You’ve signed up your kid for swimming lessons, now it’s time to find the right swimsuit. There are lots of options available in the market, and making a decision can sometimes feel overwhelming, that’s why the team at DSH has gathered 5 tips that will help you choose your child’s swimwear.
Comfortability & Freedom of Movement
One of the most important factors when choosing water wear for your kid is comfortability. The swimsuit should not prevent them from moving or be a nuisance that needs to be rearranged every couple of minutes. If a child is uncomfortable, the swim experience might be ruined, and there will be negative water associations. To prevent discomfort, sizing is key, which is why swimwear should not be too tight that it causes rashes, breathing difficulties, wedgies, or red marks on their skin. However, it shouldn’t be too loose either, you don’t want it to be falling off every couple of minutes, or allowing sand and dirt to hurt their skin.
Another relevant factor you should keep in mind when buying swimwear is the fabric. Nylon and polyester are the most common fabrics in the market, and they tend to be the most comfortable, and durable ones. Some other fabrics or blends, might shrink with the water, harden or be not-chlorine resistant, which means the colours will rapidly fade. When buying, check for user reviews, they will be your best guide.
A key element, especially with younger kids, is how easy the swimwear is to put on and take off. Wet swimsuits tend to attach to the skin and make them harder to take off. Think about zippers, snaps and ties that can make the process simpler. You don’t want to deal with a hard-to-take-off suit during a potty emergency.
Go For Bright Colours
Swimwear comes in all types of colours, designs and patterns and it is difficult to choose just one, but ideally, you will want to go for the bright coloured ones. Why? A study made by Alive Solutions on different bottom-coloured bodies of water(lakes and pools) showed that, when submerged 18 inches into the water, the most common colours for swimsuits tend to disappear, and it worsens if there’s any type of water movements involved such as waves or active agitation. So, in this case, more than a fashion decision, you should buy swimwear with safety in mind. You want to be able to spot your child on the water at all times.
These are the results from Alive Solution’s test on a lake, a pool with white tiles, and a pool with dark tiles
Based on these results, you should look for bright and contrasting colours. Neon tones are the most visible option. It can vary depending on the body of water you plan to swim in, but neon orange, pink, yellow and green are usually the most visible alternatives. Colours such as black, blue, grey and white should be avoided, as they are the least detectable ones.
Other factors such as weather, water clarity and light conditions might affect visibility, so take that into account when deciding which swimsuit to wear.
However, as the team at Alive Solutions remind us “the bright and contrasting colors help visibility, but it doesn’t matter what color your kids are wearing if you aren’t supervising effectively and actively watching.” So put your phones away, designate a Water Watcher and enjoy the water time with your kids!
Sun Protection
Just as you protect your child’s sun-exposed skin with sunscreen, you can also protect the skin beneath their clothing with Ultraviolet Protection Factor swimwear. UPF clothing prevents harmful UV rays from passing through and reaching the skin. Tags on the swimsuit will inform you if the garment has solar protection materials or not.
UPF is also available in other types of clothing, such as shirts, rash guards, shorts, and hats.
Styles
Swimwear comes in lots of different styles, and landing on one should be a decision based on what the child likes and how they feel more comfortable. If needed, the choice could be filtered by the type of activity and water temperature. For example, two-piece suits might not be the best option for water sports, or if swimming in the ocean a wetsuit might be a better idea, or if there’s going to be a lot of sun exposure, a rash guard might be the best pick to avoid sunburns.
Straps and their ease to arrange could also be a factor when choosing the right suit. Thin, string-like straps tend to create knots or leave marks on the skin. Ideally, they should be easily adjustable.
Personal preferences and body comfortability should be the most important factors when deciding on a style of swimwear.
Accessories To Complete The Look
No swim outfit is complete without the right accessories. Depending on where your kid is swimming, these might vary. For example, if you’re getting them ready for their swim lessons at Davina’s Swim House you might want to consider a pair of indoor shoes (non-slippery flip-flops are the best option) for our deck and change rooms, swim goggles, a swim cap, and a nice microfiber towel that matches the swimsuit. Or, if they’re going to the beach or an outdoor pool you could add matching cover-ups, a hat, and sunglasses.
We hope these tips will make the swimwear-purchasing decision easier, and we expect to see you and your kids soon in our pools! Happy swimming!
Let me tell you, my two kiddos spend A LOT of time in swimsuits. Not only do we go to the pool a few times a week, we also to love heading to water parks and the beach to hang out in the sand and surf. After spending so much time and energy wrestling these little monkeys in and out of their spandex (often while they're screaming, crying or trying to make a break for it), I’ve learned a thing or two about how to pick swimming costumes for children.
Here are my top tips, not just as a swimwear designer, but as the mum of a couple of active preschoolers:
Living on the equator, we know that it’s important to protect our little ones’ delicate skin from the harsh sun. Rather than slathering sunscreen on them all day long, consider also protecting them with long sleeved swimsuits, like a rash guard, and a sun hat. Not only do you use less chemicals on their skin, you also don’t need to worry as much about reapplying or missing a spot. Look for swimwear with sun protection that specifically states it is rated as UPF 50+ sun protection, which means the fabric has been tested and is shown to block out at least 99% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Even in tropical Singapore, the pool and sea temperature can still be chilly early in the morning or after it rains. When we have an early swimming class, I tend to layer our kids’ swimsuits underneath a thick lined rash guard or snug fitting neoprene wet suit to keep them warm. Make sure it is not too loose as a tighter fit will help with retaining their body heat in the water.
You might be tempted to grab a cheap swimming costume because your kids will outgrow it so quickly, but selecting a high-quality swimsuit will save you in the long run – kids are really harsh on their swimsuits – they wear them all day long in chlorine and salt water, get them covered in sun cream, and crawl around all day rubbing their bums against sand and concrete. Low quality swimwear will inevitably succumb to pilling, stretching and wearing out much faster than something made of higher quality fabric. Also, if the swimming costume is in good shape, it can be handed down instead of just thrown away when your child outgrows it. Bonus if it’s a unisex style that can be passed to a younger sibling or friend of a different gender. A long-lasting swimsuit is definitely the more sustainable option, since you’ll eventually wear out and dispose of only one swimsuit instead of two or three cheap ones.
Since children grow like weeds, choose a swimsuit style that can win you some extra time - find pieces that can be adjusted with features like drawstring waists or straps, or buy one a little bigger, which will save you some money in the long run. Besides, kids don’t like styles that are too tight as they’re not comfortable and hard to put on and take off (see my next point!). Opting for a comfortable swimsuit over a trendy one is always the way to go.
I don’t know about yours, but my kids HATE having to squeeze their heads through neck holes that are too small. Especially when it’s wet, swimwear can be a real pain to remove. Look for styles with zippers, snaps or ties that can help you make the darn thing easy to rip off as quickly as possible (“Mommy I have to peeeeee…. NOOWWWW…..”), especially if your child is still in diapers and the inevitable code brown happens.
Lastly, don’t forget to pick cute swimsuits with fun prints that make wearing them part of the fun pool or beach experience! I hope these tips are helpful for the next time you need to choose swimwear for kids. Happy hunting!
Stay safe,
Toni Chan
August Society Founder & Creative Director