Swimwear

How many hours can our kids play in the sand at the beach? Or at the local neighborhood park sandbox? If we wouldn’t bother them, I guess they’d be there until nightfall! Here’s a little extra protection from the sun with this four-way protection hat.

The Sun Smarties Custom-Embroidered Flap Hat shades delicate faces, heads, necks, and eyes. I like that the flap covers the neck area because, as you’ve probably experienced, while your child is bent over their sandcastle masterpieces the sun rays are bearing down on their backs. Those spots can become very tender from sunburn and easily irritated by clothing after a day at the beach. So this product provides a little extra prevention.This hat is treated with UPF 50+ sunscreen and made of quick-drying microfiber.

The hat is machine washable and comes in a variety of patterns, including 4th of July, Safari, Surfs Up, and Hibiscus. You can buy one for $9.95 at OneStepAhead.com.

My husband and I loved the idea of an easy-on sunscreen when we first heard about it through a TV ad. Of course, we grabbed a bottle of the kind we thought seemed best for our family the next time we were out shopping.

Coppertone Continuous Spray has proven to be easy to apply and effective. It’s not overly expensive, as sunscreens can be, and really takes the time out of slathering our son when he’s about to hit the beach or play outside. With easy instructions, and even a warning not to spray it on your face but to spray on your hands and then rub on the face, it’s a simple solution for the mom on the go with little time to mess around with squirting bottles and sticky stuff.

Happy moms (of children over 6 months) everywhere can get it for $9.99 at Drugstore.com.

Summer is beginning to come to a close, but there is always time to catch a little more sun, and there are still lots of great bathing suits out there for little ones.  This is a very cute suit from the Australian company Seafolly.  The Ballerina Skirtini Bikini features a pink paisley print on a white background.  Any little girl will feel special in this suit with its ruffled top and tulle-flounced skirt.

Best of all, the company is known for its high-quality products and has a large following among celebrity moms such as Angelina Jolie, Courteney Cox, and Brooke Shields, so you know you will be satisfied with your purchase.

You can get one of these great suits for an end of the summer price of $41.90 at Nordstrom.com.

I really like one piece swimsuits for babies and toddlers. They offer more skin protection from the sun and more age-appropriate fashion. This little Cherry Pie Baby Bubble Swimsuit by Kate Mack is charming and sweet for your little one. It offers fashion, comfort and sun-safety at the beach.

This adorable one piece swimsuit is available in sizes 3mos & 6mos and is on sale for $42.00 at GingersnapsKids.com.

If, like me, you worry about your children being exposed to dangerous UVA and UVB rays, but you aren’t crazy about applying and reapplying sunblock all day long, check out these great suits made by Sun Protection Zone.  Made from light-weight, breathable fabrics that are soft next to the skin, these garments provide an SPF rating of 100+, blocking 97.5% of UVA and UVB rays.  Although you will still need to apply sunscreen to exposed areas, you will greatly reduce the amount of time and mess involved.

Available in a number of attractive prints, these suits are very kid friendly.  I had no problem getting my two year old to wear hers.  She has taken to referring to it as her jacket, I guess because it has a zipper.  Moreover, she looks absolutely adorable in it, which I wasn’t completely expecting.  I had to take a lot of pictures the first time she wore it.

These suits are available in sizes 1T, 2T, 4, and 6.  The 1T and 2T suits have convenient snaps for diaper changes.  You can purchase one for $30 at sunprotectionzone.com.  Older children will enjoy the company’s rash guard shirts (available in both short and long sleeve styles) which provide the same level of sun protection.

Although summer is starting to come to a close, there are still plenty of opportunities left to enjoy swimming and water play.  This great little green hearts swimsuit by Melissa Odabash will make your little one stand out as she enjoys the warm weather.  I absolutely love the bright green color scheme which is unexpected for a heart pattern, but somehow works out perfectly (more traditional pink and blue versions are also available).  The suit has an adorable one piece style with crossing straps in the back.

It is machine washable, and sure to add another layer of fun to your summer.  You can purchase one for $77 at MilkShop.com.  It is available in sizes from 2T-10.

It’s never too early to teach modesty to our daughters. This sweetheart one piece Melissa Odabash Baby Trixi swimsuit is a bit of a throwback to the 1950s. The straps criss-cross in back. It’s made from 80% Poliammide which is a fabric of high durability and heat resistance, and 20% Lycra, and is machine washable.

This one piece swimsuit is available in sizes 2T, 4T, 6, and 10, and in Green Hearts, Blue Hearts, or Pink Hearts. It costs $77.00 at MilkShop.com.

There’s still plenty of summer left for one more adorable swimsuit! When I used to purchase swimsuits for my daughter, I always looked for styles that were age-appropriate. This two piece swimsuit by Kate Mack is pretty and feminine with an easy wear style. Bikini-style swimsuits for infants and toddlers are not very practical with all the slipping up and down of the material.

The Kate Mack True Love Two Piece Swimsuit is available in sizes 12 & 24 months. It’s currently on sale for $39.91 at  SandboxCouture.com.

Fans of organic girls’ clothing will love this sweet little dress from the European company hessnatur.  This organic infant dress is made from 100% certified organic cotton and no chlorine bleach is used in the process.  It has a simple, sleeveless cut with gathers at the neck.  The red and pink floral print is very feminine, but this is one dress that will not restrict your daughter’s movements.

The dress can be worn by itself in the warmest weather, or layered, as shown on cooler days.  It comes in sizes from 3-6 months to 12-24 months.  You can purchase one for $25 at hessnatur.com.

The Baby Giraffe Monokini Swimsuit by Le Top is a fun swimsuit for little ones. The giraffe applique is cute but also serves to keep this two-piece in one piece. I remember my little girl playing at the beach and inevitably having to pull her swimsuit up or down, depending on which way it was slipping. This suit by Le Top is also fully lined with 100% nylon, the shell is made from 92% cotton and 8% spandex (a little needed give and take).

Sizes range from 12 mos to 4T. It can be purchased for $24.49 at SophiasStyle.com.

As a parent, you want to protect your child’s eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays.  Of course, this is often easier said than done.  I’ve bought some really cute little sunglasses over the years, but they don’t do any good if the child won’t wear them, or if they won’t stay on.  The idea behind innovative My First Shades was to produce a high-quality pair of sunglasses that would protect a baby’s delicate eyes, and that would stay put.

The parent-owned company has succeeded in what they set out to do.  My First Shades provide 100% protection from UV rays, and they actually do stay on!  These sunglasses are made to be comfortable, so your child won’t be struggling to remove them.

My two year-old actually likes to wear them.  Best of all, because they are made with an adjustable neoprene headband, there are no temples to break off or pinch little fingers. The icing on the cake is that there are tons of fun designs to choose from.

My first shades come in an infant size (for 0-36 months), and larger sizes for children (3-7), and tweens (12+).  I wasn’t sure that my 9 year old would be into these, but she is.  You can purchase a pair for $14.99 at myfirstshades.com.  Protecting your child’s eyes is well worth the modest price!

Besides being completely darling, these sunsuits contain UPF 50+, the highest level of sun protection AND the bottoms have built-in swim diapers. Usually I’m a disposable diaper mom but at the beach, disposable is soggy and messy PLUS you get to be environmentally responsible & friendly!

The Sun Smarties Tankinis & Swim Diaper is made of quick-drying nylon/spandex that’s softer and silkier than other UPF fabrics and comes in a variety of sizes. Price: $12.99 at onestepahead.com.

This sweet little bikini from Baby Dior is sure to be a hit at the pool or on the beach. Some designer kids wear can be a bit over the top with large logos everywhere. I like the simple elegance of this two piece suit.

The Baby Dior Polka-Dot Bikini is luxurious without being obnoxious. I am impressed by the little details such as the gold accents on the bottom of the suit.  On a more practical level, two pieces are, in general, are a great solution for infants and toddlers who still require diaper changes.

I’ve always hated trying to wrestle my daughters in and out of a wet one piece at changing time. This suit looks like it would be very easy to get on and off.  The only downside to this suit is its price. At $116, it may be more than many people are willing to pay for an infant toddler suit that is likely to be outgrown quickly.

If you are interested in purchasing one, check out raffaello-network.com.

Trips to the beach were a highlight for my children during the summer months but I remember trying to think of everything I needed to take along to ensure they had a safe and fun day, including that all important sunblock cream or spray!

This all in one swimsuit looks sporty and comfy but has an added feature that helps protect delicate skin - Fabric UV Protection! The fabric’s weave, color and stretch are elements that determine its UV Protection level as well as the addition of UV absorbers in the manufacturing process.

This beachware just makes good sense. Check out the swimsuit by Snapper Rock and accessories at babybox.com. Available in three sizes from 0-2 and priced at $37.50.

You know how we’re always looking for that perfect and unique gift for nieces, nephews, or our children’s playmates? Well the Takeway gift sets by Best of Chums fit the bill! Each set comes with a cotton tee, pants, and sun hat all neatly packed in it’s own little matching gift bag. Handy and practical, it’s the fun choice for the summer days ahead! And of course - everything is machine washable.

There are four styles to choose from at artebebe.com with sizes ranging from 6-12 months and 12-18 months. Takeways by Best of Chums are currently sale priced at $40.