Disposable swim diapers are a blessing and a curse. They keep a wee one's bum from appearing hugely swollen after a dip in the pool, which is delightful. They do, however, have their faults.
Yesterday morning my daughter went number two in her swim britches. My husband had to figure out a way to remove the pull-up style bottoms without making a complete mess. He discovered a trick — the sides tear pretty easily. So instead of patiently wrestling your poo drenched child, just tug a tad on the sides and grab the diaper in one fell swoop.



Red Herring
Maison Martin Margiela
Balmain
I always cut the sides, which is easy to do.
1They do just rip off. I can't believe how many moms don't know that. Pull-ups do the same thing, and can be reattached, but the swim diapers can't.
2Doesn't it even say something like "easy tear sides" on the package? I didn't realize people didn't know how to remove them without pulling them down. All Pull-up type diapers I've ever used have the same feature. Like meumitsuki said, the only difference is that swim diapers don't reattach. And I don't recommend the Pampers Pull-ups, they tear really easily and it makes them useless.
The thing I've found most people don't know about swim diapers is that they're not made to absorb pee, only catch poop. They're designed so liquid "rolls" off them, which is why they don't swell in the water.
3I didn't realize this might not occur to someone, either. But, I know I've been oblivious to things others thought were obvious and vice versa so it's good to share tips.
My experience is the same as Greggies. My lil swimmer related surprise was that you shouldn't put them on your child before you get in the car on the way to the water.
4Greggie, so the pee rolls off into the water? Ick. I clearly have a ton to learn. I have honestly always thought the idea of swim diapers and babies in pools was gross and having my own baby hasn't changed that. I want my son to learn to swim and not be scared of the water, but it's going to be tough for me.
5I know the concept is gross, schnappycat, but logically when a normal sized pool holds about 22,000 gallons (an Olympic size pool has more than half a million!) of chlorinated water and a baby pees what?...about a quarter of a cup...? It's literally a drop in a bucket.
6Yeah, logically that all makes sense, jennifer, and I know it's designed to work. But I've always had general issues with public pools and cleanliness, probably because when I was little I contracted Scarlet Fever in my first (and only) swim class. I need to get over it, especially since I'm not at all a germaphobe otherwise.
7The treatments they give the water clear all that stuff out. But I can certainly understand having certain areas where germaphobia comes into play even if it's not logical. I'm far from a germaphobe, but I have certain things here and there that gross me out.
A friend of mine learned the "no pee absorption" thing when her daughter was in a swim diaper sitting on her lap, and she peed all over mom.
8The swimmers rip apart on the sides and they do not hold urine I learned the hard way, when I ran out of pullups during potty training I used one on my son thinking it holds tons of water if he has an accident it should be okay, I get to the grocery store urine everywhere
9Did you also know that you can wash and dry the swim diapers.. I ONLY wash the ones that have pee or none if he has only been in them for an hour or so... DO NOT WASH STINKY ONES!!!!!!
10Really? I accidentally got one in the wash once and it totally disintegrated.
11I was seriously considering bringing scissors to the pool to cut the swim diapers when I mentioned to a friend that I wished you could just tear them off, and she was like, "um... ya can."
12It's like adult diapers, just the same.
13Um thanks for telling me that they don't hold pee. I really didn't know that and we always change him into one before we get into the car and head to the pool. Now I think I'll wait to change him until we get there.
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