Those who know about French swimming pools...

[FraterculaArctica]

Have seen several useful posts by those in the know about the French insistence on swimming trunks, wonder if anyone can help advise me what's OK for kids to wear?

We're going with Canvas Holidays to one of their sites in Roussilon in September. Swimming pools on site. OK, so I get that DH needs to buy some Speedos (he's mildly horrified). What about my 3 year old DS? He's not fully toilet trained so I would normally put him in a double layer swim nappy and an all in one sunsuit. Will this be acceptable or are kids not allowed to wear UV protection suits in French swimming pools? But I can't see how he'd wear speedo style trunks over a swim nappy in any case. So what is normal swimwear for babies swimming? We also have DD who will be just 1. Again I would normally put her in a double layer swim nappy and a UV suit, is this OK or is she expected to be in a swimming costume?

Thanks!

The children will be fine in UV suits with nappy underneath. The rules are more for boys/men's trunks - the logic being that loose board shorts could be worn anywhere (play and sports areas, roaming around town etc, and therefore open to harbouring muck, germs and the like.

Proper Lycra swim trunks are unlikely to be worn anywhere else, so reduce the risk of contamination to pool water.

My DH was slightly perturbed at the thought of a pair of skinny lycras, but not more than my 16 year-old DS! Was all fine in the end; they bought something like this:

Sorry, I went a bit off-topic there; I see you've read up about the men having to wear tight trunks!!
What I meant to say was the pool will be full of babies and toddlers in UV suits and rash vests. Have a great holiday!

3cats is right - the issue is board shorts because of the fact they are worn as outdoor clothing - and also because they have pockets. Tissues in pockets are a big issue for swimming pools.

UV suits for kids are fine.

agree UV suits are fine. Mine even used to wear uv t-shirts in an indoor pool in the middle of Paris - for warmth obviously!

Most men wear the little shorts shown upthread. Not many speedos unless proper swimming

I just got back from staying at a few eurocamp locations in France. All the little kids were in UV suits or rash vests and this was fine.

Brill, thanks very much! I'd wondered if UV suits were allowed since surely kids also wear them round the campsite, on the beach etc. and they could get dirty. But if the general answer is yes I shan't worry about the logic too much!

Decathlon sell suitable shorts for adults and children

We went to a campsite in France with eurocamp and almost all the men were wearing baggy shorts.

It depends where your staying. We had one place insist on budgie smugglers where as others were tight shorts others didn't specify.

It depends on the time of year as well. I know a campsite that is quite relaxed in May, but gets strict in August.

The site we go to allows regular swim shorts but they hose you down fairly rigorously on the way in...

Some places are stricter than others. DP has bought some budgie smugglers for our France trip this year as he had to sit poolside at one lovely outdoor pool as he had board-shorts.
I thought their attitude to hygiene was impressive until my DS swallowed some pool water and was a little bit sick by the side of the pool. I panicked and ran for a a bucket and disinfectant etc, offered to clean up. Pool attendant who had turfed DP out of the water for his shorts appeared with a bit of paper towel, dabbed up the vom and walked off!! Double standards!!

We've been to loads of French camping sites and dh has always worn normal board shorts

We have also been to loads of French campsites, usually in July or August, and H has never had to wear tight speedos. He just wears normal swimming shorts. Not full length board shorts. Just standard swimming shorts.

He does own one pair of speedos, and we always take them with us just in case. He's never had to wear them.

H has this type of thing:

m.adidas.co.uk/solid-water-shorts/BJ8746.html?cm_mmc=AdieSEM_PLA_Google--GS-OPT-UK-Categories-NonBranded--NONBRANDED+-+Swimming-_-PRODUCT+GROUP&cm_mmca1=UK&cm_mmca2=&71700000021396417&ds_agid=58700002199425055&gclid=CjwKEAjw16HLBRDF9L2UmOCH7U8SJAASVESoK3vMAoVEDZgdd6xBi6WWQ7XVsq1LFUUf3am1xPMjAhoCA8nw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CK-9x6PZidUCFQ2pUQodUsUHiA

We always buy budgie smugglers for DH and DS, but leave the labels on. When we come home we return the inevitably unworn budgie smugglers to the shop and get our money back- neither DH or DS have ever been pulled up in the last ten or so years