Cloth Diapering in the Summer - Swim Diapers

When you're hanging out at the beach or the pool with your little one, remember the #1 rule: No Pooping in the Water. Buying disposable swim diapers is expensive. Using cloth swim diapers is so much more cost-effective, and it's easier than dealing with disposables. Why?

Cloth Swim Diapers are Easy On, Easy Off

Disposable swim diapers have to be pulled up baby's legs, which isn't easy, especially if baby is sweaty or sticky with sun tan lotion. If you purchase swim diapers that velcro shut, putting the diaper on is a breeze. If your little one poops in a swim diaper with velcro closure, it's easy to remove too.

Cloth Swim diapers are a Great Way to Experiment with Cloth

If you've wanted to try cloth but are intimidated by doing it full time, try it just for swimming. You'll get a feeling for the ease of using cloth diapers, and you'll save money since you won't have to buy disposable swim diapers.

Cloth Swim Diapers are Convenient for Vacations

If you're traveling, instead of trying to estimate the number of disposable swim diapers you'll need and trying to stuff them in your suitcase, bring along a couple of swim diapers. They are easy to wash by hand in your hotel sink, and you can reuse them the entire time you're on vacation.

Cloth Swim Diaper Alternatives

Some parents swear by using just a cloth diaper cover or a pocket diaper without the insert instead of a swim diaper. I've tried using a BumGenius pocket diaper (unstuffed) as a swim diaper before, and I'm sad to report that it didn't work. Yup, I was that mom whose kid pooped in the pool. Diapers that are meant to be used for swimming are great at trapping poop and not letting it escape. That's worth investing in a couple of cloth swim diapers.

How do Cloth Swim Diapers Work?

Just like disposable swim diapers, cloth swim diapers let the urine through, but they catch poop. Yes, your baby will pee in the pool. The chemicals in pools take care of the urine, so you don't have to worry about that. (Besides, all the other kids--and some of the adults--are doing it). Some swim diapers have mesh on the inside that traps poop, and others have semi-waterproof shells and tight elastic around the legs to prevent the dirty stuff from escaping.

Since most aren't very padded, however, you may want to add some padding on your way to and from the pool so you don't end up with a wet car seat. You can stuff the swim diaper with an insert from one of your cloth diapers, or simply sit your baby on top of a prefold in the car seat on the way to the pool or beach. Alternatively, you can just change your baby into the swim diaper when you get there. Because some swim diapers aren't padded enough to catch urine, if your baby falls asleep in your arms at the beach and you feel something warm, well.... you can guess what it is. But at least it's sterile. And you saved a boatload of money.