Toddlers Not Wearing Swim Diapers

[Mom of 3]

So long as you are sure that he won't get over excited and forget to go and use the bathroom. Remember if a child has an accident in the pool, the pool has to be closed and extra chemicals added. The amount of time the pool is closed depends on whether the poop is liquid or solid.

My friend is a life guard and a group of tracked out Kindergartens used the pool and one of them pooped in the pool. They had to scoop out the poop and close the pool for several hours.

My DS has been potty trained since age two and I think I kept him in swim diapers until age 3 just to be on the safe side. The disposable swimmy diapers are cheap enough and look a lot like swim wear that a 3 year old isn't going to know the difference.

 

[hannah03]

Actually, I believe it's like what Lisa says...Disney leaves it up to parents to decide when they're children are out of diapers and don't need the swim diaper.

It's other places, like the Nick Hotel, some popular swim attractions in South Florida and others, that have started to enforce age rules re: swim diapers...most likely because of all the accidents by the allegedly trained 2 and 3 year olds.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if WDW followed suit soon.

PS I know plenty of kids who were still in a diaper until almost age 4.

My daughter will be turning 4 during our trip and she is still in pullups but she has a few issues. So she will definitely be in a swim diaper. And will be in them until I know for SURE she will not need them.

There is no way I would risk any of my younger kids having an accident in one of the pools. It would be so embarrasing and just plain rude to ruin it for everyone IMHO.

If there is ANY possibility that a child could have an accident, parents should buck up and do the responsible thing. It will NOT scar the kid for life. You just need to explain to them that it's a "safety" issue and they only need to wear it when swimming.

 

[tiggerzpalz]

I could have never imagined that swim diapers could turn into such a heated debate but again, this is the DIS.

I am not one to jump in on topics like these but really isn't "diaper wearing age" subjective? In my area, diaper wearing age is under three as all the preschools in the area, which start at age 3, require that kids must be 100% potty trained. No diapers, no pull-ups, no rubber underwear and in the summer for summer camp no swim pants. While this may differ in other areas, this is just what happens here.

As for putting a swim diaper on either of them (3 & 5) we just won't do it. We take our sons to the bathroom prior to swimming, during swimming, etc. I don't view it as being selfish, because we are not, I just view it as we are responsible parents, we use the bathroom frequently, and our sons understand the rules. They have a pool at home and the rules are the same here. So they know them. And we have gotten in and out countless times soaking wet to use our bathroom.

And our peditratician, whom I asked the question out of curiousity at our well visit, stated that putting any kind of diaper on a child who is potty trained can send mixed messages. Will it happen all the time? No. But children don't always understand the why's of things no matter how much you explain them, all they know is that they are waering a diaper again, and can fall back into an old habit. Again, not all kids and again this is only one opinion out of thousands that exist. And will it scar them for life, no, but it can create mixed messages for some.

Really, you just need to decide what is best for your child and if they are 100% capable. Only you know that for sure.

 

[Tiger926]

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

Your quote "And the child is given praise and encouragement about potty training".
We don't need advice on explaining anything about swim pants to our children. Everything has been explained and all the praise and encouragement has been giving because like I said THEY ARE ALREADY POTTY TRAINED.
Never did I say my child would be "scarred for life". Another {edit}t!!

Your quote again "If it does then obviously they were'nt trained very well to begin with." you are full of assumptions.....again, I never said the above statements and for my children who were fully potty trained just after turning two, I would say they WERE trained very well!!

Your Quote "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". Did you see the sign posted by another poster????? It said Diaper age children!!!!

Gald to see your 4 yr old will be in "diapers" because that is what it is.

Tiger926--your quote
"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".

Exactly, "at- risk kids".....ok, point said. these are the 1-4 year old that are in a pool with no supervision. edit that makes me so angry. If you know anything about "at-risk kids" you never would have made that comment. All I have ever done is work with this population, so if you know anything, you would also know that the type of social and economic background they come from puts them in this awful labeled "at-risk" catergory. edit

"Children pick up what they are presented, so when it's presented in a negative way, then that's what's going to happen".
ummm, it is not presented in any way because it is not a discussion we have with them. Again another assumption on how other parents parent thier children.

edit, edit

Oceana:: totally agree. My children will NEVER be in any kind of water alone!! Of course, as a parent you can tell when your child needs to potty, especially when you are always an arm length away. For anyone to assume different you are posting to the wrong parents on this board. Maybe some parents are not as in touch with thier children as they think they are.

kaysmommie:: "But there are children who can't be bothered going to the restroom if suddenly they have to go. This thread is like beating a dead horse. rules are there for a reason".
Those are children who were not potty trained very well. I did see the rules, thanks!!

thanks for all the parenting advice... it was taken with a grain of salt.

edited There is a huge comprehension issue at play here on your part - I said I was an at-risk teacher because it was relevant to the conversation about how I notice certain child behaviours - I have extensive training in observation and assessment, which means that I assess and observe children all the time, even while on vacation, as it's in my nature - meaning that I am interested in parent/child dynamics and have noticed many potty accidents by all sorts of kids, due to negligence by parents and kids, specifically between the ages of 1-4. Nowhere did I say that only at-risk kids have accidents. edited(just as an aside, you may want to check your definition of at-risk - it doesn't just mean kids with social and economic issues - I teach seriously learning challenged highschool students who are labelled at risk of not graduating due to severe learning issues, yet their families are very well off). I don't even understand your connection whatsoever - I certainly hope you aren't insinuating that at-risk kids would be expected to have more accidents, or, are the only kids who have potty accidents due to the reasons you mentioned. Hate to break it to you, but most kids I have observed with potty accidents are not at-risk kids, but kids who are too excited or too lazy to go potty, or, whose parents are too lazy to take them to the potty. Or, some young children may be surprised by a sudden urge to go potty even though they may have just gone - our bladders act silly at times (even to us adults who have been potty trained for over 30 years). To be honest, it drives me nuts that this happens all of the time on the DIS - my words were pretty specific and your response back was not very nice whatsoever, nor very understanding of the subject matter.

As someone said, this thread is like beating a dead horse - it just shows why there are so many potty accidents at public pools. Sure some of you are diligent and responsibly take your young children to go potty, but many do not and that is the point. I'll bet you would change your tune if Disney started charging parents for kids who have potty accidents - suddenly that $6.00 package of swim pants wouldn't be so bad now, would it? Why not use the same analogy for driving - since I have never been in an accident, then I shouldn't wear a seatbelt, nor pay for insurance, because I can 'guarantee' that I won't get in any accidents. How ridiculous would this be? It's just as ridiculous as saying that your diaper age children will never have accidents while swimming - diaper age is subjective, but it needs to be taken on general terms, not on individual terms. I was totally toilet trained at 10 months old and never had an accident a day in my life, yet it doesn't mean I couldn't ever have an accident. So, to those parents who have bodily control over their child's bowel and bladder movements, good for you! I myself am proud of the fact that my hubby and I value other people's vacations as much as our own, so our young children will wear swim pants as that is the right thing to do, plain and simple - despite the fact that my daughter has been potty trained since before 2 years old.

Tiger

 

[hannah03]

I never read any other posts before I posted and had NO IDEA there was drama here. I was stating my opinion on what I would do and would expect from others if they were uncertain of their kids.

I hope I didn't add to it. I really hate drama LOL!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

CLEARLY you didn't read my second post My complaint was with the parents who are saying there's no way in the world their 3 year old could POSSIBLY have an accident and they'll be in therapy for the rest of their lives if they have to wear a swim diaper. So I asked if they're so sure would they provide compensation if their child caused the pool to be shut down?

I do understand that every kid, and adult, is subject to have accidents. That's why I find it so odd that parents of toddlers are ready to swear that their kids will never ever have one.

I stated in my second post that it's not the honest well meaning people who are mostly the problem. There are lots of parents who have kids on the verge of potty training who dont' want them to wear swim diapers either. How is anyone supposed to tell when parents are telling the truth or not? Personally, I wish there were just swimming areas that were adults only. Lots of resorts have them and it just makes things easier for everyone.

My apologies.


While it may not send them into life long therapy--yes, some children would be mortified at such a suggestion..rules or not. And since in most cases the rules are not age specific, the parent would not be teaching the child to defy authority.

 

[Princess Stitch]

My apologies.


While it may not send them into life long therapy--yes, some children would be mortified at such a suggestion..rules or not. And since in most cases the rules are not age specific, the parent would not be teaching the child to defy authority.

Point taken as well. I try to be careful with topics such as these because I don't have children myself, so there's alot I may not be able to comment on.

Man, message boards are so difficult. It's really hard to get your point across sometimes without sounding snarky or arrogant ... thank goodness most people are understanding

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I will admit I didn't read the whole thread, but my kids didn't wear swim diapers once they were potty trained. (2.5 years old) There was no need as they knew how to use the bathroom and they did not have accidents. If I felt they would not be able to use a bathroom and be so over come with excitement then of course I would have made them wear one. They have never had an accident in the pool. We make sure they go before, during, and after swimming. They will also tell us that they need to go. Let me assure you that my kids all think it's gross to swim in pee or poop. Also- for all of those who are horrified by children who don't wear swim diapers even though they are trained, the swim diapers don't catch pee, only poop. So- you can still be swimming in urine. I think as a parent you have to decide what is best for your child. If you think your kid does not need one then who I am to tell you that they should wear one? I don't know your kid's habits, only you do.

 

[bellebud]

i didn't read every post, so sorry if repeating something...

as a mom of an early trained child AND a later trained child, I can see and understand both sides of this issue.

The rule is there for the parents who don't care about their child pooping in the pool, and those parents are out there and they do go to disney. (I'm sure non of them are on this board though)... but i would just think of it that way... if i had to put a swim diaper on my already trained 2yo because they had to make an across-the-board rule because of those few other parents, then so be it. i'd simply do it and be glad they had the rule so those other kids can't poop in the pool. And i certainly wouldn't tell my 2yo it was a swim diaper. I'd tell him/her it was a disney swimsuit and all little children get to wear it at disney. how special!! once a 2 year old hits the pool, they won't care what's on their bottom.

 

[twinmom2]

Tiger...Sorry
you started using "at-risk" in your conversation. I am fully aware that there are other children in this catergory, but for you to use that term because you observe and assess, well you can do that with anyone, as apparently you do while on vacation at Disney. Are you watching a particular family or families and time them to see when they took thier child to the potty? How do you know the children you "did observe" who had accidents were "not at-risk" because that IS what you said?
Your quote:
"Hate to break it to you, but most kids I have observed with potty accidents are not at-risk kids, but kids who are too excited or too lazy to go potty, or, whose parents are too lazy to take them to the potty".

You know that by observing them for a couple of hours at a pool? I NEVER said that at-risk kids are the only ones to have accidents. I thought it was foolish to even bring the term up because many teachers observe and assess a whole range of levels (I understand that is the population you work with but info not needed) and it had nothing to do with potty trained toddlers wearing swim diapers.

Once again, please I hope this is comprehended...I NEVER said my children would never have an accident, just like the 5 year old who may have one.

I understand everyone's point of view, so I expect the same in return. With that being said, my children will not be wearing swim diapers.

I hope no one feels this was a personal attack on them.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

A debate on whether you should put a swim diaper on your toddler?? Surely you jest??

In 1998 in Whitewater Park here in Atlanta a sick child spread E. Coli to many many small children.

If your child is coming down with a stomach bug and you don't know it couldn't your little one have an accident? My 6 year old has had accidents when she was ill.

Buy some cute Nemo or Tigger swim diapers and put them on for the pool. It's common courtesy.

I hope Disney requires it.

 

[hrsmom]

Didn't read the whole thread, so I'm not sure if this has been mentioned. You can buy cloth swim diapers at Target and also online. You child might like these better since they are less diaper-like. We use them for my son because he is allergic to disposable diapers.

 

[Oceana]

In 1998 in Whitewater Park here in Atlanta a sick child spread E. Coli to many many small children.

I think a couple died as a result

here is why that is not an issue at disney and has nothing really to do with my potty trained kid wearing a swim diaper

The issue in 1998 was more about how the water was treated and the type of water areas kids were playing in. It was a kiddy pool that did not have "cyclic" (golly I hope thats the right word) filtering... White water park also failed to test their water regularly... skipping one of those days where kids got sick all together as well as only having a forth the amount of required chlorine in the water was was regulated by law

The ecoli was an issue because it was not a matter of someone having an accident... it was more about the trace amounts of poop on bottoms after diaper changes or successful goings to the potty swimming around and making the pool a place for bacteria to grow all on its own... this can happen just from someone who didnt wash their hands

a swim diaper would not have made a difference.

kiddy pools all over the state were either upgraded to have a cyclic filtration system or filled in with concrete and pool water testing is more heavily regulated. Pools are using all the right chemicals to kill any possible ecoli as a result

 

[kaysmommie]

I agree with this. For those of you who say your children are potty trained beyond a doubt and don't want your 2 or 3 year old wearing a swim pant, are you prepared to offer compensation to the resort guests who can't use the pool for days after if they DO have an accident?

More importantly, would you even tell the lifeguard if they had an accident? or would that be too damaging to their self esteem as well?

Just because your kid hasn't had an accident in a long time, doesn't mean they NEVER will.

The worst part is compensation doesn't make me feel better about having my afternoon pool time ruined on my yearly trip to Disney. I only even said that because the poster said she was too cheap to buy swim pants or diapers, which is just ridiculous IMO. Thanks for posting, as it is awful when pools get closed for 1-2 full days after these accidents. I'm not saying and older kid can't have and accident, but it is almost always a toddler or baby without a swim diaper. When they say Diaper age I feel that would be 3 and under, not 4 unless the child is not potty trained.

I don't feel like there is drama on this thread but obviously some of us have different opinions and some don't care if there child has and accident in the pool.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't feel like there is drama on this thread but obviously some of us have different opinions and some don't care if there child has and accident in the pool.

I think many of us do care.

The problem is that parents whose children have had their kids trained for a LONG time are being told (by implying) that they do not care about public health b/c they refuse to put their child in a swim diaper or equivilant.

A child still at high risk for accidents..isn't necessarily trained and that parent should put their child in a diaper.

Refusing to put a trained child into a swim diaper (known to the child or under the disguise of "special disney swimwear")....is not the same as saying public health be darned and making a willful attempt to destroy someone's vacation b/c there afternoon got ruined by a pool closure.

I'm not sure if I just don't travel to Disney enough--but I can count on one hand the number of times a pool has been unavailable and then cannot even count on one finger the number of times an alternative was not available in the event of a pool closure. (weather closings not included of course)

We went to the All Star Movies in December and the fantasia pool was closed---of course it was all ripped up and they were remodeling it. So that's one.





This thread unfortunately is turning into a refillable mug, smoking policy, pool hopping controversy thread.

 

[faindrops27]

I have not read the whole thread, and basically have no desire too. But honestly people. What is the big deal with putting a child in a swm diaper under the age of 4? My daughter who will turn 3, on May 28th. Has been trained now for a year. She will wear a swim pant, under her swimsuit, when we go to the water parks, here in our hometown. She knows it is part of swim attire, no big deal. She has not reverted back to being untrained, for wearing her swim attire. If that is what the parents, who are so adament about not putting one on think. She knows it is only for swim attire. Simple. If this is not your issue that the child will revert to being untrained. Then what is the reason, for not putting one on??

Also, any person who says they cannot afford a swim diaper, and is going to Disney? That does not sound right. If that was the case. How could you afford Disney? A person who cannot afford 7 -8 extra dollars for swim attire. Probably should skip the trip to Disney until they are in a better financial situation.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have not read the whole thread, and basically have no desire too. But honestly people. What is the big deal with putting a child in a swm diaper under the age of 4? My daughter who will turn 3, on May 28th. Has been trained now for a year. She will wear a swim pant, under her swimsuit, when we go to the water parks, here in our hometown. She knows it is part of swim attire, no big deal. She has not reverted back to being untrained, for wearing her swim attire. If that is what the parents, who are so adament about not putting one on think. She knows it is only for swim attire. Simple. If this is not your issue that the child will revert to being untrained. Then what is the reason, for not putting one on??

Also, any person who says they cannot afford a swim diaper, and is going to Disney? That does not sound right. If that was the case. How could you afford Disney? A person who cannot afford 7 -8 extra dollars for swim attire. Probably should skip the trip to Disney until they are in a better financial situation.

Well personally I think it is ridiculous to put a trained for almost 2 years child in a swim diaper. My dd is not going to pee in the pool or poop for that matter. She doesn't do that at home and has never done it on vacation. I am with the poster who says "when you wear Depends then we'll talk". I was swimming at the pool at the Poly on one vacation and all of a sudden I came down with a violent virus. I didn't feel good all day but it was a travel day and I was pregnant so I wasn't feeling too good anyway. I did not know I was actually getting sick. Anyway- I had to run as fast as I could to get back to my room and almost didn't make it. Now should I have been wearing a diaper because at any time you can get sick and something could happen? Should all pregnant women wear a diaper in case their water breaks? Should all people be screened for bowel problems and then told if they are allowed to swim without a diaper? Adults have accidents too. I know I am making outlandish comparisons, but I think it is up to the parents/individual to make the correct decision. I have traveled to many places and have never had anyone poop in the pool. I like to think that most people wouldn't want to swim with even their own kid's poop.

 

[faindrops27]

Exactly you made an excellent point. Anyone can have an accident. Children are more prone to them. Do you agree with that? Or not? Hence, why I still agree they should wear swim diapers.

Depends, for me. Thank God, not yet. But, I am getting older. So, who knows when. I will be 35 this year, cannot believe the time fly by so fast.

 

[cuppycake]

but I think it is up to the parents/individual to make the correct decision. I have traveled to many places and have never had anyone poop in the pool. I like to think that most people wouldn't want to swim with even their own kid's poop.

Exactly this. Why do people always seem to think that *they* know better for *my* child?

If my kid has been swimming since she was 2 months old in public pools (several times per WEEK in the summer), and has NEVER had a BM (yes, even as an infant) in the water....then is completely potty trained to boot, then why oh why oh why are *you* (the general you) worried about her pooping in the pool? This is in addition to the fact that I will be RIGHT BESIDE her and will know if, for some reason she's about to need to go.

Disney's rule is "of diaper age", therefore, if my child is still in diapers, she'll be wearing swim pants (because we follow rules), if not, they will not be on her.

There are lazy parents. I am not one of them. Seems to me that they diser's on here who are talking about their children not wearing swim diapers aren't of the lazy sort either. My children know that we potty before we go in the pool, they know that we don't potty in the pool, and many times they have come out of the pool (if we've been there for a while) because they have to pee.

Yes, there will be genuine accidents-btw, the ONE time I've seen a pool closed for such an accident, it was a 5 year old! However, no matter what the rules are, some parents are still going to be lazy, not pay attention, not use "swim attire" for a child who is untrained, not teach their children the rules, and the pool will still be shut down for their kids pooping in the pool. Maybe there should be a rule against lazy parenting

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Exactly you made an excellent point. Anyone can have an accident. Children are more prone to them. Do you agree with that? Or not? Hence, why I still agree they should wear swim diapers.

Depends, for me. Thank God, not yet. But, I am getting older. So, who knows when. I will be 35 this year, cannot believe the time fly by so fast.

Nope. I don't think my completely potty trained children are more prone to an accident than I am. I am one of those people who if they have a laughing fit (uncontrollable- not just chuckling) can very well pee my pants. It has happened to me at home on more than one occassion. What if someone does or says something that I find hysterical while I am in the pool? I am only 33 so since you are a little older Depends may not be that far off the mark.