It’s warming up around here and my local pool finally opened up this weekend! Time to bust out the reusable swim diapers and floaties. If your tired of being cooped up with the kids, taking them swimming or doing some outdoor water-play is a must.

If you’ve never cloth diapered before you might be wondering if you should invest in reusable or disposable swim diapers. I’ve actually put the two types of diapers to the test to see which one performs better. The results were very interesting!

Maybe you’ve already jumped onto the cloth diapering bandwagon and are now considering cloth swim diapers. Luckily for your britches, I have some great information on that as well. Continue reading if you want to see my full swim diaper guide and enter the giveaway! 

What Are Reusable Swim Diapers?

Reusable swim diapers are lightweight-tighter fitting diapers that can be used again and again for swimming or water-play. They’re usually made without any extra padding and work to contain poopy accidents that may occur in the pool.

Some Swim Diapers (aff link) will have a little padding that’ll help with light leaks when getting to the pool. They won’t contain full-on accidents though unless it’s poo.

Just like disposable swim diapers, reusable swim diapers DO NOT contain urine!

I actually did a test to prove this which you can watch in the video below. 

Types Of Reusable Swim Diapers

Just like regular cloth diapers, swim diapers come in an array of styles and prints. However, they come in fewer varieties of materials compared to regular cloth diapers.

Most reusable swim diapers are made with a cotton, mesh lining – or both, strong elastics, and a PUL or TPU outer material. Swim diaper inner fabrics can be made up of nylon, polyester, cotton, or a combination.

Certain swim diapers can simply be Pulled-up, some have Side-Snaps, (Aff links) some feature a drawstring, and a few are secured with velcro.

Other reusable swim diapers can come in different sizes or they might feature a snap-rise like this one from Thirsties that I love! (Amazon aff link) In other words, the snap-rise diapers are adjustable to fit different size ranges. 

Pulling Up Can Be A Drag
The pull-up type is fairly simple to use. However, when wet, pulling up or down can be a bit more challenging. If crap hits the fan…or your swim diaper…. these are a little more difficult to clean.

I prefer the ones that feature snaps on the sides. They can be laid flat if you need to quickly spray a mess off with a diaper sprayer.

I’ll talk more about how to clean your reusable swim diapers in a moment.

Reusable vs Disposable Swim Diapers

How To Properly Use/Fit Swim Diapers

Swim Diaper Sizes
Most reusable swim diapers are Sized meaning you’ll need to buy a new one every time your baby hits a new weight bracket.

Usually, you can get away with wearing the same one all Summer unless your child hits a crazy growth spurt.

The benefit of using sized swim diapers is that you’ll usually get a tighter and more proper fit.

Some reusable swim diapers are one-sized (OS) meaning they have an adjustable snap-rise in the front. As your baby grows you can snap it on the next setting. OS swim diapers allow you to fit your baby or toddler for a longer time-range.

Age Ranges
Most reusable swim diapers can be worn by babies around 11 pounds or 6-month to toddler size.

Some size ranges are measured by age, some are by weight, and I’ve also seen some by waist and thigh measurements.

Properly Fitting Swim Diapers
When choosing your swim diaper make sure you get the correct size range for your child. If your diaper is a OS make sure it’s on the correct snap-rise setting for your child’s weight.

You want it to fit somewhat tight and slim on your child. Any gaps or poofiness isn’t good and will slow your child down in the pool. The diaper needs to fit similar to a bathing suit.

Make sure the waist and the legs are snug but not leaving red marks. They need to be tight enough to hold-in any “accidents” that might occur.

If you rarely go swimming you may still want to bring an extra swim diaper in case the child has an accident right away.

Are Reusable Swim Diapers Allowed In Public Pools?

This is something you’ll want to check with your local pool beforehand. Each place has its own set of rules and regulations.

A lot of public pools prefer the reusable swim diaper or only allow them on small children/babies. Some will only allow disposables and I’ve even heard of pools requiring both a disposable and reusable!

Some pools won’t care what kind of diaper you use as long as you put rubber pants over the child’s diaper.

These things are a bit old-school and can be hard to find. However, you can click my beautiful (Amazon Aff Link) Here and make me super-rich. 😉

Regular Cloth Diapers Or Reusable Swim Diapers?

After asking around in a few cloth diapering groups I found that several moms prefer to use regular cloth diaper covers or shells over purchasing extra swim diapers.

Personally, I’ve used both and can tell you that using cloth diapers over swim diapers can be good in some cases and bad in others.

They’re Made Differently
Regular cloth diapers are not made with the intention of being submerged in water. In some cases, the lining could be more irritating to your child’s skin after swimming.

The elastics may not hold up as well in your regular cloth diapers and contain an accident.

One of the main reasons you’d want to opt tor an actual reusable swim diaper is because chlorine can deteriorate the PUL and elastic or fade your cloth diapers.

If you take your baby swimming often it’s better to go with a reusable swim diaper as they’re made with the purpose of containing poo within a pool and to tolerate harsher Chlorine water.

They’re Poop Catching Machines
The inner lining of a swim diaper is usually mesh or a soft cotton material. Sometimes it has an extra layer of mesh to help trap the ????. There isn’t any bulk and the elastics are made to fit more snuggly to hold in any accidents that could happen in the water.

Benefits Of Using Regular Cloth Diapers As Swim Diapers
If you’re on a tight budget it may be more cost-effective to use a couple of your older cloth diaper shells, covers, or pockets (no inserts).

You just need to keep in mind that the chlorine can deteriorate and fade them overtime.

So go ahead and reach for that ugly neglected diaper collecting dust your stash guilt-free!

If you’re not one to go to the pool but you like to play water games (no chlorine) in the backyard then using a good fitting cloth diaper shell is perfectly fine.

I personally prefer to use my swim diapers as they normally cost less to replace than my regular cloth diapers.

Best Types Of Cloth Diapers For Swim Diapers
Empty pocket shells. Don’t keep the insert or it will weigh your baby down. I’ve also tested out Diaper shells such as GroVia, and Buttons and they work pretty well.

*My Buttons Diaper Cover (Amazon Aff Link) once contained an explosive abomination when Asher was playing in one of those mini backyard pools.

Dealing With Poop & Washing Your Swim Diapers!

If you’ve never had experience with reusable cloth diapers before you may be wondering how to use reusable swim diapers at the pool.

Don’t worry, I got your baby’s back.. or bottom…

You can totally get away with having one reusable swim diaper per child but as I said, if your baby decides to drop a nugget 5 minutes into swimming… you’ll have to go home.

Pro Parenting Tip – You Can Never Be Too Prepared!

This is why I suggest having an extra swim diaper on hand even if you rarely take your kids swimming. They’re very affordable so it’s always good to have a backup plan.

What To Do If Your Baby Drops It Like It’s Hot!
If you find yourself in a “crappy” situation don’t panic. Swim diapers aren’t that hard to clean. Try to flop-and-drop most of it in the toilet if you can before storing it in your wet bag. It’ll be easier if you can unsnap the sides.

Once you get home you can quickly spray the swim diaper off with a water-hose or a Diaper Sprayer If it’s needed.

I personally love my Diaper Dawgs Sprayer. (aff link) However, most of the time you can simply dump in the washing machine, along with your wet bag and let it do the work for you.

If there’s any fecal matter on your swim diapers then I would do a pre-rinse and wash on hot. I recommend hang-drying your swim diapers and wet bags so they’ll last longer. Never add any fabric softeners to your diaper laundry!

If your swim diapers provide any washing instructions, be sure to follow them. You don’t want to end up voiding any warranties by accident.

Personally, I’ve always thrown my swim diapers in with the cloth diaper laundry and hang-dried. We don’t go swimming a lot but my Charlie banana Swim Diapers (aff link) still look new after a couple of years of use.

Swim Diaper Accessories

One thing I would highly suggest purchasing (whether you cloth or not) is a wet-bag. A wet bag is a reusable waterproof or water-resistant bag that can be used multiple times.

They cost very little and are great for storing soiled diapers until you can get home to clean them.

I recommend grabbing one with a wet and dry pocket. you can put your soiled or simply used swim diaper in one pocket and your extra diaper or swimming accessories in the dry pocket.

Another option is you having one wet bag for soiled or wet pool stuff and one for accessories like sunscreen, glasses, extra swim diaper, etc. If your sunscreen leaks, it will stay within the wet bag!

You can also use a Diaper Pail Liner (which is basically an oversized wet bag) to store your damp towels and bathing suits. This will keep your Car seats from getting soiled.

When you get home you simply dump the entire thing in the wash until next swimming adventure.

You can purchase wet bags in all different styles, sizes, colors and price ranges.

Here Are A Few Wet Bags I Highly Recommend:

❤️GroVia Wet Bags (Aff Link) – I’m a total fan-girl for all things GroVia. They make a lot of products that have held up for years of use and abuse! In my link, you will find several types of wet bags to choose from.

❤️Alva Wet Bags (Amazon Aff Link) – I’ve been using a few of these since I started cloth diapering almost 4 years ago. These are super affordable and have held up over time. They also feature a dry pocket!

The downside is they’re a little smaller (which is fine for a pool trip) and they’re made overseas and not locally. They’re also not as thick as my Spray-Pal bag and can seep out more moisture.

❤️GroVia Diaper Pail Liners (Aff Link) – I love my GroVia diaper pail liner and have reviewed it in the past. You can check out that review Here if you’re interested. This is a great-quality pail liner that you can use to store dirty cloth diapers or wet towels when going to the pool or the beach!

How Long Do Swim Diapers Last?

My Charlie Banana swim diapers received low to medium use and are still in top shape after two kids!

If you rarely use your swim diapers they can last several years and be used on multiple children. If you like to take pool trips you can probably use for a couple of seasons.

With heavier use they will probably last for one season. The way you wash and care for your swim diapers will also effect the longevity along with the quality of the diaper. If your big on outdoor water-play and the diaper doesn’t come in as much contact with chlorine they’ll also last a bit longer.

Getting Swim Diapers Cheap!

Most reusable swim diapers are fairly priced to begin with but you can easily find even better deals if you know where to look!

The best way is to stock up on a few sizes at the end of the season. I’ve seen (Amazon Aff Link) IPlay Swim Diapers marked down at Target and an entire tub of swim diapers marked down to a couple of dollars apiece at Walmart.

I grabbed up a few of those bad boys for Abram!

Pro Tip: Check for deals in the off-season on cloth diaper sites like KellysCloset.com or JilliansDrawers.com.

Buying Used
Don’t be afraid to buy used because a lot of swim diapers aren’t used regularly and tend to stay in great condition.

Do a quick Facebook group search for “Cloth Diapers Buy Sell Trade” and you will see several groups where you can find swim diapers and more. This Cloth Diaper B/S/T Group is based in the US if you want to check it out. Also, be sure to look at Facebook marketplace or Craigslist.

*DiaperSwappers.com is another great website where you can find used cloth but you do have to join or sign-up to view anything. 

Be careful and follow any safety precautions when meeting up with strangers that you want to buy from.

I hope you enjoyed this post detailing swim diapers and how to use them. I put a lot of work into it so please drop me a comment below if you have any questions!