Summer is coming back again so we are tempted to dream of lying on the beach and splashing in the water. But before the real summer begins here comes a day when we can rethink our lifestyle and commit to a little green change.
The Earth day this year comes on 22.04 so there are only 10 days left. I invite everyone to think of a little tiny step they could take to reduce this consumption madness.
Save The Earth With Reusable Swim diapers
I myself have found a way to go greener this summer – I have already bought my boys reusable swim diapers. They are so cute I can’t wait to put them on the kids.
Actually swim diapers have been around for some years now. You can choose to use the disposable ones or the reusable swim diapers.
As a green mom the reusable swimming diapers are a great alternative for me and my kids. I hate the thought of tossing several swim diapers every day. Plus they are so expensive and you have to buy a large pack that takes a lot of space.
I love reusables. They are so cute, so bright summer colored.
I am sure you are tired of hearing that a baby uses thousands of diapers before he is fully potty trained and that diapers take sooo long to degrade. I’m just gonna make the simplest maths comparing disposable and reusable swim diapers. I’ve made these calculations for myself and my kids so results may vary for you.
2 kids 2-3 year old – 4 reusables–4*$15 = $60
for the whole season so if you choose the disposables and go to the pool 3 times a week it makes 12 times a month, 36 times for 3 months *2 =72 diapers at least because your kids may have an accident in the water and you would have to change the soiled diaper. You will need at least 7 packs for which you need to pay more than $100.
Or if you are going on a family vacation for 2 weeks, 14 days suggest you put 2 diapers, one in the morning and a second in the afternoon that makes at least 56 diapers.
$18 for 10 diapers means you have to buy 6 packs for $102.
And if you decide to incidentally go to the local pool you will need more swim diapers so you will have to buy another pack for $18.
Ok I think that’s enough on the money side of your dilemma.
Let’s look at the other aspects of cloth diapering.
Reusable swim diapers need more care – how hard do you think it is to dump the solid waste in the toilet and toss the diaper in your wet bag until you go home and run the laundry? You could rinse the reusable diaper in a sink but it’s not necessary.
Using reusable swim diapers is not sanitary – oh, boy, when was the last time when you sterilized your underpants? Washable diapers need to be clean and you get them to be clean by just laundering them with hot water and drying them either in the dryer or outside in the sun. This is enough to make a diaper clean and ready to be used.
Washing reusable swim diapers means higher consumption of water and electricity. Wait, we are talking 2-3 diapers max, you are not going to need an extra load for these. Just throw them in the machine with the other clothes and towels. They need very little room.
Reusable swim diapers do not guarantee leakage. Neither do the disposables. You could find it on any pack of sposies that they don’t guarantee any possible leakage. It is up to you to choose an appropriate size and style of the reusable swim diaper that will snug fit your baby’s body. You need to check frequently if there is anything in the diaper. And you have to watch your baby in the water so if you suspect he had bowel movements you can take him out ASAP.
Keep in mind that when dealing with incompletely potty-trained toddlers you may find it hard to make them wear a baby diaper again. Here come the reusable swim diapers that look just like adult swim wear and your kid won’t rip it off the minute you turn your back.
With this post hopefully I made you think more about how you can go greener in an easy way, showing your kids and the others that every choice matters.
Don’t forget to have fun 
Do you know...
How to choose the best swim diaper?
Here are the criteria that the best swim diaper should meet:
- It has to be easy to use – you should try it on your baby to see if it is easy to pull up and down.
- It has to be practical – this means that a great diaper is one that is adjustable and fit for at least a few months. The tricky part with swimming diapers is taking them off when they are soiled so the best ones will allow you to do this without making a mess (for example some diapers have Velcro tabs on the side)
- Does it absorb well enough – the swim diaper should have soft insider layer with good absorption and elastic outer rim that would prevent any embarrassing accidents in the pool.
- Is it comfortable – the diaper should be made of soft and tender material that won’t irritate the delicate baby skin.
You can choose a blue boy swim diaper or a purple girl swim diaper or whatever color you prefer – the variety is great.
What about cloth swim diapers?
Cloth swim diapers is the other name for reusable or washable swim diapers – you can clean and wash them after each time at the pool and use them as long as they fit your baby.
Why should I put my baby in swim diapers?
The diapers that are made specifically for wearing under water are designed in a way that lets your baby splash into the water without the diaper soaking up and put your baby in risk of drowning. They do not fall apart as a regular disposable when put in water so they will not clog the pool filter.
Swim diapers are not supposed to absorb liquids, their job is to contain solid waste so the pool remains clean and safe.
Does my baby need a swim diaper cover?
It depends on the type of swimming diaper you will buy – some require a cover and others do not. What a swim diaper cover is supposed to do? It covers unattractive swim diapers and it helps prevent leakage and bacteria spread.
Do they guarantee non leakage?
Sorry but the answer is no. Even though diapers or swim pants do hold in feces, they are not leak proof and can still contaminate the pool water. But there are some additional precautions you could make to be sure the risk for your baby and the other swimmers is reduced to a minimum.
What steps can I do to be sure my baby is protected in the water and is not potentially dangerous for the other swimmers?
- Never take your baby at the pool if you suspect they have diarrhea.
- Check swim diapers frequently.
- Make frequent trips to the toilet so your baby could do their job there
- Don’t change the diapers around the pool and always wash your hands carefully after each change.
Remember “Do not expect swim pants to prevent the transmission of diseases.” So make sure your baby doesn’t drink pool water as they could get sick.
babies love water
We can see the summer coming and start dreaming of swimming in the water and playing with the kids in the pool. Recently most public pools made it mandatory for non-potty trained kids to wear swim diapers or swim nappies.
So we as parents now have a chance to take our babies to the pool and enjoy the experience while we know our babies are protected and you won’t get embarrassed by a poo accident in the water. The reason why pool staff wants every baby to wear a swim diaper is simple and clear – if an accident happens the pool has to close so the water can be treated properly. It is expensive, it takes time – a day usually, and it may turn away people from that pool for some time if accidents happen frequently. In addition many germs go in the water when a baby has b.m. (particularly e. coli which is highly contagious and dangerous).
So what is a swim diaper and why you can’t put a regular diaper on your baby to go in the water?
Swim diapers are made to contain solids and prevent leakage when a baby has b.m. in the water. Note they do not absorb urine as a regular diaper does – you don’t want your baby to get to the pool bottom because his diaper has soaked with water.
You can choose to use disposable swim diapers or reusable swim diapers. Any type has its advantages and drawbacks. My advice is to read carefully this article so you know what are the pros and cons to using disposable and reusable swim diapers.
First let’s take a look at with the disposable swimming diaper option.
As the name presumes these are nappies that should be thrown away after every use. You should never use a disposable swim diaper for a second time even if your baby didn’t go into the water.
Disposables don’t have to be cleaned after use and if an accident happens you can easily clean up the mess. They are a bit expensive but if you only plan occasional visits to the local pool I think they are a good option.
What we don’t like about them is that they are sold in large packs and are heavy to carry and take a lot of room.
If your child is not used to wear nappies watch out as they could easily remove a disposable diaper by ripping the sides
Alternative to the disposables you have the reusable swim diapers. Yes, you guessed right – you can use them many times, buy once use them the entire summer season and then comes the second baby in turn.
Some of them are adjustable which makes them really fit nice to your baby’s shape. Our advice is to choose a diaper that is easily taken off when full without making a mess around.
Reusables come in a great variety of bright colors and different patterns so you can choose what you like best.
They are a great option because you can use them many times but don’t forget you need to wash them carefully after every use. They can be worn as pants or if you prefer you can put them under the baby swimming suit. You can even decide to choose the children’s swimsuit with built in reusable swim diaper.
Washable swim diapers are light weighted and take very little room in your bag.
Another point to consider is how old is your kid because toddlers don’t like to be seen as babies with nappies and that is why they prefer the reusable option which looks more like adult swim pants.
