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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to let DGD take DD swimming in just a disposable swim nappy?

47 replies

SouthernLights · 08/05/2009 13:56

My DD (8 months) hasn't been swimming before, but she likes splashing about in the bath. She's going to stay with my parents next week and my dad is planning to take her to the local pool (they have a baby pool). As she's never been before she doesn't have a swimsuit yet - does she need one to go over a disposable swim nappy or would it be acceptable to let her go without until we know she likes it?

OP posts:
Geepers · 08/05/2009 13:57

She needs a costume or something to go over it. I;d think it a bit odd to see a child with just nappy on in a pool.

tassisssss · 08/05/2009 13:58

wouldn't bother me!

belgo · 08/05/2009 13:59

A disposible swim nappy is fine, I've seen many babies in the pool with just that on. As long as the water is fairly warm.

norksinmywaistband · 08/05/2009 14:00

I never had swimsuits for mine til they were walking age - swim nappy is fine IMO

buggylovinmummy · 08/05/2009 14:00

As long as its a swimming nappy she doesnt have to have a swimsuit, shes only a baby.

Plonker · 08/05/2009 14:00

I have taken dd's (all of them at some point when they were little!) swimming in just a swim nappy.

No-one batted an eyelid.

rookiemater · 08/05/2009 14:02

I have done it and there are some people who looked a bit judgey.

At the time I thought I was being a bit paranoid, but reading Geepers post I now know I wasn't. These are probably same people who feel that its a shame for a baby to wear a babgro during the day which DS did for about the first 3 months of his life, so if it doesn't bother you or your parents then I shouldn't worry about it.

ProfYaffle · 08/05/2009 14:09

Both my dds have regularly swum in just swim nappies, some disposable, some re-useable. No-one batted an eyelid.

Original poster
SouthernLights · 08/05/2009 14:10

Thank you - some interesting comments, and Geepers, thanks for your perspective. I think I'll stick to my original plan and wait to find out if she enjoys it first - after all, a 9-12 months suit isn't going to last very long and if she only goes once in a blue moon it might make more sense to wait until she's a bit bigger.

OP posts:
Bellebelle · 08/05/2009 14:10

I think its fine to just wear a swim nappy on it's own but you might want to check what the pool's policy is. We visited a pool out of town recently where we where told that we had to have at least shorts to go over DD2's swim nappy. Luckily we did because she has been to Waterbabies classes where they insist on a particular type of swim shorts and I had her's with us. It's incase the baby does a poo and it gets out of the nappy but in my experience they don't tend to poo while in the water anyway. Our local council pools don't have any such rules though so you shouldn't have a problem.

belgo · 08/05/2009 14:11

a swim nappy should contain the poo, that's the whole point of it.

silverfrog · 08/05/2009 14:13

I still take dd2 (2.3) swimming in just a swim nappy.

dd1 wears a top, but she is now 4 (and tbh I am not sure she would have a top except that it's a sunproof one which we got for our holiday last year...)

At 8 monts I really wouldn't worry about her wearing just a nappy.

DuffyFluckling · 08/05/2009 14:15

Just a swim nappy definitely fine.

I use a reusable swim nappy. Geepers - am curious, would you put another costume on top of a reusable swim nappy too?

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 08/05/2009 14:16

i cant believe anyone would think there was anything wrong with that at all!

Bellebelle · 08/05/2009 14:17

It was explained to me by Waterbabies years ago when we took DD1 that the swim nappies aren't foolproof, especially if the adult doesn't notice that the baby has done a poo as it can erm, work it's way free after a while! So you have to have these hideous shorts things which are elasticated at the leg and waist to hold in any rogue poo!

I suspect the public pool we went to had an 'incident' as they were very serious about the whole thing

FrankMustard · 08/05/2009 14:20

disposable nappy on its own is fine, isn't it? I've taken my dcs swimming in just those plenty of times.
The costume is only on the top of it, doesn't actually do anything in particular other than look nice/comical! Certainly won't help contain anything - if the nappy can't cope with an explosion, don't expect that flappy bit of nautical cloth to do anything!

Jojay · 08/05/2009 14:23

I take DS2 in just a disposable swim nappy. no-one has ever said anything, and he's never poo'd in the pool

Karam · 08/05/2009 14:28

A swimming costume does nothing to help contain a poo done in the swimming pool - trust me !

When my DDs were little, I had no problem in taking them in just a swimming nappy. They're babies for heaven's sake, and we shouldn't be projecting adult concepts of decency or covering them up at that age - whatever next!

I can see no other reason for making a baby wear a costume other than cosmetics. Yes, shorts might help contain poos, but little girls' costumes do not, they're not even tight around the legs. So long as you're allowed to, then I would do just that.

HTH

LissyGlitter · 08/05/2009 14:29

We used to take DD in just a blue reusable nappy, people assumed she was a boy, but she didn't mind!

SarahL2 · 08/05/2009 14:35

I forgot DS's swim shorts for his swimming lesson once and the local pool had no issues with me taking him in in just a swim nappy - they even had swim nappies available to buy from reception

InsomniacMumontheRun · 08/05/2009 14:37

Some pools require you to 'double up' with a disposable swim nappy plus costume/trunks/wetsuit.

Probably worth checking first to avoid disappointment.

I've always taken my son in nappy and swimming shorts but that's just out of personal preference. Can't see a problem with just the swim nappy if they allow it.

Hulababy · 08/05/2009 14:38

No need for a costume.

DD has a pink reusable swim nappy and pften wore that on it's own.

MarmadukeScarlet · 08/05/2009 14:52

tbh I'm more about parents of v young children (who, unless they are doing EC, not toilet trained) in in a swimsuit not a swim nappy (either washable or disposable) having twice now had to evacute the local pool.

DS is 4.5 and has SN so not toilet trained (fully reliable anyway) I do now put swim shorts over his swim nappy.

sachertorte · 08/05/2009 15:01

Am I being unreasonable to think the OPs question is symptomatic of the commercialization of babyhood? The swimming nappy does the job, what modesty is there to cover in a 8 month old baby? : (

It just strikes me as ridiculous that you can even BUY swimming costumes for babies(can you really?!).. Just one more ridiculous thing for parents to waste spend their money on.

MarmadukeScarlet · 08/05/2009 15:07

Frankmustard do you mean a disposable swim nappy or a disposable nappy?

A normal disposable nappy will just absorb water and a) be useless in the event of a poo also b) heavy and uncomfortable on a little bottom.