The Best Swim Diapers for Summer (That Won’t Explode)

The most important jobs of a swim diaper are keeping poops contained and not getting swollen and saggy when wet like a regular diaper would. Pampers Splashers are our pick for best disposable because they check off all of the boxes. These ones provide an optimal fit with a comfy 360 stretch that’ll prevent solid waste from leaking out, thus saving you from an embarrassing pool evacuation. “While they're not as absorbent as regular diapers (which is expected for swim diapers), they do a fantastic job of containing accidents and keeping everything in, giving us peace of mind during playtime,” one parent said. The Splashers don’t absorb any liquid (both water and pee) which means they won’t swell, saving your baby from having a saggy bum while they’re enjoying their time at the beach or pool. 

Like Pampers’ regular diapers, these swim diapers are also gentle on baby’s skin—they’re hypoallergenic and free from chlorine, parabens and latex. Quite a few parents note how soft the material is, which helps prevent chafing. In fact, parents who use Pampers’ disposable diapers appreciate this swim-friendly version: “She already uses the Pampers brand; these swim diapers were an easy choice,” one wrote in their review. (You’ll still want to change them out of it as soon as they’re done playing in the water to prevent any irritation or a diaper rash from developing due to being wet too long.) The material is also thin enough to comfortably layer under a swimsuit or trunks and they feature convenient tear off sides for easy changes. They're also affordable, at around 10 dollars per pack.

There are a few things that could be better about these swim diapers. Since they’re designed to fit snugly, some parents found figuring out the size tricky. A few recommend sizing down, since they’re pretty stretchy and sizing up could compromise their ability to keep poops contained.

If you’re putting a new one on in the middle of your outing, the pull-up style can be frustrating since the diapers may stick to sweaty, sandy legs. The Splashers also aren’t labeled ‘front’ or ‘back’, so a few parents noted it can be tricky to tell which side is which. 

Additional Specs

• Size: Small (13-24 lbs), Medium (20-33 lbs), Large (31+ lbs)

It was really hard to choose between Pampers’ and Huggies’ swim diapers; they’re both great, affordable options for disposable swim diapers. Huggies Little Swimmers have many of the same convenient features as Pampers Splashers, including their effectiveness at containing messes and not absorbing water. One parent raved about how well they also keep things out of the diaper, too: “We used them at the beach and they did a fantastic job of helping keep out the sand!” 

They have convenient refastenable tabs on the sides for easy removal—which really come in handy if your baby does poop while playing in the water. “These are our favorite swim diapers! I love how easy they are to take off once used!” one parent raved in their review. Those tabs mean they’re also easier to put on if you’re swapping to a fresh diaper once your baby is already wet and sandy (since you wont have to fuss with pulling them up).

Parents have mixed reviews on the size and fit of these swim diapers. Some find they fit their baby well while others feel they run on the small side. “I bought a size three because my daughter wears a size three in normal diapers, however, these are a bit smaller and fit tighter,” one parent said in their review. Having used these with my two kids, I do agree they fit smaller than other options we tried. The material is also a bit more “rough” than Pampers Splashers and the Coterie pick below but that also means they’re durable and will hold up. While they’re more affordable than other options, they do add up over time, especially if your family frequently visits the beach or pool. 

Additional Specs:

• Size: 3 (16-26 lbs), 4 (24-34 lbs), 5/6 (32+ lbs)

If your baby has particularly sensitive skin and you’re worried about irritation developing while they’re busy having fun, these might be the best pick for you. Coterie’s disposable “Swimsuit” pants have the same luxurious softness as their parent-loved diapers and all of the clean ingredients—you won’t find any fragrance, lotions, BPAs, parabens, phthalates or latex. Most importantly, they feature a soft, breathable material that’ll keep baby comfortable on a warm day. My second baby was very prone to diaper rash during her first year of life and I felt like these were soft enough that I didn’t need to worry about changing her immediately after exiting the water. A few other parents mentioned a similar sentiment, one saying, “[My baby] didn’t get any reaction. And it doesn’t get puffy in the water which I like.”

As for the diaper features, these have a “no-swell” core, which, like the other picks on this list, won’t get heavy when saturated. And the leak-guard leg cuffs keep things contained without being too tight, just in case of a poop incident while swimming. They also have a more aesthetic look, which some parents appreciate. “Baby is comfortable and happy in the water with it. We love the look too,” one said.

These are definitely on the pricier side of things when it comes to disposable swim diapers. They’re about a dollar per piece, compared to the Pampers and Huggies picks above that cost between .50 and .70 cents per piece. If you don’t plan on swimming often, you might be able to get one away with just buying a pack or two for the whole season. Other parents feel the fit, comfort and make these worth it.

You’ll want to make sure you get the right size for them to effectively hold any poops while at the pool or beach. “I bought the same size as our current diaper we use but we had an issue with these leaking out a lot with hardly any pool use,” one parent cautioned. We think pull-up style tabs, instead of the seams you can tear, would also make these easier to take off of a wet, sandy baby. 

Additional Specs

• Size: Small (14-26 lbs), Medium (20 -34lbs), Large (30-40 lbs)

Green Sprouts reusable swim diapers are a parent fave thanks to their durable, machine-washable design, meaning you only need to replace them when your little one sizes up. “We love that we are keeping disposable swim diapers out of the bin!” one parent raved.

They’re made with three layers of fabric and the middle layer actually offers the tiniest bit of absorption, though they won’t get water logged and heavy. There are added gussets (similar to regular diaper ruffles) around the leg holes to provide extra protection if your little one poops. “Love this brand of swim diapers! Haven’t had any leaks that I can tell. My son even had diarrhea in one at the beach and everything stayed inside,” one parent said. The snaps on one side help make them easy to get on and off, and as an added bonus, the fabric offers UPF 50+ sun protection. 

Parents' biggest gripe is getting the size right when purchasing one of these reusable swim diapers; though they have a bit of stretch, the general consensus is that they run small. “I bought the butterfly absorbent swim diaper pattern for my nine month old baby girl but got them in size 12 months—they run so small,” one wrote in their review. Be sure to check the size chart closely, and you may want to size up depending on how things usually fit your baby. A few parents also mention they would prefer the snaps be on both sides of the swim diaper to make getting them on and off even easier. 

Additional Specs

• Size: 6 mos - 5T

Esembly, a well-known cloth diaper brand, makes a cover that does double duty as both a cloth diaper out and a swim diaper, making it a versatile and eco-friendly choice for parents. They feature two rows of button snaps to get the perfect snug yet comfy fit around the waist and legs. And by design, they won’t get heavy and waterlogged when wet and also dry pretty quickly. “Beautifully designed! I adore the fact that it has the ability to be used in a swimming pool. It’s easy to clean and dries so quickly without having to use the dryer,” one parent said. This outer is machine washable and dryer-friendly, and they also come in a ton of unique colors and prints that are cute enough to wear on their own without a swimsuit or trunks over top.

Not a regular cloth diaper user? No problem. In fact, quite a few parents called out in their reviews that they use disposable diapers for their baby but love this reusable option for swimming. “We don't use cloth diapers, but we use this outer as a swim diaper and it's great!” another parent raved. The outers work so well at containing messes that some parents use them over disposable diapers if they’re dealing with a lot of leaks. “They keep everything contained!” one parent raved in their review. 

The upfront cost of the Esembly Outer is a bit more expensive than buying a pack of disposable swim diapers—about double the cost of a pack of disposables, but you really only need one to two since they’re washable. If you’ll be visiting the local pool or taking a trip to the beach often, going this reusable route may be more cost-effective in the long run. 

Additional Specs

• Size: 1 (7-17 lbs), 2 (18-35 lbs)