Toddlers Not Wearing Swim Diapers

[xoprincessmomxo]

Just kind of wondering who the whole wearing of the swim diapee upsets more: the parents or the kids? I mean, somebody even mentioned not letting their kids swim at a pool because of a "required diapee age"? I'm sure if that were the case the kid would put the diapee on himself and say "let's go!" I don't think it would be detrimental to the child's psyche to wear a lil' swimmer for a few dips in the pool. They don't even look like diapers...and if, as one poster wrote, your child only wore cloth diapers anyway, it shouldn't bother their asthetic sense at all. It could just be a cool new cartoon character part of their swimsuit wardrobe. And yes, only you know your children and what they can handle. But a lot of parents say that, and then the child does something completely out of the ordinairy due to excitement, exhaustion, heat.....I personally would rather be safe than sorry. It would be nothing worse than to see your little one have an embarassing accident or even asked to leave the swimming area for not wearing one. If I saw a child without a swimming diaper on who was under 2, I would be a little concerned. But as for the rule for a swim diaper on a child 4 and under? That's a little much! Aren't the majority of children potty trained before 3?

PS. I'm not trying to make anyone mad. Just stating my opinion on it. If I've offended anyone, I'm sorry!

 

[MommaPooh217]

Uh....what am I missing here? If the kid is POTTY TRAINED, then what is the issue? How exactly can not putting a POTTY TRAINED kid in a swim diaper hurt other people???

And what about hurting the child? Emotionally, a child could feel really bad about themselves if they are PT and have to put one of those diapers on...why would you do that to a kid?

I have a two year old who will most likely be PT by the time we go in Sept, as she is just about there now. I will absolutely NOT put her in a diaper to make someone else feel better. That's NUTS, IMHO!

What about these scenarios...

The 6 year old that wipes their own rear after going potty, and doesn't do a great job of it, then gets in the pool.

The mom who forgets to change a swimmy diaper on a 10 month old for a while, then the 10 month old takes a poo...instant OVERFLOW! Those things don't hold much.

I mean seriously...it's CRAZY how much YUCK gets into a public pool. My potty trained child, who's rear I wipe, is not a contributor.

And, for what it's worth, my girls have both been swimming since they were a couple of months old, and neither of them has EVER pooped in a swimmy diaper. It's like the water makes it stop or something! This is the case for most of my friends' children as well.

Exactly to all of the above!

Some people will never mind their own business or get off their soap boxes long enough to deal with things in a logical way.

Agree completely. If a child is completely potty trained, there is just no reason to put him/her in a swim diaper. I would reiterate to the OP, not to worry or stress. Very little chance anyone will give you anykind of a hassle. It will certainly not be Disney, but rather some other nosey guest. Nothing that a quiet, yet firm "Mind your own business" will not take of.

People it's called HYGIENE and also COMMON COURTESY.

It's nice that you wipe you childs bottom and all... thanks for that, but she is still a child and trust me eventually there will be a time she forgets to tell you and hopefully for us it will not be at the AsMov pool. And FYI water DOES"NT stop it from happening (edit -- sarcasm)it tends to have the opposite effect on kids ! I have a four year old who has been potty trained since she was 2 and STILL forgets sometimes when she is having too much fun during an activity to say she has to go and has had accidents because of it.
It's an easy conversation to have, here it is :

"Sweetie when we swim in the pool on vacation Mommy bought you some special big boy/girl pants that you will need to wear because your other big boy/girl pants can't be worn with your bathing suit... look they have Nemo/Pooh on them !"

" Mommy is so proud of you for being such a big boy/girl and using the potty and these pool underwear will help you if you are having such a good time in the pool that you forget to tell me you have to potty" " And you only have to wear them until we get home from vaction and only in the pool"


IT"S A SWIM PANT PEOPLE ! You're not going to scar them for life by putting it on them. They are not going to be sitting on a couch in a pyschiatrist's office 20 years from now saying " My Mother ruined me for life because she made me wear swim pants at Disney! "

Start thinking about the other people who also paid for a vacation at Disney and show some common courtesy. Would you like it if someone let their kids crap in your pool just because they did'nt show you the common courtesy and respect of having their child in swim pants ? " Oh sorry about the explosive diahrrea in your pool but my child IS potty trained and it would scar him if I put him in a swim pant." to say that this will not happen with your child is ludicrous because unfortunately it happens to all kids at one time or another. Better to be safe than sorry.

And as the Mom of four 23,20,7 & 4 I can tell you none of my kids were scarred for life because they had to wear a swim pant. The rule was you wore it or you could not swim because it is unfair to the other people also staying on vacation at whatever hotel we were in, and manners and common courtesy do not stay at home while we are on vacation. I know I am going to get flamed for this but I really don't care because no matter how much you think it isn't our business if your child it not wearing a swim pant ,people IT IS OUR BUSINESS because we are the ones who get shafted if your child does have an accident in the pool ! It really saddens me that thinking of others before yourself in situations like this one is nonexistent in the world these days. Please remember that you are not the only ones on vacation at the time and be courteous about the rules, they are there for everyones benefit no matter how unfair you think they are. JMHO

Blessed Be,
Tina

 

[kaysmommie]

I agree for the most part. why take a chance ruining others vacation, especially with a newly potty trained kid. They have to shut pools down for sometimes a couple days because of poop accidents.

 

[Tiger926]

I always hesitate to post to these types of threads anymore because most people in my opinion, display a lot selfishness when it comes to these kinds of topics. The rule at Disney is diaper wearing age - some kids wear diapers until the age of 4, so technically, if you have toddlers, they should be in swim diapers or swim pants regardless of being fully potty trained as it's a necessary precaution. When it's your own backyard pool, do as you wish, but please remember that Disney's pools are not your own, and they have to do whatever is necessary to ensure that there are as little disruptions to the pool areas as possible.

Our daughter was potty trained before age 2, guess what? Last summer for our yearly 2 week summer trip to WDW she wore swim pants (don't call them diapers - that's the first problem!) and she was 3 years old - no accidents for a very long time. Why did she wear them? Because it was for everyone else in the pool lest she have an accident.

As DVC members who have been to Disney many times, we have seen pools closed so many times due to babies/toddlers not wearing swim diapers/pants. It doesn't matter if your child is potty trained - I've seen 5 year olds at Disney have accidents - they can still get excited and have an accident, or, many parents simply forget to take them potty, which results in an accident.

Honestly, people need to be more altruistic and think more about others than themselves. When a Disney pool is closed due to an accident, it's closed for a good length of time, which means other guests are missing out on swimming because you or your child didn't feel like being properly prepared. There should be no issue with having a potty trained child wear swim pants/diapers if it's properly explained and taught to them that it's a special kind of pant that will protect them and others in case of potty emergency. It's all about presentation - let them know that they do very well with going potty each day, but when on vacation and sharing pools with hundreds of other people (here's the key, people!), then it's a necessary precaution. Easy as that! When parents have snarky attitudes about being told that they have to put their kids in swim pants, blah, blah, blah, then the kids take the same attitude and of course they'll refuse to wear them. If they were my children, and refused to wear a swim pant, then they would also not be swimming that day as they need to learn that sometimes we have to put the needs of others before ourselves.

Tiger

 

[chobie]

Well its been seven years since I had to deal with this, but I just thought I would chime in that I envy those of you who had kids under under 3 potty trained.

 

[kaysmommie]

I always hesitate to post to these types of threads anymore because most people in my opinion, display a lot selfishness when it comes to these kinds of topics. The rule at Disney is diaper wearing age - some kids wear diapers until the age of 4, so technically, if you have toddlers, they should be in swim diapers or swim pants regardless of being fully potty trained as it's a necessary precaution. When it's your own backyard pool, do as you wish, but please remember that Disney's pools are not your own, and they have to do whatever is necessary to ensure that there are as little disruptions to the pool areas as possible.

Our daughter was potty trained before age 2, guess what? Last summer for our yearly 2 week summer trip to WDW she wore swim pants (don't call them diapers - that's the first problem!) and she was 3 years old - no accidents for a very long time. Why did she wear them? Because it was for everyone else in the pool lest she have an accident.

As DVC members who have been to Disney many times, we have seen pools closed so many times due to babies/toddlers not wearing swim diapers/pants. It doesn't matter if your child is potty trained - I've seen 5 year olds at Disney have accidents - they can still get excited and have an accident, or, many parents simply forget to take them potty, which results in an accident.

Honestly, people need to be more altruistic and think more about others than themselves. When a Disney pool is closed due to an accident, it's closed for a good length of time, which means other guests are missing out on swimming because you or your child didn't feel like being properly prepared. There should be no issue with having a potty trained child wear swim pants/diapers if it's properly explained and taught to them that it's a special kind of pant that will protect them and others in case of potty emergency. It's all about presentation - let them know that they do very well with going potty each day, but when on vacation and sharing pools with hundreds of other people (here's the key, people!), then it's a necessary precaution. Easy as that! When parents have snarky attitudes about being told that they have to put their kids in swim pants, blah, blah, blah, then the kids take the same attitude and of course they'll refuse to wear them. If they were my children, and refused to wear a swim pant, then they would also not be swimming that day as they need to learn that sometimes we have to put the needs of others before ourselves.

Tiger

Good post and I agree as I have a 3 year old DS. It's really awful when they close the pools because of this. It seems like some parents also slack on taking their kids to the potty when they are at the pool. We have a pool in our yard and DS knows swim pants are neccesary at waterparks and hotel pools even though he is trained and I take him to the potty regularly.

I just wish everyone would be more considerate of others instead of ony thinking of themselves.

 

[jme829]

There are places that this is a rule and it is enforced. The first time we stayed at the Nick Hotel (it was then just Holiday Inn Family Suites), we had packed disposable swim diapers for our son (dd was p/t). Nope....we were stopped as we entered the pool and had to go buy reusable swim diapers for BOTH of them (she was 3 he was 1). We showed the lifeguard that ds had the disposable on and explained dd was p/t, but too bad. If we wanted to swim, they both had to have the reusable pants. Now that cracked me up because at least with the disposable, if it got "used" we could put on a fresh one and keep on swimming, but once that "cloth" one got "used" it had to be laundered so swim time was over.

But anyways, my point is to those who have never heard of this rule, yes there are places that do require and monitor for swim diapers. You may want to double check the rules at your hotel, since Disney doesn't allow pool hopping, you may not be swimming anywhere if you choose not to swim at your hotel because of the diaper rule.

(BTW, I'm not stating my feelings on the rule either way, but if thats the rule for one, then thats the rule for all...sorry ...nobody should get special treatment one way or the other if the rules are written for all. How the heck can you prove that your child is potty trained and never has accidents...can you imagine the "stories" people tell so they can try to bypass a rule? (not trying to tell someone they are a liar, but people are people and some will spin it however they have to to get out of following the rules.) Do you disregard the rules at your job just because they may not "apply" to you?

 

[DawnM]

If the child doesn't pee in the swim diapers, you can also dry them out and reuse them. That has worked well for us when we were potty training.

My 3 year old was potty trained by his 2nd birthday. He doesn't even use pull ups at night. He is 3, but he is a big 3 year old. If there is a policy, I will adhere to it. I am not one to try to break rules just because I don't feel the rules apply to me, but if there isn't, we use a swim suit.

Dawn

 

[starbox]

As DVC members who have been to Disney many times, we have seen pools closed so many times due to babies/toddlers not wearing swim diapers/pants. It doesn't matter if your child is potty trained - I've seen 5 year olds at Disney have accidents - they can still get excited and have an accident, or, many parents simply forget to take them potty, which results in an accident.

Honestly, there are so many factors that can cause kids to have accidents for the first time at Disney - all the excitement plus the fact that their tummies can get a little troubled from the change in diet/pattern/traveling (Micky Ice Cream bars!!) and rides. I have grown kids (8 and 10) and they'll still ocassionally not quite make it to the restroom in time if their tummy is acting up. I would not want to put a small child in a position where they might potentially fact the humiliation of closing down an entire pool because of an understandable mishap .

 

[jodifla]

I always hesitate to post to these types of threads anymore because most people in my opinion, display a lot selfishness when it comes to these kinds of topics. The rule at Disney is diaper wearing age - some kids wear diapers until the age of 4, so technically, if you have toddlers, they should be in swim diapers or swim pants regardless of being fully potty trained as it's a necessary precaution. When it's your own backyard pool, do as you wish, but please remember that Disney's pools are not your own, and they have to do whatever is necessary to ensure that there are as little disruptions to the pool areas as possible.

Our daughter was potty trained before age 2, guess what? Last summer for our yearly 2 week summer trip to WDW she wore swim pants (don't call them diapers - that's the first problem!) and she was 3 years old - no accidents for a very long time. Why did she wear them? Because it was for everyone else in the pool lest she have an accident.

As DVC members who have been to Disney many times, we have seen pools closed so many times due to babies/toddlers not wearing swim diapers/pants. It doesn't matter if your child is potty trained - I've seen 5 year olds at Disney have accidents - they can still get excited and have an accident, or, many parents simply forget to take them potty, which results in an accident.

Honestly, people need to be more altruistic and think more about others than themselves. When a Disney pool is closed due to an accident, it's closed for a good length of time, which means other guests are missing out on swimming because you or your child didn't feel like being properly prepared. There should be no issue with having a potty trained child wear swim pants/diapers if it's properly explained and taught to them that it's a special kind of pant that will protect them and others in case of potty emergency. It's all about presentation - let them know that they do very well with going potty each day, but when on vacation and sharing pools with hundreds of other people (here's the key, people!), then it's a necessary precaution. Easy as that! When parents have snarky attitudes about being told that they have to put their kids in swim pants, blah, blah, blah, then the kids take the same attitude and of course they'll refuse to wear them. If they were my children, and refused to wear a swim pant, then they would also not be swimming that day as they need to learn that sometimes we have to put the needs of others before ourselves.

Tiger

Exactly!!!!!!

 

[Limmer]

I am not quite understanding the logic behind a "even a 5 year old can have an accident so put a 3 year old in a diaper" reply. Why not put the 5 year old in a diaper if they can have an accident? If a kid is potty trained (really trained not kind of trained) then no diaper, it they're not put on a diaper.

And anybody who thinks a swim diaper will keep in the bacteria is delusional.

 

[Tiger926]

You misunderstood - if even 5 or 6 year olds who have very good bladder/bowel control can have accidents due to forgetfullness, not making it in time, excitement, etc., than surely a 2-4 year old can, and that is why many pools have swim diaper/pant rules.

My child was really potty trained as I said - no accidents, nighttime trained at 15 months (had incredible bladder control at a very early age - could hold for 14 hours at night) and very responsible, so wearing a swim pant had nothing to do with her, but everything to do with all of the other people we were sharing the pool with just in case she had a small accident due to various reasons.

Tina

 

[twinmom2]

mommapooh217-

By the way limmer, did say "really trained" 3 year old.
Her question is...why dont they require "really trained" 5 year olds to wear them too, if like you said they can have an accident too??

Im sorry to say, but pull ups are just like swim diapers. Children who have worn pull ups will most certainly think they are putting "baby diapers" back on. After all the work in potty training, I will not take a step back in the wrong direction. After 9+ months of being potty trained, then expect to put on a swim diaper for "just in case".
Again "just in case" can be for a 5 year old or that elderly person in the pool. I guess these are all assumptions that it is the 3 year old who has the accident.
maybe we need "hygiene" patrol at the bathrooms too, so we can make sure everyone has common courtesy to wash their hands.

OP.. my 3 year olds will not be wearing diapers... i guess i am a selfish jerk .

 

[MommaPooh217]

mommapooh217-

By the way limmer, did say "really trained" 3 year old.
Her question is...why dont they require "really trained" 5 year olds to wear them too, if like you said they can have an accident too??

Im sorry to say, but pull ups are just like swim diapers. Children who have worn pull ups will most certainly think they are putting "baby diapers" back on. After all the work in potty training, I will not take a step back in the wrong direction. After 9+ months of being potty trained, then expect to put on a swim diaper for "just in case".
Again "just in case" can be for a 5 year old or that elderly person in the pool. I guess these are all assumptions that it is the 3 year old who has the accident.
maybe we need "hygiene" patrol at the bathrooms too, so we can make sure everyone has common courtesy to wash their hands.

OP.. my 3 year olds will not be wearing diapers... i guess i am a selfish jerk .



TwinMom2,

And like I said as the mother of 4 a SWIM PANT is not going to undermine potty training if it is explained to the child in the right way that is to be worn only in the pool and only for vacation.And the child is given praise and encouragement about potty training. You child is not going to be scarred for life or backslide or be diapers for the rest of his life just because they have to wear a swim pant for a week. If it does then obviously they were'nt trained very well to begin with.And I am guessing that most elderly people rather than facing the embarassment of having an accident in the pool would get themselves out of the pool and go as soon as they felt the urge. And I guess you are right you are one of those people who think that they have some kind of special entitlement that puts you above the rest of us so the rules and common courtesy to your fellow vacationers don't apply to you. And FYI my potty trained 4yo will be wearing a swim pant because manners and courtesy still apply for my family even when my family is on vacation.And I would rather be safe than sorry.

Blessed Be,
Tina

 

[Hannathy]

maybe we just know our children. Why would a child who has been trained and not have an accident for 2 1/2 yrs suddenly have an accident? I would say the statistics are about the same as a 5 yr old having an accident or an adult.

Actually the worst accident is diarrhea and a disposable swim pant isn't going to contain that anyway. They are designed to hold a bulky stool inside and nothing more.

 

[MommaPooh217]

maybe we just know our children. Why would a child who has been trained and not have an accident for 2 1/2 yrs suddenly have an accident? I would say the statistics are about the same as a 5 yr old having an accident or an adult.

Actually the worst accident is diarrhea and a disposable swim pant isn't going to contain that anyway. They are designed to hold a bulky stool inside and nothing more.

Lets see...maybe because most normal kids have one at one time or another regardless of how long it takes it to happen- I did'nt know there was a time frame for an accident to happen. And I said it would contain a bm better than no swim pant at all. Since you all are having such a dilemma with this question and obviously courtesy to other people vacationing at the same resort as you are really has no place in your little world and your entitlement makes you above having to obey the rules like the rest of us who are vacationing, maybe you all should talk to your pediatrician and ask for an HONEST answer to your question. Explain to him/her that you are concerned that your child will backslide in his potty training if he has to wear a swim pant on vacation for a week, ask him/her if he/she thinks it will affect his/her self confidence if he/she has to wear them. Maybe if a professional gives you the same information it will sink in. Of course if you don't like his/her answer you can always get a second opinion there's bound to be one who, instead of giving an honest answer will tell you what you want to hear and justify your being inconsiderate.

Blessed Be,
Tina

 

[Tiger926]

Again, some people are just missing the point, as per usual on the DIS

Most vacationing people I have seen at WDW who frequent pools (and I have seen thousands since we spend a minimum of 2-3 weeks per year at WDW), are MORE lax and lazy at the pool - don't watch kids as well, don't take them potty very often, etc. You can argue with this all you want, but as a Special Education teacher of at-risk kids, I observe and assess in my sleep and this is what I observe each and every time we are at WDW - since we go mostly in the summer, at least several times per trip, pools are closed due to accidents, period. It happens because parents and kids get lazy, which means more propensity for accidents, especially amongst 1-4 year old children, thus the swim pant rule.

The whole point of it being damaging to your kids, again, is bogus. If swim pants or pull ups are presented as 'diapers' then that is why your children may not feel comfortable in wearing them. Since so many parents on here are posting very vehemently that they they don't feel their children should wear them, then no wonder your kids aren't going to wear them! Children pick up what they are presented, so when it's presented in a negative way, then that's what's going to happen.

Just as an aside, I find it funny that so many parents on here are guaranteeing that their kids aren't going to have accidents - how are you going to do this? I have had parents tell me the same thing and their teens are now in jail or prison for serious crimes - it was ridiculous of them to guarantee that their children weren't going to become violent, just as it is for those of you who guarantee that your child won't have an accident while on vacation. If you take the time to prepare properly, then you'll be able to deal with any emergencies that come your way - your kid doesn't have an accident, then it was no harm, no foul. The fact that you'd be teaching your children to think of others besides themselves, would be enough of a lesson right there.

Instead of people wasting so much negative energy on arguing with the rest of us how your children are NOT going to wear swim pants because it's going to scar them for life, why don't you expend that energy on insuring that your family's behaviour is not going to infringe upon any of the thousands of people whom you are sharing the pools with? Last time I checked, you weren't in your own backyard pool, but a pool that is shared by hundreds and sometimes thousands of others each and everyday. It would be so nice if all of you who refuse to put your children in swim pants would think of the rest of us, instead of just yourselves. I see so much of this arrogance and selfishness on the DIS as of late, it really makes me sad - especially since so much of it comes from this family board.

Tiger

 

[epcotfan]

Here's a pool rules sign from Coronado Springs:

They don't specify whether the child is potty trained or not. Rather, they state: "For safety, diaper age children must wear plastic pants or swim diapers"

 

[WantToGoNow]

My child was potty trained before her 2nd birthday -- she is now 3.5 and has NO accidents ever - night or day. I would not put a diaper of any sort back on her. We have been swimming many times since she gave those up and never have we had an accident. Both of my children take their wet, shivering bodies to the toilet when they have the need.

I could not imagine the embarassment of my son if I tried to put a "swim pant" on him -- he's smart enough to know it's not a "swim pant" but a DIAPER. Where in the store do you buy them -- with the underwear? No, in the BABY department.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm not worried about it scarring my child for life, because I would explain it was a crazy rule. And a little silly to compare toilet training to actual psychosis's and extreme violent tendencies.

I am cheap!!! If I haven't bought or worn diapers in years I am not about to make a special trip and purchase to buy them- waste of money.

It comes down to parent responsibilities. If I don't pay attention to my child and not take him to the bathroom then yes a swim diaper is better than nothing. Again if I'm not responsible and a baby poops in it's swim diaper and I don't pay attention and it stays in the water then the water will mix with the poop and disperse.

Should we say because of the few irresponsible or lazy parent who don't watch their children and let them run off everyone should use a leash on kids under 4?