enlightenment

Until a few days ago, I never stopped to consider the swim diapers out on the market for children. They're all the rage; few, if any, public pools allow a child to swim without one on. They're that necessary. Huggies makes some, Pampers make some, yet no generic brands. And they're expensive! Around $10 for a back of 20.

The scientific phenomenon that is the swim diaper really isn't all that scientific. The premise is, regular diapers, when wet, get big and bulky because they are meant to absorb moisture (i.e. your kid's pee). Because we are vigilant in changing our children's diapers, rarely do we see a diaper at its max capacity. Unless, of course, you are swimming without a swim diaper.

Swim diapers do not get big and bulky when they are wet. Enter the scientific phenomenon. So, how does it keep the pee in, and the rest of the water out? Do the chemicals inside the diaper that usually wick moisture away discriminate between urine and regular H2O? Is it that technologically advanced?

In fact, the answer is no. A swim diaper, at it's very essence, does not absorb anything. It cannot differentiate between urine and water. It cannot hold either substance. Much like a tampon is "glorified cotton on a string," a swim diaper is a glorified poop catcher. It doesn't absorb ANYTHING.

This, dear friends, was learned on Tuesday, what we call in my family "the hard way."

We took Mason to Crocker Park to run around in a "jumpy-water fountain" after his nap, and then to eat at Aladdins (the kid loves hummus...what can I say?). We arrive to Crocker Park only to realize that the jumpy-water fountain has specific times of operation (10-4 and 7-10, for inquiring minds).

Since we had planned on him playing in the water first thing, it was sunscreened and suited up, complete with swim diaper before we left the house. Upon hearing the hours of operation, we decided to dine first, then play. We finished dinner earlier than expected and jumped in the car to run over to my apartment to give my dad something, and then back to Crocker Park, right at 7 on the dot.

Let's be honest, the kid felt wet when I took him out of the stroller at 4pm. I chalked it up to a leaky sippy cup, because NEVER in my wildest dreams would I imagine that his diaper wouldn't do the job I expected it to do. After dinner he felt wet still, but again, leaky sippy cup.

Following our jaunt to Grandpa Ray's, his car seat was wet. But why in Heaven's name would it be his diaper???? His stroller was soaked when we finally arrived at 7pm (yes, 3 hours later, still in the same glorified poop catcher) to the jumpy-water fountain.

Lesson learned: only put the kid in the diaper at the last minute. Because it doesn't hold on to squat.

That fateful Tuesday, Mason left his mark on no fewer than the following places: His car seat, the highchair at Aladdin's, his stroller, Victoria's Secret, and the actual fountain.

But remember, urine is germ free! :)

(p.s. this is my 100th post, and a great one at that!)