Superabsorbent polymers having a slow rate of absorption, and a process for their preparation. The superabsorbent polymer has a slow rate of absorption, is crosslinked with a covalent crosslinking agent and the metal of a polyvalent metal coordination compound, has the metal of the coordination compound distributed essentially homogeneously throughout the polymer, and has an Absorption Rate Index of at least about 5 minutes. Prepare water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer particles having a slow rate of water absorption by polymerizing a monomer in the presence of a covalent crosslinking agent and a polyvalent metal coordination compound under conditions such that there is formed a polymer having reversible cationic crosslinks and such that the metal is distributed essentially homogeneously throughout the polymer particles.