Do swim diapers hold urine? In short, no. Do swim diapers hold urine?

When parents call me to inquire about swim lessons for their diaper-clad infant/toddler, I always want to make sure that they know that swim diapers don’t hold urine. I do this just in case they were planning on outfitting their child with the swim diaper at home before heading off to the swim lesson.

This plan could result in a wet car seat if the child urinated during the commute. But don’t worry because I have a swim diaper hack for you (Read on, and I will reveal it).

(This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclaimer.)

May 25, 2020 update: I originally wrote this blog post in 2017, and although all the information in this article is still valid, there is a new amazing product on the market. 

TrustyTrunks!

I learned about it through a message that I received from the inventor, explaining her fantastic new swim diaper solution! Here’s what she wrote:

There is a new swim diaper that you CAN put on at home, because they are truly leakproof, so urine won’t leak onto a car seat. They are called TrustyTrunks. They are made from silicone, so there are no seams and the super stretchy material forms a seal at baby’s waist and legs. Wear them over a regular, absorbent diaper, cloth or disposable.”

                – Nancy Stockton, inventor, and founder of TrustyTrunks

So if you were wondering just how many parents KNOW that swim diapers DON’T HOLD URINE, the answer is ZERO.

I was one of those parents once

I didn’t know that swim diapers didn’t hold urine. I also didn’t know what the difference was between a regular diaper and a swim diaper.

Side note: Don’t use a regular disposable diaper in a pool. There’s a good chance that it will burst open. Also, if you squeeze out the excess liquid after you remove it from your child, then a GUARANTEED explosion is the result. I’ve seen it happen.

A mother of one of my students outfitted her daughter with a regular disposable diaper for her swim lesson one day. I was unaware of this fact until a few minutes into the lesson. After her mother removed the diaper from her daughter, she squeezed out the excess liquid. It immediately burst open and out came a heap of gelatinous material (the stuff that absorbs the urine).

Check out my swim diaper hack. It will make your life easier as it eliminates many of the steps involved when dealing with diapers and swimming lessons. It’s a short video you can get by clicking the button below.

So what is the difference between a regular disposable diaper and a disposable swim diaper you might ask?

A regular disposable diaper contains a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The SAP is made up of white crystals that have the consistency of soft white sand. When the crystals come in contact with liquid, it transforms into coagulated chunks. The SAP is what traps the moisture and keeps it away from the baby’s skin. A disposable swim diaper does not contain the SAP. No SAP means pee runs down baby’s leg.

Why doesn’t a single parent know that swim diapers don’t hold urine?

There’s a simple explanation. If you look at the packaging for disposable swim diapers, all it says is that it’s “designed for water and won’t swell.” That’s it. Nothing else.

It’s no wonder we don’t know that swim diapers don’t hold urine.

Disposable swim diapers vs. reusable swim diapers

Let’s start with the disposable swim diapers:

• First of all, disposable swim diapers are designed to be worn only once. Hence the word disposable.
• Not environmentally friendly but convenient.
• Also, they’re designed to trap the poop, but it’s not 100% effective.
• And just a reminder. Don’t forget to have multiple swim diapers on hand when you go to the pool just in case.

Now for the reusable swim diapers:

• First of all, reusable swim diapers are obviously designed to be worn over and over again.
• So it saves you money and is environmentally friendly.
• But it’s not very convenient when you have to clean up the poopy mess.
• It is also designed to trap the poop, but also just like its disposable counterpart, it’s not 100% effective.
• But it’s more likely to fulfill its purpose if you choose a diaper with a snug fit.
• And last but not least, make sure you purchase at least two pairs of reusable swim diapers. And bring along both pairs for those trips to the pool.

I recommend and prefer that my infant/toddler students wear both swim diapers

The more layers of protection, the better. Also, clean up is effortless. If your child has an accident, it will be the disposable swim diaper that gets soiled, not the reusable one. Be sure to tuck the disposable swim diaper into the reusable one around the waist and the legs.

Side note: Swim schools and public pools have their own rules. Make sure you find out ahead of time what their swim diaper policies are.

And just as Christian demonstrates in the video, the reusable swim diaper can also be worn in place of swim trunks for toddlers. But for infants…

I strongly suggest that infants wear even more layers

Consider a baby wetsuit. It’s an excellent option for infants instead of a swimsuit or in addition to it.

• A well-fitted baby wetsuit will keep baby warm and secure.
• It will help to trap the poop. (Be sure to remove your baby from the pool the second you notice the trapped poop because no one wants a re-enactment of the scene from Caddyshack.)
• And the extra buoyancy that comes from the wetsuit helps baby float more efficiently. So your little one will master the back float in a shorter time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Recommendations

• Check swim diapers often (every 30 to 60 minutes).
• Change diapers away from the poolside. Germs can spread and cause illness.
• Never swim when ill with diarrhea. Do swim diapers hold urine?

Swim diaper hack do swim diapers hold urine?

When you have to deal with diapers and swimming lessons, it’s a whole thing. Am I right? First, you need to outfit your child with a regular diaper and clothes just for the car ride to the swim lesson.

Once you’ve arrived, you need to do it all over again…

So if you want to get your infant/toddler ready for the pool in the comfort of your own home, my video will show you how. Click on the button below.

I hope you watched the video and that you found it helpful. And if you decide to share it with your friends I would be most appreciative.

I didn’t come up with this brilliant idea by the way. I have to give credit where credit is due. So thank you, Serena (a mother of one of my students) for this innovative time saver.

Let’s recap

• A regular diaper in the pool, is bad do swim diapers hold urine?
• A swim diaper is good do swim diapers hold urine?
• Two swim diapers are better Do swim diapers hold urine?
• For infants, two swim diapers AND a wetsuit is the best

If you’ve had a similar experience with an exploding diaper during an aquatic adventure, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to add to the comment box below.

Love the water,
Tessa

P.S. Get the FREE water safety app to help ensure your family stays safe in, on, and around the water. It includes kid-friendly videos and quizzes. Search the iTunes app store for Swim by American Red Cross or click here. For Google Play you can use the same search parameters or click here. It provides the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure your family stays safe in, on, and around the water.

P.P.S. To start your child on the path to becoming water safe, click here.