Our young ones are probably the most excited to dip in the pool when the summer season comes. Still, that water fun can turn into a disaster if they decide to defecate or urinate in the pool, and I can tell you that’s one of the most horrific things parents can face.
Luckily for the swimming diapers, I was relieved from this situation and could comfortably sip on my cocktail while my kids were playing in the water.
If you are wondering how do swimming diapers work, I have you totally covered. I wrote this article covering every possible detail you need to know about swimming diapers; just follow through.
How Do Swimming Diapers Work
As you can already guess, swimming diapers are made for – swimming. If your little one isn’t potty trained, swimming diapers save the day.
They are the same as regular diapers but much less absorbent. This means that they are made from a plastic material that prevents the yucky stuff from floating around in the pool, so you’ll need to change them immediately.
The purpose of swimming diapers
Even though they might look the same as regular diapers, swimming diapers are much less efficient in absorption as they are designed to puff up when filled with solids. This means it will keep the solids from falling out whenever your baby defecates or urinates in the diaper.
They are made with elastic linings to hold the leakage, and inside they are filled with a durable and comfortable cloth to soak up the mess and prevent it from being released into the water.
I use them to control things when we visit hotels or public pools or go for a dip at our friends’ houses so my little ones won’t make a mess.
Effectiveness
The most important thing when it comes to how do swimming diapers work is the burning question – whether they can catch the excreta.
If this is your first time going on a vacation with your little one and the hotel you have booked has a pool with very strict regulations, of course, you would be concerned about whether putting on a swimming diaper would be useful.
Statistically speaking, babies don’t defecate that often, and I mean, how long will you be staying in the water before they get tired? The chances that your baby will defecate in exactly half an hour or 45 minutes in the water are minimal.
If the accident happens, you don’t have to worry about the liquids spilling out since you have about an hour or so to change it. Since you’ll very much notice when it swells, it’s always good to do it immediately; otherwise, there is a risk of blowing up inside the pool because of the water and the waste.
Urine absorption
As I mentioned, swimming diapers aren’t made to absorb urine; otherwise, they will also absorb the water from the pool and make the diaper heavy, which is both uncomfortable and unsafe for your little one.
Their purpose is to hold the excreta so that there will be no brown emergency in the pool, causing everyone to evacuate and close the pool for cleaning.
Toddlers urinate in the pool whether they are wearing swimming or regular diapers, and every small movement will cause the liquid to mix with the pool water. There’s no way for urine to be trapped inside the diaper unless it is just a tiny amount.
Loose stool
This is one of the most commonly asked questions I ran into, and the truth is that they can hold on to the loose stool if they have a good snug fit, so you should pay attention to this while shopping.
If your kid has diarrhea lately, you might want to double up on the disposables or just put both reusable and disposable for extra assurance, so you don’t have to suffer any accident at the public pool or be embarrassed at your friends’.
Types of Swimming Diapers
There are two swimming diaper options – disposable and reusable ones. The reusable ones can be washed and used again, while the disposable ones are generally used under the bathing suit and are thrown afterward.
I would say the reusable ones are a far cheaper option, but washing them all the time isn’t just the most fun thing to do, and some pools have particular restrictions about cleaning them in the facility.
I’ve also heard stories from other parents sharing that some local pools demanded doubling the disposable swimming diapers before getting the child into the pool. Besides the cleanliness and convenience, there isn’t much difference between each option.
Read more: How to Know When to Size up Diapers
How to Choose the Right Swimming Diapers
At first glance, all swimming diapers look the same, except for the prints; you can find some cute designs, but this isn’t the most important thing you need to consider. These are some of the tips I advise you to look for while shopping:
Good absorption
I’ve already broken down the truth that there is no way for the urine to stay completely within the swimming diaper, but still, it wouldn’t be of any harm to look for the option made from a little more absorbent materials. Go for polyester cloth or other natural materials.
Also read: What Do Diaper Sizes Mean?
Snug fit
Most of the time, the swimming diaper isn’t tight enough to hold the excreta, so in this case, always go for those that have side snaps instead of hook and loop fasteners, as they are much more efficient for holding on in the water for a longer period.
I found that models meant to be worn like little pants are the safest option. However, I warn you that your baby won’t be very happy when it’s time to take them off, and you’ll need to rip them apart.
