Layering Reusable Swim Diapers: Step-by-step guide
Whether you're gearing up for your Water Babies lesson or a trip to the beach, ensuring your child stays comfy and secure in the water is essential. At Water Babies, we're here to make every splash count, and our guide to layering reusable swim diapers is your ticket to hassle-free water fun, wherever your adventures take you!
✅ In this blog you'll discover:
- A simple, step-by-step guide to layering reusable swim diapers; from choosing inner diapers to wetsuits and extra swimwear.
- Practical tips to keep your baby comfy, dry, and hygienic during swimming lessons, beach days, or pool play.
- How to make the most of products like Happy Nappy, Jammers, DUOs, liners, and wetsuits, for stress-free changing and cleaner, safer swims.
Step 1 – Choose your inner layer
If your child is wearing the Original Happy Nappy or Original Jammers, the first step would be using a reusable swim diaper underneath. Most reusable under-diapers or diaper wraps are made from soft and breathable materials such as cotton. They might include Velcro fasteners like the White Cotton Diaper Wrap, snaps like the Size Adjustable Diaper Wraps, or come in a pull-on style, like the Silver Lining Diaper Wrap by Splash About. This wrap features a silver-coated lining, which acts as a natural antibacterial agent, and can also help soothe sore bottoms and diaper rash.
You can learn more about reusable inner layers here > Reducing the Environmental Impact of the Double Layer Diaper System
If you choose the Happy Nappy Duo or the Jammers Duo, the inner layer has already been added, featuring a built-in Silver Lining Diaper Wrap, so there's no need for any other under-diaper. We do recommend including some biodegradable or cloth liners though, so if there’s a "code brown" during your swimming session, you'd only need to replace these.
Step 2 – Choose your outer layer
During your Water Babies journey, your child will be wearing either the Original Happy Nappy or the Happy Nappy Duo as an outer waterproof layer for newborns and younger children, and the Splash Jammers or Jammers Duo for toddlers as they grow out of the Happy Nappy sizes. With over two decades of experience in the water, and while there are various reusable swim diaper brands available on the market, we confidently stand behind them as the most reliable ally against solid leaks.
Your Original Happy Nappy and Splash Jammers will be worn over a reusable diaper wrap or under-diaper. If this is your first time getting your child one of these and you'd appreciate some in-depth guidance, worry not! Head to our Happy Nappy & Jammers Dressing Guide for a step-by-step guide with handy tips to make sure your child is always wearing the right fit.
Step 3 – Optional: Baby Wetsuits
We keep our pool temperatures toasty warm during your Water Babies lessons, but if your little one is especially sensitive to the cold, or if you're swimming in a cooler pool (such as leisure centers or splashing in the sea), they can also wear a wetsuit on top of their reusable swim diaper, like the Warm in One or the Baby Wrap. If you'd rather use one product, the Happy Nappy Wetsuit comes with an integrated Original Happy Nappy. For beach adventures, the Happy Nappy Wetsuit is usually enough to enjoy worry-free fun in the water. During your Water Babies lessons though, remember to include a reusable diaper wrap or under-diaper underneath.
Step 4 – Optional: Regular Swimwear
This is a completely optional step, but some caregivers also opt for putting their little one's regular swimwear over the reusable swim diaper, such as a swimsuit. There might be a few reasons for this. Maybe your little one is wearing barrier creams and a swimsuit helps you hold them more securely. Maybe it's just a personal preference, and you want to keep their chest covered without a rash gard top. Or it could simply be that you both enjoy matching swimwear for a stylish swim!
If you'd rather use just one product, there are also swimsuits available with an integrated Happy Nappy, like the Happy Nappy Swimsuit. This option is more comfortable for your child than wearing a regular swimsuit on top, and you won’t risk overstretching their regular swimsuit. The Happy Nappy Swimsuit is available in a wide range of colors and prints; just remember you'll still need to use a reusable diaper wrap as the inner layer for your Water Babies lessons.
Step 5 – Regular Swim Diaper Changes
It's important to regularly check your baby's swim diaper, and if you find any messy business down there, then change them as soon as possible in the baby changing facilities. Swim diapers aren't designed to hold poop for long periods; it's uncomfortable for your child and not very hygienic, which could cause skin irritations.
If your little one is wearing the Original Happy Nappy or Jammers with the inner layer, as per the double layer diaper system, you'll only need to change the swim diaper underneath. That's why we recommend having a couple of diaper wraps or under-diapers in rotation for your lessons. If you're using liners, remove them from the wrap and replace with clean ones. There are biodegradable liners available, but if you're using cloth ones, just bring a wet bag with you to store them.
In the case of the DUOs, the inner layer is attached to the neoprene outer, so the best approach is always to use them with biodegradable liners or cloth liners, so you'd only need to dispose of and replace these. If you aren't using liners, simply tip the poop from the swim diaper or wrap into the toilet and flush it away. Rinse the diaper or wrap in cold water and store it in a wet bag. If you want to keep swimming, just rinse the wrap (or the silver lining if it's a Duo) and your little one can put it back on.
To clean a soiled Happy Nappy or Jammers, hand wash in cool water or, if needed, machine wash with your laundry on a 86°F (30°C) cycle with non-bio detergent. Avoid fabric softener. Then let it dry away from direct sunlight. Another drying method is to roll them in a towel and lay flat to dry. Just remember: don’t tumble dry or iron your Happy Nappy or Jammers.
And there you have it: a step-by-step guide to mastering the art of layering reusable swim diapers!