Cloth 101: Cloth diapers double as swim diapers!
June 13, 2011 4:56 am
You don’t need to buy swim diapers this year! With the insert removed, your bumGenius 4.0 One-Size cloth diapers will work as a swim diaper. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly after use, whether in a pool or at the beach.
This is another way that cloth diapers can save you money. Have you used a bumGenius pocket diaper for a swim diaper? Share your story and tips with us.
About the Author
Heather is mom to four, born within 40 months (single, twins, single). She writes transparently about her chaotic household to encourage others through the twists and turns of parenting.
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23 Comments
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I am so glad I read this! I never thought about it being a possibility! More $$ saved thanks to cloth diapering and Cotton Babies!
I have not used a cloth diaper as a swim diaper yet. However, I do know that disposable swim diapers leak poo out of the sides and give you “dripping poopy water” sometimes as well. I think a really tight fit(especially around the legs) would help contain it most of the time though. There will always be accidents!
Flips do not hold poo in the pool. My sister found that out the hard way with my son last night.
Just a warning: After seeing this post I sent a BG 3.0 to the sitter’s for my son to wear during their water play. He pooped while in the pool and she didn’t realize it. When they went inside to change clothes, he was dripping poopy water everywhere because the poo leaked through the diaper. I don’t think I’ll be trying it at a pool, we’ll stick with the bummi swim diaper and the suits that have the swim diapers included.
I am so happy to have found this post!! My parents just got their pool ready for the summer and I really didn’t want to spend the money (and then have to wait for them to get here!) on swim diapers. I have Flips and BG 4.0’s ready to swim with!
I have been using them for 2 years as swim diapers, an average of once per week, and have not had leakage problems, but I have never had a baby poo in them while swimming, so still curious to know how well it will hold the breastfed stools of my infant. I rinse them thoroughly afterwards, hang them on the clothesline (when possible) and then put them in the diaper pail. They do hold lots of water between layers, so be prepared for a puddle when you take them off.
I would NOT use a disposable liner in the pool. They are designed to absorb, and may become heavy. Just a cover with no lining may be uncomfortable and/or slippery and not contain the poo. So I’ve considered using a single flat (flour sack towel)under my econobum covers. And yes, lots of chlorine wouldn’t be good on the PUL, that’s probably why they say to rinse it out after.
It IS all about poo containment. I think the PUL directly against the skin is uncomfortable for my baby so I use a pocket style diaper that is already a bit older. It works great and is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier to get on and off than a swim diaper.
Oh, OK…so I really DON’T want a lot of absorbency in a swim diaper? From what I’ve read on other blogs, the pee and the water in which the baby is swimming sort of becomes one in the same. I guess the liner sans absorbent liner is to keep poo wrangled? Thanks for all of these tips!
As mentioned above by anonymous you should designate one cloth diaper BG or otherwise to swimming. The chlorine is hard on the PUL. I am sorry to hear that your diaper leaks after using it in the pool. I have designated one diaper that I use in the pool and it does great. Any cover will work so a Flip cover without an insert or even an econobum. The less absorbent material inside the better so Flip work great because they do not have any fleece.
So glad to see this. I was just weighing the options of travel/swim diapers this weekend. I was leaning toward getting a couple of Flips and disposable inserts for travel & swimming. I don’t want to assume I will have access to laundry everywhere we go, and if I do, that our host & hostess will want me washing diapers in their machine. Right now, we use BG 3.0. I guess I can try one of those with no liners. Anyone use Flips + disposable inserts for swimming? We will most likely be swimming in a couple of public pools this summer, too (one in an older-adult community, the other at a country club…don’t think either place will want to see a baby without a swim diaper or *gasp* none at all). Keep commenting, everyone! I want to know what everyone else thinks!
We just went swimming last week for the 1st time with our little one. I didn’t have a swim diaper here, so I went ahead and put him in the BG 4.0 with no inserts and it worked like a charm! I’m glad to see it is ok to do this. Has anyone had problems at public pools using their cloth diapers for swimming?
Yep, been doing this for 3 years, starting with my first kiddo. I had some other CD friends who bought a swim diaper in addition to their CD stash and I just used the cover, good to see that thought it ‘officially’ indorsed 🙂
Chlorine will ruin the PUL though. I designate one diaper, usually a ebay cheapie, as a swim diaper and use that. I would never use my BGs or any other diaper I liked that had PUL as a swim diaper. Every diaper I have used as a swim diaper leaks after because chlorine is bleach and bleach ruins PUL
We used an econobum cover when playing in the backyard last year. It’s a bit transparent when wet. I’ll be using some of my older 3.0’s this summer. Never really thought to try them!
I remember doing this when my daughter was in diapers (she’s three now). My in-laws thought I was nuts…but it made so much sense! I’m glad to see I’m not the only one that thought this is a good idea! At the time, I use my own, home made diapers…that I directly knocked off from the BG 3.0. I had the pleasure of changing several little ones in my church nursery yesterday. My favorite change was a little girl sporting her BG 4.0! Such a happy baby!
We’ve been using unstuffed FuzziBunz as swim diapers for 3 years. I love my BGs so much that I can’t bring myself to put them in the pool!
We’ve been trying different ideas for swim diapers – FLIP with newborn insert, FLIP with no insert – a 4.0 with no insert was next on my list. So glad to know it will work!
will the pool chlorine ruin the prints?
Hurray! So glad to read this! :~) Now I don’t have to spend money on a separate swim diaper!
Sooooo happy to have read this! I have been searching for a good swim diaper and we have half fuzzibunz half Bum Genius 4.0. So I dont need to waste the money!
We’ve been using our bumGenius 3.0s as swim diapers from the beginning (we’ve been using them for 2 years). They work great in the pool or ocean, just take the insert out- it’s that easy! We recently bought some of the new 4.0 prints and they are just awesome as diapers and swim diapers!