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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Original poster

SouthernLights · 08/05/2009 15:09

Asked my dad to check with the pool to see if they had a policy, and he made a point which has made me reconsider my stand a bit. He has very rough hands after years of being an engineer and would prefer her to have her top half covered so that he can hold her in the water without being scratchy on her very soft baby skin. Since it's for practical not commercial reasons I hope that's okay...?

OP posts:

Bellebelle · 08/05/2009 15:16

Bless your Dad being so concerned, of course it's okay for her to wear a costume - she's your child! Boots have nice sort of wet suit things with spots on which will cover her (helps a bit if pool is a bit cold) and I was eyeing them up as good for boosting coverage in the sun when we're on holidays.

belgo · 08/05/2009 15:28

I've seen a baby in a normal disposible nappy go swimming (ie. not a swim nappy) - it filled with water until it was the size of a foorball and weighed about a ton.

papoose · 08/05/2009 19:29

I took DD (6 mths) swimming for the first time yesterday and I got a lovely swiming costume from Primark for £2. So perhaps that is the answer.

thisisyesterday · 08/05/2009 19:37

of course you aren't being unreasonable.

that's what the thing is for isnt' it?
i can't imagine why anyone would think it was wrong.
bizxarre

Bigpants1 · 08/05/2009 19:58

I wouldnt bat an eyelid, but my only concern, would be if the water is a bit cold-it may not be bath temp. and babies can get cold v. quickly. I got my dd a one-piece suit,(like old fashioned bathing costimes for men-only much nicer!),and it keeps her warm in the water, but is also good for if shes in the paddling pool on a sunny day. Hope your dd and parents have fun together next week.

goodnightmoon · 08/05/2009 20:27

i wouldn't have even thought they needed another layer! 9 month DS goes in just a swim nappy.

Natt82 · 08/05/2009 21:15

DS1 always used to go in just a nappy (and now at 2yr 10m goes just in swim shorts). DS2 went a couple of times in just a nappy, but screamed and we didnt know why - until we twigged he was cold and hated being virtually naked. So we got an all in one sun/wet suit thing off ebay for £2 and now he adores swimming.

SamJamsmum · 08/05/2009 21:21

I have seen TONS of babies with just a disposable nappy on. It's like wearing trunks. What's the big deal?

Shoshe · 08/05/2009 21:24

I take all my mindees boys and girls in swim nappies (not disposable tho) and have never put suits on them till they are out of nappies.

Babies get colder in swimsuits as if the are in rings, the suit get wets and the top half of the body is out of the water getting cold. Without a suit the naked body dries off easier.

Plus it doesn't take as much to pull off the nappy to wrap in a towel after as it does to get a nappy and a wet tint suit off a wriggly baby.

Believe me i know have been taking mindees every Friday for many years.

(If you look in the CM Staff Room there is a swimming masterclass )

mumeeee · 08/05/2009 21:38

A swim nappy is fine, She doesn't heed a swimsuit yet.

TheFallenMadonna · 08/05/2009 21:44

I was told by another mother that DD should be wearing a swimming costume because it was 'indecent' for her chest to be on display. Her child was wearing a bikini (proper bra-like one, not just a crop top) which TBH I thought was rather more than my dd's exposed nipples...

notsoteenagemum · 08/05/2009 22:05

Just a nappy is fine, the poo shouldn't leak that is the pint of the swimming nappies. Swimsuits don't keep babies warm, my swimming costume doesn't keep me warm why would a tiny one be any different.

FairLadyRantALot · 08/05/2009 22:15

surely those swim nappys are designd so they can be worn as the only thing...

ravenAK · 08/05/2009 23:15

Whichever you prefer, I think.

Dds had a rather sporty suit passed on - 'Lion in The Sun'? - anyway, it has legs & arms & has been invaluable on the beach for both girls. Otherwise I'd just pop them in a swim nappy, whether washable or disposable.

mummy2isla · 11/05/2009 07:51

I think the swimming nappy by itself is fine. Make sure the pool is warm though! I bought a second hand 'baby wetsuit' from ebay (i have no shame about buying things secondhand obviously) but didn't always use it.

littleboyblue · 11/05/2009 07:53

The times I've taken ds1 swimming, I've only put a swim nappy on him. The only time I put a swim sostume on him is if we are outside.

kslatts · 11/05/2009 08:40

A swim nappy will be fine.

BradfordMum · 11/05/2009 08:50

I took a 12 month old in a little swimmers disposable and he was fine.
A fellow minder took her mindie in a buggies nappy, and the little boy ended up with a sore bot, apparently the chlorine can act on a normal disposable and irritate the skin.
The whole area where the nappy touched was sore.

TaurielTest · 11/05/2009 08:51

I take my DS in just a (reusable) swim nappy. It's a Kushies one with velcro and ties, which means it goes on like a regular nappy and grows with him. I got it on sale for a couple of quid, he's been using it for months, a lot cheaper than disposable swim nappies I should think. Most of the other parents seem to use either similar things, or disposable swim nappy + cozzy, not many in just disposable nappy on its own, but I don't think it would be a problem.

iheartdusty · 11/05/2009 09:42

probably thread now dead, but here goes..

to answer OP's second post, it does sound as though it would be more comfortable to have a layer between your DD and DGD's hands. I always found it easier to hold wriggly little DCs through cloth than just on their slippery skin, for fear of hurting them.

But the practical thing to get would be a sun suit - UV resistant - good for water or outside wear. It saves a fortune in sun cream.

Lion in the Sun is a good make, but most chains stores do their own as the summer approaches.

babyignoramus · 11/05/2009 13:47

I spent ages trying to find an all in one for my DS as I felt that at 10 weeks old he might be cold in just trunks - plus it might be a bit of a shock after being bundled up all warm to be taken into a swimming pool virtually naked.... it never occurred to me to take him in just a nappy but I can't see the problem as long as it's warm enough.

BTW, I also find he's easier to hold in the water with something on.

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