No Swimmie Diapers in the Pool!

[Rock'n Robin]

My son started with a non disposable swim diaper when he was 1 that looked like a little speedo. It was from LL Bean--Grandma bought it--you may want to check there.
When he was 2 and 3 we used Huggies Little Swimmers. They NEVER leaked any gel or crystals for me at the local pool and the lifeguards actually encouraged them. They have made huge strides in manufacturing good swim diapers now. But now, thank goodness, DS is potty trained and my diaper days are gone!
Real diapers are another story--gross!
Robin M.

 

[onemichelle]

This whole topic is troubling. I like the idea that Disney cleans the pools every time there is a need, but I agree with an earlier poster that I would think they have to close the pool A LOT with that many little kids. I don't want my dd swimming in nastyness but I also don't want to find the pool closed everytime we turn around. As creative as Disney is, they should be able to have a solution to this. So far, the separate but fun area for non potty-trained seems the best option.
Has anyone actually had trouble with them closing the mickey pool alot?

 

[my3kids]

The Beach Club at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort has these great beach ball like things in an area near the pool that spit water up....very refreshing and nice. Something like that on a rubber surface with squirts and mists would be great.....except surely that water is clorinated and recycled....thus you have the same issue as with the pool. There might be a lot of tears also if the little ones saw the pool but were not allowed. Are all the pools on their own filtration systems? If not, then that Quiet Cove pool might be a quiet cove of bacteria! Also, we are probably being optimistic to think the problem is just the Mickey pool. Likely the Goofy pool is just as contaminated. How many moms and dads carry a small child into that water to play with an older child?

I guess I put my faith into clorine(haven't people reported their suits actually bleaching badly in the water from the pools and hot tubs on the ship?) Poop in pools is nothing new.....it has been there as long as the pools have been there. I don't want to see it, but haven't we moms always known that swim diapers, plastic pants....whatever couldn't keep bacteria from escaping into the water? Hopefully with all we now know, if I child was suffering from diarrea, the parent wouldn't allow them into the pool. Wasn't the water park incident in Georgia from a child with D in the pools? The illness has to start sometime....and it could be when the child is in the pool. But hopefully now, parent's would know that a child who had D has no business in the pool. I have to keep remembering that not all floaters can infect with e coli....only e coli infected poop...which is rare. Otherwise my children would never have been allowed in a pool.

Now, I have to go worry about something else.....

 

[nuke]

I have to say after reading all this that you will not catch me dead in that pool. I would rather swim with fish poop than human poop.

 

[inkkognito]

my3kids,
I never really thought about that, but you are right! I can't even count how many swimsuits I've ruined due to bleaching in the adult whirlpools. I guess it makes a lot of sense that Disney would be overly diligent with the bleach. Oh well, I would rather be safe and have to replace my swimsuits.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[taswira]

Originally posted by nuke
I have to say after reading all this that you will not catch me dead in that pool. I would rather swim with fish poop than human poop.

I agree with you. Since I've never had kids (and am too old now!), I've never had to deal with this issue, but have thought about it pertaining to all the kids I see . . and I <I>have</I> seen floaters in the pool. The thing about being in a lake or ocean is that there is more water so things are not contained in a small area with you. FYI: I have never set foot in a public (or cruise ship) pool. But that's just ME. Having said that, I think all the increased precautions taken at most pools are paying off, and <I>in general</I> they are as safe as they can make them.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

I just want to out my two-cents in.

I have a 2 1/2 DD (who I am hoping is potty trained by the time we go on our cruise November 3rd) anyway my view is this - swim diapers DO NOT hold in PEE they do a very good job holding in poop (I know they do not hold in bacteria). I have also used the bathing suits that have a diaper built in - BIG MISTAKE.

With a swim diaper it is at least much easier to clean up because you can just rip it and treat it like a diaper - with a diaper built into the swimsuit you have to take the whole suit off and it gets EVERYWHERE!! Also what I wanted to add is if your child does have an "accident" it would be a lot more sanitary to change them right at the pool rather than having them track through the pool area and go to the bathroom as it will leak bacteria in the trail they are making (I hope I am making myself clear on this).

Also I think the idea of having the misting area is great, however if your child is old enough and still not potty trained they are going to really want to go in the pool with the other little kids and that could get rough.

I think DCL should require the swim diapers for containment sake.

Also the subject about older kids and adults "going" in the pool - well that is just gross. My mom always made us go to the bathroom before we went in the pool and if we had to go we had to get out of the pool, dry off and go to the bathroom - if there were a lot of kids we had bathroom breaks where she would make everyone get out of the pool and go to the bathroom. A pool is not a toilet!! Just like you teach your children to go on the potty you should teach them not to go in the pool and that it is not proper or acceptible.

I will probably get flamed for this, but this is something that we should teach our children - I know I am.

Lisa

 

[hazmat1212]

thank you all, i'm staying in the adult pool

just the discussion about floaters has me squirming...pack the anti-bacterial, i plan in soaking in THAT

(no kids in our house)

cin in NJ
MAGIC 8/31

 

[mcnuss]

Why would you get flamed??? This is just common sense. Teaching a child not to pee in a pool is like teaching them not to pick their nose or spit. Basic rules of etiquette, not to mention cleanliness.

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

I agree, you won't get flamed by me! But I heard where you were coming from. It's common sense to responsible parents. Regretfully, my parents were NOT responsible. I can recall MANY times being told as a child to go waist deep in the waters to go pee (this being lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.). Never in a pool and never #2, but just the same it doesn't teach your children how to be sanitary or respectful of all those others swimming. Thankfully, this bird flew FAR from the nest. I can assure you that I will not be peeing in any pools .

And I agree with you about the bathing suits. When my daughter wore hers, she always wore the disposable too. Just for the sake of an easier clean-up.

 

[nicurnc]

Okay, for everyone who thinks those swimmie diaper things are okay...
Got unbelievably sick a coupla summers ago after spending an afternoon poolside at a friend's house. I couldn't get get in due to an immobilizer I had to wear on my arm, but sat and dangled my feet in the pool. Was getting a faceful of water every once in a while and just enjoying the kids having a good time.
The baby pooped in his swimmie diaper a few times that day. Each time his mom was quick to change him.
But even though our host had checked his chlorine levels in the AM before all the guests arrived, the long day of kids and bright sun took it's toll...the chlorine level was below safe by late afternoon.
Two days later, several us were sick with a bacterial infection the doctor said was probably from this contaminated water.
So, I think chlorine is good for killing bacteria when it's present, but after a day on a ship with all those kids I'll be sticking to the adult pool, thank you. And I won't mind asking anyone who wants to swim with an infant to head for the Mickey pool

Loretta

 

[Cassi]

I won't pretend to know the technical specifics, but I know the water at our local amusement park's water park is "shared." As I mentioned before, when someone vomits in the pool, the entire water park must shut down (that includes the wave pool, toddler area, water slides and sprinklers). I don't know if they share a filtration system or if the water is "recycled" in some way (I'll plead ignorance here). But I wonder if it's the same on the cruise ship. I can't help but think it must be, as there's less space. If it is, then the water in the Mickey pool would be the same in the adult pool, hot tubs, etc. Anyone know about this? I'd be curious to know if it's safe to go in the water!

Also, as an aside, we went on a Carnival cruise last year, and I found the kiddie pool to be filthy, so I prohibited my children from going in it again (the first day it was okay, but then it was slimey and dirty.) A couple of days after we returned, my toddler came down with bacterial pneumonia, and my daughter a viral infection. Possibly a coincidence, possibly not.

Anyway, sorry for rambling. This conversation isn't good for me...I'm already a germ-o-phobe!

 

[jel0511]

As I'm reading all these responses, I'm getting VERY confused. So, basically Huggies Little Swimmers aren't allowed in the pools on DCL right?? So, what do I have to get then. I'll be traveling with an 18month old who won't be potty trained, yet LOVES the pool. If he can't use the pool, it will be a bad scene, ie temper tantrum!!! Please help, so I can make sure DS can swim with DD.

 

[jellymoon]

You can use the Flap Happy type non-disposable swim diapers. You can find these quite inexpensively at Target, Fred Meyer, KMart, etc. You can probably also find them online... just do a search for "swim diapers."

I've had four kids and despite lots of swimming, no one has ever actually pooped while swimming. If you know your baby's "schedule" you can wait until after "the event" to swim, or else swim prior to the regular "event" time. I'd be sure after swimming to be sure to get dear little one back into diapers ASAP.

Good luck!

 

[shellgoodman]

I have been looking all around this week for the Flap Happys and everything is sold out. We are leaving next week so I bought more swim diapers for the trip. I am going to tuck it under my daughter's bathing suit. Hopefully the lifeguards won't throw us out. At our pool in our subdivision, the kids must be in a swim diaper. If a child has an accident, the lifeguards close the pool for 24 hours.

 

[jellymoon]

Here is the web link for Flap Happy. Nice selection! They are $11 each.

http://www.kidstockmontana.com/flaphappy.html

 

[AliPom]

For anyone interested, I've gone online to research this topic as my family owns and operates a campground which features a pool! Knock on wood, we have not had any problems and have several commendations in our file with the State from "surprise" state testers, due to the cleanliness and favorable testing results of the pool. So after reading all these posts, I actually went online to research the effectiveness of the diapers (now that you all have me wondering) because we do require swim diapers (no gel). It does not appear that there is any conclusive evidence one way or the other. But I did find some information and some links that I will pass on. What some of us may consider "common sense" we have to post rules for by our pool. We also require that swimmers take a shower before entering our pool area. And we close the pool for one hour during the swimming day to add what may be needed to the water in order to maintain appropriate testing levels. Sounds stict perhaps, but the results are a benefit to the swimmer and our quality has been great.

My search also revealed that water misting areas/water parks/sprinklers can become infected if an infected source comes into contact with the water/misting device, and the water will carry the germ and pass it along. There goes the water misting/water park idea!!!

Some tips from the web:

Do not let children swim if they have diarrhea. Fecal matter can spread into the water and contaminate the pool, potentially making others sick.

Remember to take children on frequent bathroom breaks and change their diapers *often* during pool time, at the diaper changing station (restroom), not by the pool or in the pool area.

Wash your hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom and changing diapers. Dry hands with disposable paper towels like Sparkle® to wipe off and throw away germs before you go in the water.

Do not swallow pool water! Pathogens in the water may cause waterborne illnesses when swallowed. Try to avoid getting pool water in your mouth.

Sites to visit:
http://www.personalmd.com/news/swimcontam_063000.shtml

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cryptosporidiosis/factsht_cryptosporidiosis.htm

Happy Swimming Everyone!!!

 

[jellymoon]

Thanks for the links. Something just occurred to me. . .

How could you end up with long term seepage? Aren't parents attentive enough to pretty much know if their child is "expelling bacteria"? Wouldn't said parents leave the pool area immediately?

 

[AliPom]

After dealing with the public for 20+ years, NOTHING surprises me anymore; I could write a book! Some people (including those in the medical profession who have been schooled on hygiene) do not practice or teach their children good hygiene habits, or simply follow what some of us may consider commen sense or courtesy toward others. In some cases, it's just plain 'ol laziness, apathy or stupidity.

This summer we removed a family from our grounds because the father of pre-school aged children snuck the kids over the pool fence and let them go into the 7' end of the pool with nothing but floating noodles to hang on to. Not only did the children NOT know how to swim; the parent was on the other side of the pool fence! This professional man could not understand (selectively of course) what he had done wrong, or why his children who do not know how to swim were in jeopardy! You have to wonder if he wanted to tuck his kids into bed that night don't you!

So I can see long-term seepage happening or the floatie situation happening, unfortunately.

 

[beasiron]

OK, now that I have to face the facts of my kids swimming in a potentially dangerous environment. I'm adding chlorine test strips to my packing list =0)