Guide to Swimwear for Kids

Now is the time to make sure your family has all the right swimwear for the backyard or a day at the beach. Our guide to swimwear for kids will get you headed in the right direction.

Inspect last year’s swimwear:  if your kids’ old swimsuits still fit, check if it’s worn or frayed.

-Pool chemicals can be hard on fabrics, so do some water tests to make sure formerly opaque materials are still opaque.

-Test the elastic, especially in boys’ swim trunks.  Just because they stay around his waist in his bedroom doesn’t mean he won’t lose them in the water.

-Look for common wear spots—sitting on rough cool decks and playing in the sand can wear holes in the seat, especially of little girls’ suits.

Shopping for new suits:  shopping for kids suits, thankfully, is not as difficult as shopping for an adult suit, but there are still some important considerations

-Age appropriateness:  what is suitable for an 18-year-old is not always appropriate for an 8-year-old.  Regardless of whether it is a one-piece or a two-piece suit, you won’t be able to tell if the cut and fit is appropriate for your child until she tries it on.

-Use appropriateness:  Is your child going to be spending every waking moment in a swimming pool this summer?  Or is this a suit for a weeklong trip to the beach?  Some suits will weather a long, hot, summer better than others.  If your kids are fish, let durability trump fashion.

-Embellishments:  Designers like to add a lot of fun embellishments, especially on little girls’ suits.  Be mindful that these are often more for style than for function.  For example, as a child, I once had a black suit with a gold cat face on it; that gold shiny cat face fell off immediately and I was crushed.

-Dress codes:  Some summer camps, pools, and water parks have dress codes for swimwear.  Make sure whatever you purchase conforms to the rules so your child can avoid the embarrassment and hurt feelings of having to sit out while the other children play in the water.