists pilling.

Both are easy to stuff, but Imagine has the edge with a back pocket opening of 6 inches wide. The Nicki’s diaper has both a front and back opening but the one at the rear is 4.5 inches wide.

If you don’t like microfiber, either of these pocket diapers can be stuffed with something else – bamboo or hemp inserts, flats, prefolds, etc. But you’ll still get the “stay dry” effect of the fleece lining against your baby’s skin.

For hiding stains, the colored fleece inside the Nicki’s pocket gets huge bonus points. Plus, the coordinating colors look so beautiful!

The only improvement I would suggest is a PUL strip at the front of the diaper for tummy sleepers.

Fit: Imagine and Nicki’s diapers run slightly large. For their one-size line, we start getting a good fit around the legs at 3-6 months, depending on how chubby their little legs are. With his skinny legs, Erik wasn’t able to wear this one until 6 months. However, as a bonus, all our toddlers have comfortably worn both brands. I love to recommend both Nicki’s and Imagine to mothers with toddlers, or babies with chubby legs/thighs.

There are no hip snaps on the wings of these pocket diapers, and both are prone to “wing droop.” That means you may have to readjust every so often, and also change the diaper before it starts sagging from the weight of wetness or poo.  For some reason, I notice more wing droop with the Imagine vs. the Nicki’s, but I’m not sure why this is, since they are similar in cut.

As mentioned above, the Imagine pocket is cut slightly wider across the crotch (you can see this illustrated in the photos below).

Although some like dual pocket openings, I would prefer that the Nicki’s pocket not have a front opening at all. The fleece flap will roll up and over the waistband unless I take extra care to smooth it out and sort of tuck it down as I put the diaper on.

And now let’s look at the fit!

 

If you are curious to try one of these pocket diapers on your baby, today’s giveaway is for you because you can pick your prize! Choose a Nicki’s or Imagine pocket diaper from in stock colors and prints PLUS a pair of Imagine or Nicki’s baby leggings.

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED*

 

If you love prefolds, it’s hard to imagine anything better than those soft, fluffy and absorbent diapers. But add a touch of bamboo, and you just might have something nicer. In fact, I definitely prefer our bamboo/cotton Diaper Rite prefolds to regular cotton. Because many of you shop at Diaper Junction using my affiliate link (for which I am extremely thankful!), I have been able to use my commissions to purchase some Diaper Rite bamboo prefolds to test out and share with you today. My friends at Diaper Junction were also kind enough to send me one in the newborn size and the large size for comparison, since we currently don’t have those in our stash.

Diaper Rite bamboo prefolds come in packs of six, and start at $13.95 for each pack. The fabric content is 55% rayon from bamboo and 45% organic cotton.

Here are the measurements after being washed a few times:

Newborn/Extra Small (natural stitching) –  11×12 (suggested weight is 6 to 12 lbs)
Small (purple stitching) – 12×13.5 (suggested weight is 8 to 18 lbs)
Medium (green stitching) – 14×16 (suggested weight is 14 to 30 lbs)
Large (orange stitching) – 16×17.5 (suggested weight is 26 to 40 lbs)

The most noticeable jump in size is when you go from small to medium.

Here are the different sizes of bamboo prefolds trifolded inside a one-size Diaper Junction cover. When the prefolds were used this way (laid in a cover and not pinned on a baby), I found the sizes corresponded best this way:

One-size cover on smallest rise setting: use extra small prefold
One-size cover on medium rise setting: use small prefold
One-size cover on largest rise setting: use medium prefold

 

The large or toddler size Diaper Rite bamboo prefold extends a bit from the front of the cover, even when it’s completely opened up. At close to 18 inches, it’s pretty long. You can fold it down in the front but it will create some bulk.

Tip: If you are planning to primarily Snappi, Boingo or pin these prefolds on your baby, you might want to buy the next size up, so you’ll have extra fabric to pull up and around the waist. I primarily trifold ours in a cover, and small works fine for Ingrid, who is actually 11 months old but small for her age. In this picture, where the diaper is pinned on, she’s actually in a medium.

A diaper fastener grips the bamboo/cotton blend fabric with no problem.

Erik is 2 years, short and slender, weighing under 30 pounds; the medium is perfect for him trifolded in a cover, and I think he can wear these until he potty trains so we won’t need to buy the larges. So just keep in mind that your toddler might not necessarily need the “toddler” size. By the way, Erik is wearing his bamboo prefold under a NEW COVER from Diaper Rite – it’s a brand new print – dark blue with a colorful outer space theme! This new print is available now in several Diaper Rite products, and more stock is on the way.

Flats and AIO diapers have been working so well for us that I wasn’t using prefolds much at all….until I started testing these. Now I’m using them just as much as the flats! I know old-fashioned cotton is nice, but can’t deny the appeal of these bamboo-blend prefolds. They cost a little more than regular prefolds, but not that much. And I have found they are softer and more absorbent than standard prefolds. Really! Ingrid can nap in her small bamboo prefold, but not a regular cotton one. Erik has a medium overnight with 1 cotton Diaper Rite doubler or a large alone. So basically, that’s a night-worthy diaper for less than $5, proving you don’t have to spend a lot to find a night time solution.

Another bonus: these prefolds have no tags. Diaper Rite stamps the brand on them instead.

Care is very easy: I wash with my other diapers in our HE top loader. It does take a full cycle for these to dry completely.

If you are itching to see what bamboo prefolds are like, or want to add MORE to your baby’s arsenal, there’s a giveaway! One reader will win a 6-pack of Diaper Rite bamboo prefolds – choose your size (subject to availability). This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck! GIVEAWAY CLOSED

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Although you may have seen the hashtag #wehaveabagforthat, Planet Wise doesn’t just make wet bags and pail liners. Last year, I bought a Planet Wise diaper cover in size 1 that was just too cute to resist after seeing the cute prints over and over at Nicki’s Diapers (a retailer who I love to share with you as an affiliate). I’m glad I satisfied my curiosity, because it’s become one of our favorites. This year, we purchased another in size 2.

 

The Planet Wise diaper cover comes in size one and size two, which gives you a highly adjustable sizing system to take your child from birth to potty training. Here are the basic specifications

• Inner material is 100% waterproof PUL
• Outer fabric is a 100% cotton Planet Wise designer print
• Waterproof flaps on the front and back inside, to hold diapers in place and prevent wicking of moisture
• Double gussets around the legs
• Double row of snaps at the waistband
• Three snap settings on the rise (small, medium and large)
• Size one fits 6 to 18 lbs. and size two fits 15 to 35+ pounds
• Made in the USA
• Retail price $17.95

 

Here are the size settings of each diaper, and the rise measurements. The crotch is wider on size 2 (6.5″) vs. size 1 (6″).

If you are wondering how this two-size system compares to a one-size system, the short answer is that it offers a wider range of sizes. That is, the small is smaller and the large is larger. To illustrate that, here is the Planet Wise cover compared to a one-size cover (sister company, Best Bottoms):

As far as numbers go, the rise of a Best Bottoms cover at its smallest is 6.5 inches, compared to the Planet Wise size 1, which is 6 inches. The rise of a Best Bottoms cover at its very largest is 7.5 inches, compared to the Planet Wise size 2, which is 8.5 inches.

This two-size system works well if you have really small newborns (who can’t wear a one-size cover) or large toddlers/late trainers (who are too big for one-size diapers).

Here are the Planet Wise covers with various inserts and diapers.

And here is a summary of my thoughts on different aspects of the diaper cover:

FIT: I like that the soft side of the PUL touches your baby’s skin inside the cover. The PUL is very sturdy and thick (like Best Bottoms); with the addition of a cotton outer layer, it feels more stiff than a plain PUL cover. The marvelous prints and colors make these covers really stand out!

The outer fabric is not very stretchy since it’s knit, so the wings don’t have as much “give” as a regular PUL cover. However, the two-size system negates that drawback by allowing you to get a better fit.

It’s definitely a versatile cover. Whether I’m packing it full for nighttime, or using with a trim diaper in the daytime, the Planet Wise cover fits just as well both ways. I’ve used our Planet Wise covers with nearly everything you can think of: fitted diapers, flats and prefolds, hemp inserts and even our Best Bottom and Imagine inserts (tucked under the flaps since there aren’t snaps inside this cover).

Two rows of snaps at the waist allow you to adjust both the waist and the leg openings.

Is it better on chunky babies or skinny ones? I think it looks great on both my chubby infant and slim toddler, as you can see from the pictures below. Erik is a very skinny 2-year-old and I love the way this cover looks on him. I never have a problem getting a snug fit around either his waist or his legs. Snapping the rise down a bit lower works well for getting a good fit on a skinny baby or toddler.

PERFORMANCE: I have used diaper covers before with cotton or knit outer prints and found that moisture often wicks from the legs or the top waistband and onto the absorbent outer (unlike a cover which is made of waterproof material only). Fortunately, this has not happened at all with the Planet Wise cover, and I attribute that to a few things: (a) the sturdy, high-quality PUL which is used on the inside, (b) the front and back flaps which help keep wetness inside the cover and (c) the double gussets.

I have tested the covers overnight (with fitteds and with prefold + doubler) and they keep leaks at bay, provided I change first thing in the morning.

You can “wipe and reuse” this cover, if only the insert or diaper inside is soiled/wet AND if the front and back flaps aren’t really damp (which will happen after a few hours).

DURABILITY: I’ve been testing the size 1 cover for almost 12 months, and the size 2 for about 1 month.  The only change I’ve noticed is on the cover we’ve been using for almost a year: the outer cotton print has gotten a bit of fuzz on it. It’s not very noticeable, though. Other than the lint, these covers have proven to be very durable. The snaps are super strong, the elastics are still good and tight and the beautiful outer prints have not faded.

CARE: This cover is easy to wash and it dries in less than a full cycle (after being washed in our HE machine). As mentioned before, if the inside flaps are not too damp you can wipe the cover and hang dry it to freshen and reuse another time before laundry day.

With the exception of a few minor imperfections, I think Planet Wise covers are a versatile, durable and highly appealing system. Well-made and manufactured right here in the USA, they are well worth the price tag.

The prize: Win a Planet Wise Diaper Cover in your choice of size and color, plus a reusable Planet Wise snack bag! Open to US residents only. GIVEAWAY CLOSED

As you probably know already, Gerber Childrenswear  has just released a reusable All-in-One cloth diaper. You can read my full review of the Gerber AIO diaper here.

PLUS, you can enter to win one and try for yourself. Gerber Childrenswear is giving away 20 DIAPERS and you can enter to win below!

This giveaway is open to US residents only, as the new diaper has not yet been released to Canada. It will end on June 22 at midnight. Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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