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If you want to take your baby to a swimming pool or health club then a swim nappy is a must. Even at the beach, a swim nappy prevents your baby from leaving an unpleasant reminder in the sand or seawater. Having the right swim nappy for your baby can make swimming with your baby much more relaxing for you. We asked our testers, Sue and Rebecca, to put six swim nappies to the test and report back on fit, effectiveness and value for money. 

Swim nappy know-how 

Taking your baby or toddler for a swim and splash around is great fun and can really build their confidence in the water. Worrying about your baby having a little accident in the water could put you off taking them at all. Normal swimwear gives no protection against accidents and ordinary nappies are not suitable - an ordinary disposable nappy would soak up the water and weigh your baby down. They are also risky to use in a swimming pool because the absorbent core could burst out and cause problems in the pool filter system. Swim nappies are specially designed to avoid these problems. All swim nappies should have snug-fitting legs and waistband to contain the results of any accidents. There are two main types of swim nappies that you can buy:

• Disposable swim nappies - like normal disposable nappies, these come in packs and each one is thrown away after use. They still have an absorbent core but one that does not swell up in the water.

• Reusable swim nappies - are made from soft, stretchy bathing suit material, which allows water to escape, but hopefully contains any solids. They can be washed and re-used after each use.

Some reusable nappies have a concealed waterproof layer, like a pair of plastic pants within the nappy. Others have an inner mesh layer, which lets fluids through but retains solids. Reusable nappies appeal to parents who like buying eco-friendly baby products but, if you take your baby swimming a lot, they are also more economical.

Before you buy a swim nappy, check the size and weight fitting carefully and consider how easy it will be to put on and take off your baby, particularly when soiled. Nappies which can be unfastened or ripped open completely can be easier to clean up than a straightforward up-and-down pant design. If possible, try reusable swim nappies out on your baby before you buy. Just like buying normal reusable nappies, different brands will vary in how well they fit your baby's shape and how adjustable they are - it's no good ending up with a nappy with baggy leg holes!

If you're out all day at the beach or at a holiday village pool, don't forget to rinse the nappy out or change your baby regularly, to prevent nappy rash. 

Swimming pool rules 

Most swimming pools insist that babies wear some kind of nappy protection when in a public pool mainly for reasons of hygiene -if a pooey accident happens, cleaning the pool water afterwards is a costly exercise. Some swimming pools are still not clear on how soon you can take a baby swimming, suggesting, wrongly, that they should not go swimming until they have had some or all of their immunisations. This view is rooted in a time when polio was common and there were worries that the disease would be spread from person to person while in the pool. In fact babies can be taken swimming at any age. For more information visit www. immunisation.org.uk. 

Meet the testers

Sue from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis is mum to 5-month-old William.
Sue's must-haves:
"William has to be comfortable in the swim nappy, no matter what the design is like. It must fit him well and not be too tight otherwise it will spoil his enjoyment of going swimming. I would definitely go for a washable, reusable swim nappy over disposables ones because of price and because they have less impact on the environment."




Rebecca from Flitwick in Bedfordshire is mum to 10-month-old Reece.
Rebecca's must-haves:
"I'd look for a nappy that offered good protection from leaks, was comfortable for Reece to wear, had a bright design appealing to babies, good fitting and which washed and dried quickly. They would also have to be easy to get on and off Reece. I'd go for the washable swim nappies because they are better value for money, are better for the environment and take up less space in a suitcase."

Swim nappies from Bambino Mio
Price: £7.95

Sizes: Small 5-7kg (11-15lbs); Medium 7-9kg (15-20lbs); Large
9-12kg (20-26lbs); X Large 12-15kg (26-33lbs)
Colours: Blue or orange fish print
Features: Bambino Mio swim nappies have a waterproofed polyester outer, leak proof legs and waistband. The lining is made of a cotton blend and the nappies are machine washable.
Sue says, "This nappy is made of a nice soft fabric and it has a cute design, which I like. It feels and looks comfortable on William, as the elastic isn't as tight. It does the job it's supposed to and is very absorbent. It's a good price, too. I would definitely buy this one."
Sue's rating: 9/10
Rebecca says, "This swim nappy is a lovely bright colour with a fish design - simple but stylish. It has an elasticated waist so it fits well. It's very easy to put on and get off even when wet. It's a good, close fitting nappy without being tight, which is great because it means nothing can escape. It has a pull-on design so it can be put on when your baby is standing up or lying down. It's good value for money and I would buy it."
Rebecca's rating: 9/10
Stockists: 01604 883777

Kushies Swimmers from Perfectly Happy People
Price: £7.99
Sizes: Small 3-6kg (6-13lbs); medium 6-11kg (13-24lbs); large 11-18kg (24-39lbs); extra large 16-24kg (39-53lbs)
Colours: Blue, blue boats, green, pink mermaid, red, turquoise fish print
Features: Kushies swimmers are made from quick-drying, light fabric. They also have adjustable leg openings, high back waistband, Velcro tabs and an extra tie bow to ensure a secure fit. This nappy has mesh inner lining.

Sue says, "The style of this nappy is my favourite as it is different from all the others I have been testing. The adjustable leg openings are a great idea, although I am always a little worried they will come undone. I have found the sizing overall to be the least generous of all, although the swim nappy does fit more comfortably around William's legs and doesn't seem to dig in."
Sue's rating: 8/10
Rebecca says, "This swim nappy is a nice bright colour and the Velcro and tie fastening also means they fit nicely. It's a very lightweight nappy so it is good to wear in hot weather. It's easy to put on and take off and leaves no marks on Reece's skin when I take it off. It's a good fit with adjustable fastening so it's suitable for most sized babies. It holds the poo but doesn't absorb the wee as it's too thin and has no absorbent layer. It's a good price, though, so I would buy it."
Rebecca's rating: 9/10
Stockists: 0870 120 2018

Swim nappies from JoJo Maman Bébé
Price: £11
Sizes: 0-6mths, 6-12mths, 1-2yrs, 2-3yrs, 4-5yrs
Colours: Beach, Blue Hawaiian, Blue, Camouflage, Cow, Funky Daisy, Fuchsia, Gingham, Hawaiian, Navy, Pink, Sea
Features: A reusable swim nappy with a 100 per cent cotton outer layer, 52 per cent cotton inner layer, which sits next to the skin, and 48 per cent polyurethane concealed liner.
Sue says, "This nappy is very similar to the Zoggs and Bambino Mio. The style fits well on William and he looks comfortable in the nappy. The sizing is generous and would probably fit a growing baby for an entire season. It also does its job extremely well. I would buy it but in the fun designs of Cow or Camouflage."
Sue's rating: 8/10
Rebecca says, "The fit and design are nice on this swim nappy but it's too tight around the waist and leaves marks. It also gapes around the legs. It's very easy to put on and pull off, but because the leg holes are too big I don't find the swim nappy particularly efficient at keeping in Reece's wee. He hasn't pooed in it so far so I can't comment on whether it would keep the poo in. It's a little more expensive than the other reusables on the market so it wouldn't be my first choice of swim nappy."
Rebecca's rating: 5/10
Stockists: 0870 241 0560

Little Swimmers® from HUGGIES®
Price: £4.99
Sizes: Small 6-18mths, 7-12kg (16-24lbs); Medium 18-30mths, 11-15kg (24-34lbs); Large 24mths plus, 14kg+ (32lbs+)
Colours: Tigger, Nemo or Little Mermaid prints

Features: These disposable nappies have stretchy sides, a unique absorbent material that won't swell in water, tear away sides for easy removal, special leak guards and a back label so you can tell the back of the nappy from front.
Sue says, "I have tried these swim nappies before and am not keen purely because of the environmental impact of a disposable swim nappy. The style and fit are good and they are absorbent, but it looks as if William is just swimming in a disposable nappy as opposed to a pair of swimming trunks. I also don't like the inconvenience of having to pack at least two packs of these into the suitcase for a two-week holiday."
Sue's rating: 4/10
Rebecca says, "I love the Finding Nemo design on these disposable swim nappies. They are a great idea because young children will enjoy wearing them. The nappies have elasticised sides so they fit very well. They are a bit big and bulky between the legs but fit well around the waist. The simple pull-on design with elastic sides for flexibility means they are very easy to put on. And the sides can be torn open to take off easily. They are also very absorbent and keep everything in, just like a regular nappy. It works out more expensive buying these rather than a washable swim nappy but they are convenient to use so it's worth paying for if you are going away and don't want to be bothered with washing the swim nappy. I prefer the washable ones as they are better value but these would be handy to have as a back up."
Rebecca's rating: 7/10
Stockists: 0800 626008

Swimmer nappy from Boots
Price: £7
Sizes: Small 6-11kg (14-25lbs); Medium 11-18kg (25-40lbs); Large 15kg+ (35lbs+)
Colours: Blue
Features: This is a lightweight swim nappy with adjustable waist, with Velcro and an extra tie bow, and elasticated legs for a secure fit. It has an inner mesh layer with a soft polyester gusset, and is machine washable.

Sue says, "This swim nappy is too plastic in feel and look and the elastic seems to dig in a little around William's legs. It's functional, does the job well and is a generous fit everywhere else. The colour, pattern and style are nice and colourful. It's a good price but I wouldn't buy it because William doesn't seem very comfortable in it."
Sue's rating: 5/10
Rebecca says, "This swim nappy is a nice bright colour with a sea theme design which is appealing to children. It has Velcro and a tie fastening so it fits well. It is fairly thin so it dries quickly, which is always a bonus on holiday. It fits Reece well and isn't too tight so there are no marks left on his skin when I take it off him. It doesn't really absorb anything, as it is so thin, so although it holds the poo in, wee just passes straight through it. It's a good price so I would buy it."
Rebecca's rating: 8/10
Stockists: 0845 070 8090