Swim season is coming as part of such, I am sure you have seen the diapers for swimming in stores. While diapers for swimming do seem to prevent unsanitary accidents in the pool and make going on vacation less stressful, they do seem to add up cost wise.
The best thing to do is to learn the basics so that you can make an educated decision. As a parent, we all want to balance convenience with affordability. I will show you what diapers for swimming are and their true purpose so that you can make that choice.
What are Diapers for Swimming?
Diapers for swimming are like traditional diapers in that they come in standard sizing similar to potty training diapers. Like training diapers, they also tear away at the sides so that they can be quickly removed when it is time to change them. They are designed to catch and hold poop, so it does not end up in the pool.
Swim diapers also fit nicely under clothes so that they can be worn under your child’s swimwear. Like traditional diapers, they will not interfere with your child’s movement or use of a life vest. You can also find diapers for swimming in your child’s favorite characters.
The biggest difference is that diapers for swimming do not contain the absorbent core mixture of sodium polyacrylate. The sodium polyacrylate turns into beads that can hold up to 30x their size in urine or fluids, which is why diapers for swimming are not absorbent.
Basically, the only thing a swim diaper does is catch and hold fecal matter so it doesn’t end up in the pool. When your child pees in a diaper for swimming, it is going to get all over the surface they are in. Urine is likely to soak through your child’s clothing and your clothing if you are holding them.It is for this reason, you will want to avoid putting your child into the swim diaper until the last minute.
Are There Any Real Benefits to Spending the Money on Diapers for Swimming?
Realistically, you are going to want to purchase diapers for swimming if you are going to be away from the house. In a public situation, they can be an absolute lifesaver. However, if you are just playing in the kiddie pool in your backyard, you will probably want to skip the swim diaper.
When a traditional diaper gets wet, the sodium polyacrylate is held in by a polyethylene film not much different from plastic wrap. So when the sodium polyacrylate expands past a certain point, they are going to bust. The tiny particles are going to then leak out.
This causes a huge mess that can be almost impossible to clean out of the pool, your child’s clothing, and off the ground. The diaper itself seems to disintegrate, making disposing it a real chore. This is why diapers for swimming are so popular.
The Disposable Option
Disposable swim diapers are made of a wood, cotton, and plastic blend. They will fit snug around your child’s legs and waist. They also have the polyethylene coating to hold them together. You can expect the dye to be made of vegetable dyes so it is non-toxic should it bleed into the water.
Disposable diapers for swimming can cost you about $10 for a 24 pack, or about 0.50 per diaper. You can expect to use 1-2 swim diapers per swimming session. Unless you go swimming a lot, you can probably stretch one pack to last an entire season.
The Reusable Swim Diaper
Reusable diapers for swimming are made from a cotton, hemp, and organic material blend. They are usually held together with velcro clasps. The leg fittings tend to be a little less snug than disposable swim diapers, but will still stay in place. You can find some that have a plastic blend lining with elastic in the legs. These look similar to training underwear. They are not absorbent.
Reusable swim diapers will have to be specially ordered online. They are going to cost you around $10 per pair. Even though at first it seems as though that is less expensive, you have to take into consideration that you can reuse them year after year.
How to Select a Size
As you can see diapers for swimming definitely have their benefits. To pick the right ones for your child, look at your child’s size of clothing. Disposable diapers for swimming come in the same size of toddler clothing. A 2T/3T is the same as a small size, in fact it is the smallest size you will find. Consider this example, if your child wears 12 months to 24 months size clothing, choose a 2T/3T size disposable swim diaper.
To choose the size of a reusable swim diaper, you should go by the age of your child. For example, if your child is 3 months to 6 months of age, you will want to get a size s/m. Usually, you can find them in three sizes: S/M, M, and M/L. There are a few brands that are one size fits all, you will have to check manufacturers to find how they fit. I recommend you have at least two on hand.
Enjoy the Exercise!
Swimming is a great way to get your child outside to enjoy the fresh air. Diapers for swimming help make the adventure less stressful for everyone. So, go out there and enjoy the water and let your swim diapers handle the messy stuff. Happy Swimming!
Leave a Reply