The best baby swim nappies and baby swim pants

You may be feeling a little nervous when it comes to taking your baby to experience swimming for the first time, but you'll soon learn that most babies love water play, they just need the best swimming aids and swimwear (including the best baby swim nappies and baby swim pants) to keep them comfortable. It's a wonderful sensory experience for them as they get to splash about in the wetness, all under your watchful eye.

Along with getting the travel bag packed for your trip to the local pool, one thing that is an absolute must when taking your baby swimming is a nappy. It has to be a suitable baby swim nappy that won't get waterlogged and make the whole water experience a total misery for both you and baby.

There are plenty of options to choose from, including disposable swim nappies, as well as multipacks and reusable swim nappies which are washable and come in all sorts of colours and designs which will get your little one excited about wearing them.

The best baby swim nappies and pants at a glance:

•Best reusable swim nappy: Splash About New Happy Nappy - view offer on Amazon UK
•Best adjustable swim nappies: TotsBots Reusable swim nappy - view offer on Amazon UK
•Best for a multipack: Huggies Little Swimmers Nappies - view offer on Tesco
•Best quality swim nappies: Pampers Splashers Swim Nappy - view offer on Amazon UK

To make sure we are providing you with expert advice about what products to buy, many of our recommendations have been tested by an army of mums whose verdicts help decide just who deserves to get the coveted gold, silver and bronze rosettes in our Mother&Baby Awards.

The best baby swim nappies and pants:

What type of baby swim pants and nappies are there?

Swim nappies can either be disposable or reusable and are available at most supermarkets and pharmacies. Some swimwear also has nappies built into them.

Disposable swim nappies - They look like regular nappies and are thrown away after one use. If you opt for these, you may need to take a few more as back up, especially if you're heading to the seaside or going to the beach. Your baby can't wear them for extended periods of time when they are wet as it can cause nappy rash.

Reusable swim nappies - These tend to look like small pants, shorts or part of a swimsuit that can be washed and worn again. They are designed to dry quickly, so if your child has come out of the water, there isn't a risk of nappy rash.

Swim pants are usually worn on top of disposable swim nappies. They're a lovely way of adding extra protection and making potentially boring disposable nappies cuter.

What features to look for in a swim nappy?

When can babies go swimming?

According to the NHS, 'You can take your baby swimming at any age, both before and after they have been vaccinated. It does not matter if they have not yet completed their course of vaccinations.' So really, the choice is completely yours.

What do I need to take my baby swimming?

How do I wash reusable swim nappies?

So that your reusable swim nappy doesn't lose shape, they should be hand washed in cool water. If your baby has soiled their nappy, then wash it on a gentle cycle in the washing machine.

Baby swimming lessons

Indoor pools have opened again across the UK, and swimming lessons have resumed. If you would like some in-person support when taking your baby swimming, why not see if your pool offers swimming lessons or classes? It's a great way to meet other parents and for your youngster to see other babies in the same situation as them.

There are also plenty of swimming programmes in leisure centres or indoor pools available, especially for babies all around the country. Here are a few programmes to look into:

Emily Gilbert is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby and had written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.