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If you are heading to the swimming pool with your child, you simply cannot do without swim nappies. A swim nappy (also often called baby swim trunks, nappy swim pants, and swim pants) is clever because it works in the same way as a regular nappy while functioning as ordinary swimwear.
Putting your child in a swim nappy is a minimum requirement for bringing the little one into the swimming pool. But even at the beach, in the garden pool, or around the pool area at holiday resorts worldwide, these swim pants are a great idea.
I will explain why in this guide, where I also share my top recommendation on which one you should choose.
Click and jump straight to the relevant section:
Best swim nappy for the price 
Best swim nappy for the little ones (0-6 years) 
Best swim nappies for older children (3–8 years) 
Best swim nappy for the price 
Best swim nappy for the price 
Watery swim nappy - Ondine 
The first recommendation on our list is these Swim Nappies from Watery. As all mums and dads know, the unthinkable accident can happen anywhere and at any time, and if that happens in the swimming pool without proper swim nappy shorts, it can be difficult to carry on with your swim afterwards.
With the ergonomically tailored fit of Neoprene Swim Nappies and the wide waistband around the stomach and thighs, you get maximum protection against leaks. This also means these Swim Nappies work effectively on their own, but to make any subsequent cleaning of the swim pants easier, using a nappy wrap or liner underneath is still recommended.
So if your child is between 0 and 6 years old, this swim nappy is a truly great choice. It is available in many colours, fits very comfortably on the child, and has hundreds of 5-star reviews from parents across the country.
“Fits perfectly and worked well in the water” – (Caroline D.)
“Super cute swim nappy shorts! Easy to wear, soft to the touch, while being leak-proof and comfortable. And a very cute design!!” – (Christelle R.)
The next model on the list is the Thetis Youngster swim nappy pants, a great choice if you have a slightly older child who still needs a swim nappy in the water.
This model stands out by being specially designed for older children. This is also reflected in the sizing, which starts at 3 years and goes all the way up to 8 years. This makes them ideal if your child has outgrown traditional baby swim nappies.
The fit is ergonomically designed so the swim nappy pants sit snugly and securely without the use of tight or irritating elastics. This means your child avoids red marks and chafing, even after extended time in the water.
Design-wise, they are also a huge hit. The model is available in three colours: purple, blue, and green. The style is both simple and modern, making it popular with both kids and parents.
“Fantastic! Very nice and good quality. I ordered 2 pairs for my boys. They fit perfectly and are both stylish and look like they can contain any accidents.” – (Jenny S.)
“Best swim nappy! Reliably keeps everything in! Especially when it comes to poops! Much easier to put on than the expensive ones online, doesn’t pinch or dig in, very soft waistband! The price is fantastic, we just ordered another one and will order the next size up again!” – (Ina B.)
Third on the list is Watery’s Ondine swim nappy. This model is one of two swim nappies on this list designed for the very youngest.
Unlike the other swim nappies on this list, this model has a pocket between the outer and inner layer where you can insert a highly absorbent liner through an opening at the back of the nappy. This provides extra security to ensure it stays 100% leak-free.
The design of the Watery Ondine is based on 3 core principles: it must be comfortable to wear for extended periods, leak-proof with the option for extra protection, and easy to adjust and handle during nappy changes. These 3 things are achieved through the unique design, the leak-proof and waterproof outer layer, and the innovative closure system.
If you need a swim nappy for the very little ones, Ondine is definitely recommended!
“Fits even a tiny baby and grows with the child. The snaps hold up well so far.” – (Claudia S.)
“Super! No complaints at all!” – (Marianna T.)
The Swim Nappy from Watery comes in several designs, including this striped model. As all mums and dads know, accidents can happen anywhere and anytime, and if it happens at the swimming pool without a proper swim nappy, it can quickly put an end to swimming time.
With the ergonomically tailored fit of Neoprene Swim Nappies and the wide waistband around the stomach and thighs, you get maximum protection against leaks. This also means these Swim Nappies work effectively on their own, but to make any subsequent cleaning of the swim pants easier, using a nappy wrap or liner underneath is still recommended.
So if your child is between 0 and 6 years old, this swim nappy is a truly great choice. It is available in many colours, fits very comfortably on the child, and has hundreds of 5-star reviews from parents across the country.
“Really good quality, nicely thick material and fits snugly around the thighs and tummy without being too tight.” – (Jill S.)
“Fits perfectly – Great swim nappies that fit my 3-month-old son perfectly” – (Michelle K.)
Do you have a baby who is just starting to get into the water? Then the Foss Lining Nappy is an obvious choice.
It is the model on the list best suited for very young children, and it is super easy to get both on and off. You simply roll the waistband down, guide your child’s legs through the openings, and pull the swim nappy up, and they are ready to go. To ensure the best fit, they should fit snugly around the legs and just above the belly button.
The swim nappy is 100% leak-proof, but if you want to be on the safe side, you can also use it with a liner (Wrap), which makes cleaning easier and provides extra peace of mind.
A unique detail of this model is that it is the only one on the list without legs, making it light and flexible, especially for the very smallest children.
“Fantastic, although we felt they ran small around the tummy and legs, so size up, the colour holds up very well after washing!” – (Helén)
Here we have the third design of Watery’s Swim Nappy; this design is super stylish and extremely popular. As all mums and dads know, the unthinkable accident can happen anywhere, anytime, and if that happens in the swimming pool without proper swim nappies, continuing your swim afterwards can be quite difficult.
With the ergonomically tailored fit of Neoprene Swim Nappies and the wide waistband around the stomach and thighs, you get maximum protection against leaks. This also means these Swim Nappies work effectively on their own, but to make any subsequent cleaning of the swim pants easier, using a nappy wrap or liner underneath is still recommended.
So if your child is between 0 and 6 years old, this swim nappy is a truly great choice. It is available in many colours, fits very comfortably on the child, and has hundreds of 5-star reviews from parents across the country.
“The fit was fantastic and looked very comfortable.” – (Diana N.)
“The swim pants fully live up to expectations.” – (Pia H.)
There’s almost nothing better than a trip to the swimming pool with your child. It’s so heartwarming to see how the little one loves splashing around in the water and simply enjoys being in the same element they lived in inside mum’s tummy for nine months.
However, babies haven’t yet learned to let you know when they need to do a wee or a poo. That’s why having a special nappy at the pool is essential, ensuring nothing leaks out into the swimming pool water.
A swim nappy is specially designed to contain both solids and liquids on its own. Therefore, with a pair of baby swim pants, you can confidently take your baby to the swimming pool without worrying about any accidents on that front.
In addition, many swim nappies are made of neoprene, which helps keep the baby warm in the water.
This gives both you and your baby peace of mind to enjoy every single second in the water.
There are plenty of different swim nappies out there, available across a wide range of price points. However, there is one particular swim nappy on the market that comes specifically recommended by public swimming pools: the Watery Neoprene Swim Nappy.
The Watery Neoprene Swim Nappy is by far the best swim nappy on the market at preventing leaks, while also being the most comfortable to wear. It fits snugly where it needs to, is made primarily from neoprene to keep your baby warm, and comes in some of the most stylish designs available.
Style is naturally a matter of personal taste, but with five different colours and designs currently available to choose from, there is something for everyone.
In addition, each swim nappy is tailored to be as ergonomic as possible. This ensures great comfort for your child while providing maximum freedom of movement.
Swimming pools recommend the Watery Neoprene Swim Nappy because of its exceptional leak protection. Parents choose it for its unique comfort, ergonomic fit, and great look—not to mention its ability to reliably contain any mess.
The Watery Neoprene Swim Nappy is undoubtedly one of the best and most popular swim nappies on the market. Its ability to prevent even major leaks is second to none. However, while keeping everything securely contained is one thing, cleaning the nappy afterwards when an accident happens is another.
To make cleaning the nappy much easier, it’s a great idea to use the dedicated liners specially designed for use with swim nappies.
The liner works much like a cloth nappy, but with hook-and-loop fasteners. Unlike a cloth nappy, the liner is biodegradable, so once used, it can be flushed directly down the toilet.
This keeps any solid messes from reaching the outer swim nappy, saving you from a major clean-up afterwards.
Many swimming pools have a policy stating that even if your child is wearing swim nappies, they must still wear a regular nappy underneath. This is to provide extra security against leaks in the pool.
Instead of a regular nappy, you can use the special wrap, which is specifically designed to be used inside a swim nappy.
The wrap functions and is shaped like a regular nappy. But instead of being single-use only, the wrap simply needs to be cleaned after accidents, and then it is ready to be used again.
It provides extra protection against leaks, while also protecting the swim nappy itself.
If you want to be completely on the safe side regarding both leaks and cleaning, you can use a combination of both a liner and a wrap.
By combining a swim nappy, liner, and wrap, you comply with the swimming pool’s requirement to have a nappy underneath the swim nappy, and you won’t face major cleaning work on either the swim nappy or the wrap if an accident should happen.
You can buy Splash About Happy Nappy liners here and Splash About Happy Nappy Wrap here.
After each use, it is recommended to rinse your child’s swim nappy under cold, clean water. Then leave it to dry in a dry place away from direct sunlight. It is recommended not to use soap, but if an accident has occurred and there is solid waste in it, it can be cleaned with soap flakes.
If you use either a liner or a wrap (or perhaps even both), you shouldn’t need to clean with soap flakes, as the liner and the wrap will keep everything away from the swim nappy itself.
There are many places where you can buy swim nappy shorts – both in physical shops and online. We recommend buying swim gear from specialists who know what they are talking about – and at Watery, we do.
Here at Watery, we are Ireland’s largest retailer of swim gear and have a wide selection of swim nappy shorts. Delivery is fast – often as early as the following day – and our Trustpilot score is a testament to high customer satisfaction.
That is why we are the obvious choice to buy your child’s new swim nappy shorts.
