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The Best Baby Swimwear for Your Junior Beach Bums
The Best Baby Swimwear for Your Junior Beach Bums

The Best Baby Swimwear for Your Junior Beach Bums

Splish, splash! These swimwear picks will keep baby cute and covered in the sun and water.

author-Latifah Miles
By Latifah Miles
Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Updated On
Updated On
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In This Article

Best One-Pieces
Best Two Pieces
Best Rash Guards
Best Swim Trunks
Best Swim Diapers
Best Coverups
Best Water Shoes
Best Life Jackets

A swimsuit and sunscreen (and a sun hat and pair of baby sunglasses too) on hand is essential for a solid pool or beach day. You can find swimsuits for babies and toddlers in all the classic styles: one-piece, two-piece and trunks. For full-coverage styles, you can opt for rash guards, sun shirts and rompers (also known as sunsuits) with short or long sleeves.

Rash guards and sun shirts have built-in sun protection, with a UPF 50+ rating (which means the material blocks 98+ percent of UV rays). For babies who can’t wear sunscreen and for toddlers who make applying sunscreen an Olympic sport, the extra sun protection is useful. When choosing colors and designs for your baby’s next swimsuit, here’s something to keep in mind for water safety: Certain colors are harder to see in a pool. White and shades of blue can make it harder to spot your little one in the water, while bright and neon shades of green, purple, red and orange are much easier to see.

To help you prepare for those water-filled, sandy fun days, we’ve rounded up some of the cutest and most comfortable suits around.

Best One-Pieces

One-piece swimsuits for babies come in a variety of styles but the styles you’ll see most often are long-sleeved and tank tops. For younger babies who aren’t old enough to wear sunscreen yet, long-sleeved one-piece swimsuits can protect their delicate skin from the sun while still allowing air to flow to keep them cool. For older babies who can be slathered in sunscreen, you can opt for a tank style. Here are some adorable options that we love:

Best Two Pieces

Just like one-pieces, two-piece swimsuits are available in a dozen different styles, but for little babies under a year old, most of them will have sleeves and a longer top to amp up the sun protection. Here are a few super cute sets:

Best Rash Guards

Rashguards are long-sleeved (but there are also short-sleeve options) one-piece rompers or single tops that protect your baby’s skin from the UV rays of the sun. If a long-sleeved top on a hot sunny day seems counterintuitive, rash guards are usually lightweight and airy so your baby won’t feel stifled. The rash guard can be worn as a swimsuit or in addition to your baby’s swimsuit. Here are a few that we love:

Best Swim Trunks

Swim trunks for babies are a great pool day staple because you can mix and match them with different tops. And since they can easily slide up over a swim diaper, trunks allow easy access for diaper changes too. Here are a few stylish options:

Best Swim Diapers

If you’re going on a beach vacation or plan to fill your summer with endless pool days, having a few reusable swim diapers on hand can save you a few bucks. Unlike a standard diaper, reusable swim diapers are less absorbent to prevent them from sucking up pool or beach water and sagging. Instead, they’re designed to just hold in solids. Here are a few to choose from:

Best Coverups

Once you’re done splashing around, a coverup is a nice accessory that can carry your baby from the pool to lounging without getting too chilly. We really like these:

Best Water Shoes

For little walkers, cruisers, and standers, water shoes can keep their tiny toes safe from rocks and gritty dirt. Water shoes allow water to flow freely and are usually made of firm plastic or neoprene, allowing them to dry quickly so your baby’s feet don’t feel soggy. Here are some tried and true favorites:

Best Life Jackets

Planning a boat day with your baby in tow? According to the United States Coast Guard, a USCG-approved life jacket is highly recommended. There are hundreds of life jackets on the market but one of the most important things to look for when buying one is a USCG stamp of approval. Additionally, you should consider the recommended weight range for the life jacket, age range and life-preserving features like a handle to help pull them out of the water. To learn more about finding a life jacket for your baby, visit the United State Coast Guard information page. Here are a few well-rated USGC-approved options:

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