Help DH won't wear speedos but going to France!

[letitgoletitgo6]

Taking DCs to Disney land Paris in May. DH has severe body dysmorphia and getting clothes that he will wear is a nightmare as he genuinely hates the way he looks (there's absolutely nothing wrong with the way he looks but it's not as easy as just telling him that!)

So I've recently found out about the law in France about all men and boys having to wear speedos when swimming. We aren't staying at Disney we are staying at the centre parks so we definitely plan on going swimming. He's point blank refusing to wear them which I do completely understand as he will worry about it every hour until we go. However if he doesn't go then non of us can go in as Dc are small and can't swim without help and I can't help both on my own. Is there a speedo alternative that's a bit more body forgiving that I could suggest to him?

It's for hygiene. So that people don't get into the pool in clothes they have been walking round in all day.

This. Center parcs Villages Nature definitely does not enforce it neither does many of the other similar places we have been in France. Conversely you have zero chance of getting into a public pool without them!

It is a rule at most pools but it is not enforced at the French center parcs so he will be fine.

Check carefully the policies for the place you are staying. Municipal pools etc all require proper swimming gear ie not board shorts. You can wear the swimming trunks which are longer but still lycra and he can get a size up so they are not so so figure hugging. They won't object to that. What they don't allow are board shorts or anything that basically is an outer layer with an inner part.
However, some outdoor camp sites and places like that will allow board shorts. So it's worth checking specifically

It’s to stop people wearing their beachwear with sand on in the pool.

Also rash vests might be allowed, but t-shirts very unlikely. Size up a good bit with rash vests if he doesn’t like things clinging

We were in a French leisure centre this summer and DH and DS had boxer type trunks and were forced to buy speedos from a vending machine before being allowed in. Don't count on getting away with it.

They can be shorts style rather than 'budgie smugglers'
Everyone will be the same!

Apparently it arose because farmers using public pools in their shorts after a sweaty day in the fields or in their tractors.

I Was fully behind the rule once I heard that!

If he won't wear them then you'll have to swap the kids round so while you're in the pool with one he's doing something else with the other. That way they get 1:1 time in the pool with you.

He could also wait to get there then go to a local shop and see if there's any he thinks he can cope with.

I'm not going to say he should just do it because nobody should be forced to wear something that makes them feel utterly miserable. I know if someone told me I had to suck it up and put on a bikini I'd tell them to fuck off.

(I know you weren't but some people have suggested it might not arise.)

Men seem to get worked up about this - but a woman wearing a swimsuit faces the same issue. A swimsuit clings to everything & shows every lump & bump. Are they all worried they have a tiny willy?

They can wear the speedo trunks. Tight fitting. Or he doesnt go in the water

We went swimming at a Disneyland Paris Hotel in October and plenty of men and boys were wearing shorts.

Op it's been mentioned a couple of times but in case you've missed it - is he expecting to be able to wear a t shirt in the pool? Because this will probably be a much bigger problem than the swim shorts.

Ps. My dh has always reluctantly had to wear them everywhere in France

@converseandjeans it's not a vanity thing so is not comparable at all. He starves him self a lot, counts every calorie he eats, he's often been suicidal. It's an illness that he can't help.

A lot of places insist on in because of hygiene reasons. Regular swimming shorts could have been worn round town all day before getting in the pool, whereas nobody is going shopping in their budgie smugglers!

@JovialNickname

It's so the water stays clean. The thinking is that board shorts could be worn out & about all day & bring dirt into the pool.

You can wear little Lycra speedo trunks is just not typical board style swim shorts…it doesn’t have to be the budgie smugglers

@CaptainCarrotsBigSword strangely he's been ok before with not wearing a tshirt, he will wear one to the pools edge and then take it off just as he gets in so that helps him not worry as much.

Ah I see there may be a difference between the tourist and municipal places. This was a municipal leisure centre in Megeve so fair enough.

@letitgoletitgo6

Well he's not the only one who is concerned. I recently joined Facebook page for Eurocamp & loads of blokes seem to be refusing to wear them.

Hygiene? But they’re alright with people’s sweaty skiddy arsecracks getting in the pool and people snorting and spitting everywhere? Not to mention babies in swim nappies?

We go to France regularly. It's usually enforced. DH is rather wobbly and usually wears board shorts. He and the boys have lycra trunks, a similar size to the fitted trucks that they wear as underpants, for swimming. DH is not keen but lots of others are the same.
It's better than Iceland where you have to shower naked before putting on your costume to swim