I’m always a sucker for mermaid-themed clothes for my girls. They bring back fond memories of my 80’s childhood and my favorite Sea Wee dolls. This embellished Musical Mermaid Swimsuit by Rhonda Sutton is one of the cuter mermaid items I’ve seen recently. I love the intricacies of the design–from the shimmering fins to the detailed instruments the mermaids are playing. This suit is available in sizes from 2T to 6X and retails for $41. You can order one at MyPrincessCloset.com.

I feel like our family’s swimming season is just getting under way, but already many of the major clothing companies are closing out their bathing suits. There are a lot of sales on high end items that you might not normally consider. This sweet little bathing suit from Best & Co. (a favorite with celebrity parents such as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes) is one such item. Although it originally retailed for $70, you can purchase one now for $34.90–still pricey, but not out of line with more mainstream brands like Gymboree. It definitely has a distinct and upscale look about it. You can check it out at BestAndCompany.com. It is available in sizes 4-12.

If you love the fun designs by Paul Frank and Small Paul, but aren’t keen on paying retail, you might want to check out the deals on overstock.com. Currently this fun pink suit featuring Julius the Monkey is on sale for $21.99 which is less than half price and not much more than you would pay for a discount store suit. You can check it (and several other Small Paul suits) out at Overstock.com.

I don’t think I can justify buying another swimsuit for any of my girls this year, but this adorable daisy suit from Janie and Jack sure is tempting. I love the combination of old fashioned styling with a little modern flair. It is just slightly over the top, but not so much so that it crosses the line into tacky. It is available in sizes from 0-3 months up to 8 years and retails for $30 you can purchase one at JanieandJack.com

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and that means  the much anticipated first trip to the swimming pool for many of us.  While I didn’t enjoy getting my post baby body back into a bathing suit, I was excited to deck my little ones out in the matching Baby Lulu suits I bought on sale this winter. They looked great, and had a lot of fun splashing around.

While my girls are wearing suits from older collections, the looks are similar to these suits from the more recent Round Flower line. I love the one piece on my three year old, and my baby has a two piece in the same print. These suits are very soft. They have much more of a fabric feel than most bathing suits, which is a definite plus in my book. I love the fun, feminine, but always modest cut as well. These are upscale all the way.

You can purchase either version of the suit for under $40 at babylulu.com. We also love the floppy matching cotton hats to protect heads and eyes from the sun.

If you are looking for a bathing suit for a baby girl, this Tahitian Dot one piece from Flap Happy is a great option. I love the bold combination of dots and stripes. It even comes with a built in swim diaper to make getting ready for the pool or a beach a little bit easier. I think this would look great on a chubby little baby just starting to sit up or toddle. You can purchase one for $36 at forgetmenotkids.com. It is available in sizes from 6-24 months.

I’m never so fortunate as to find a two-piece bathing suit that fits my wildly disproportionate body. When I saw this gorgeous nursing suit from Belabumbum, I so wished I was built a bit differently. I love the brilliant red color, and the bow under the breasts is very flattering to a nursing body. The long, A-line top is very forgiving of a little leftover baby belly, too. You can purchase one of these suits for $108 at picklesandicecream.com. The shop warns that it runs small, so be prepared to swallow your pride and order a size up!

Here is a way to bring a whole new level of fun to bath or pool time. These Monster Towels from Yikestwins are as cute as can be. They are designed for kids from 2-8, and cut generously, so you will get a lot of use out each towel. They are made from 100% cotton, so they are super-cozy, and they absorb water well. We have some similar animal towels that are a favorite at our house, but these are far cuter. You can purchase one for $38 at ittikid.com. One of these would make a fun gift too.

Kate Mack is one of the biggest names in swimwear for little girls. One look at their fun collection will explain why. This Patchwork Picnic suit is a perfect example of their style. I love the bright red color. It is sweet and feminine, yet a nice departure from pink. The ruffles and trim are great.  There is just so much attention to detail on this sweet little suit, and I like that it provides full coverage. It makes me wish  our closets weren’t already stocked with swimsuits! If your little one is in need of a suit for summer, you can purchase one of these for $44 at forgetmenotkids.com. It is available in sizes from 12mos to 4T.

I’m always excited when I discover a line of cute kids’ clothing that I haven’t seen before. Such is the case with Ragsland. The company has a lot of great looks for both boys and girls. Of course, I always get sucked in by the girls items. My favorite find was this appliqued crab swimsuit. Available in sizes from 12 months up to 6 years, it features an adorable little crab on a blue seersucker background. It is fully lined and has smocking in the back for a good fit. My kids are already well-stocked on swimsuits for this year, but I’m tempted to make an exception because this is so cute. It retails for $42. You can pick one up at ragsland.com.

While shopping for swimwear, I came across this cute little suit from Juicy Couture. Available in sizes from 3-6 up to 18-24 months, this bathing suit features adjustable shoulder straps that can either be criss-crossed or worn straight. This is a great feature if your daughter has trouble keeping her suit up! The biggest draw, however, is the eye-catching flower petal ruffles that trim the suit’s top. My toddler had a similar suit a few years ago. It looked a little silly, but it was very cute nonetheless. You can purchase one of these suits for $68 at Nordstrom.com.

We are getting ready for an upcoming weekend trip and I’m trying to make sure that everyone has swimsuits that will fit. I had forgotten how many cute little suits I had packed away for our new baby. One is a Ralph Lauren suit quite similar to this Beatrice model. I love the classic, old-fashioned appeal of this piece of swim wear. Available in both solids and florals, this suit is made form stretch nylon and features ruffles and ruching. The polo pony emblem adorns the breast. I can’t wait for my little one to wear hers. The suit is currently on sale for $22. Limited sizes are available in each color/pattern choice. You can pick one up for your own little one at RalphLauren.com.

Motherwear.com is having an outstanding sale on nursing friendly swimwear. There are tankinis, one-piece swimsuits, and suits with skirts, all equipped to make nursing easier while at the beach or pool. I liked the Surplice Swimsuit (shown above) especially; it comes in four different colors and five different sizes (up to 1X) and is only $8.99 on sale. That is a savings of $60.01! The other suits range in price from $9.99 to $29.95. Though all sales are final, at these prices, you really can’t lose. Made of nylon/spandex with a built-in nursing bra, get it in Black, Caribbean, Hibiscus Blue Print, or Orchid. If you really like it, you could buy all the colors for the price of one regular department store swimsuit.

Whether you are looking forward to a winter vacation, spring break, or just planning your next trip to the indoor pool, check out this hip bathing suit from Roxy. The company is known for their hip swimwear, and this two piece definitely lives up to that reputation. I absolutely love the color scheme. Yellow is such a cheerful color, and the bright green and pink really pop against it. The heart buttons add an extra special touch. The suit is available in sizes from 2T up to 6X, and would look equally sweet on a chubby toddler or a lanky older child. You can purchase one for $39 at Rei.com.

Boy, does this bring back memories of having my children at the beach when they were still in diapers. Remember how you had to decide if you should let them wear a regular underpant under their suit or wear a diaper? The diaper was sure to get soggy and full of sand, and a regular underpant would also be messy, but you wouldn’t be able to throw it in the trash bin.

This Swimsuit Diaper by Kushies is a great alternative. It has a quick drying nylon outer shell with a 100% cotton-terry inner lining chosen for softness, durability, and retention ability.  The diaper is easy to get on and off, the wrap style design makes it easier to change your little one while the adjustable waist with added ties provides a secure fit every time.  They are cloth diapers (environmentally friendly) but just remember to bring a plastic bag.

Kushies Swimsuit Diapers are available in an assortment colors and prints and in sizes s, m, l, xl for just $12.00 at KushiesOnline.com.