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What swimwear do babies need? An age-by-age guide from newborn to 18-months

Best baby swimwear for warmth—babies aged 0–3 Months

Thermal all-in-one swimwear - Warm in One

Keep your baby as warm as possible by dressing them in fleece-lined swimwear that covers their arms and legs. This will provide extra warmth and let them enjoy longer sessions in the pool. Newborn babies often have sensitive skin, so all-in-one swimwear will help protect their delicate skin by ensuring barrier creams that protect against the irritation of chlorine, stay in place. If your baby has cream for a skin condition such as eczema, you can apply this before you put on their Warm in One. This will help ensure the cream doesn’t wash off, giving your baby’s skin an extra layer of protection.

Flat Adjustable Wetsuits - Baby Wrap Wetsuit

If you’re looking for swimwear that’ll keep your baby warm and is super-easy to get on & off, choose a Baby Wrap. They’re made from neoprene, the same material used to make adult wetsuits, and provide extra warmth to the baby’s core. Baby Wraps open flat, so changing is easy! Simply open the Baby Wrap flat, lay your baby on top and wrap the suit over babies shoulders and across their body. Secure with the velcro fastening that can be adjusted to grow with your baby.

2-in-1 Wetsuit with inbuilt Happy Nappy - Happy Nappy Wetsuit

Wetsuits with an integrated swim nappy are another option for swimwear for babies aged 0–3 months. Look for baby wetsuits made from neoprene as this material provides extra warmth. The Splash About Happy Nappy Wetsuit is the only baby wetsuit with an integrated Happy Nappy and therefore doesn’t require another nappy to be worn underneath, making it excellent value for parents.You can read more about the benefits of baby wetsuits here. 

Best baby swimwear for warmth and freedom of movement—babies aged 3–6 months

Baby Wrap Wetsuit

Standard swimming costumes are fine to wear at this age, but they still need a swim nappy. However, getting a tiny baby in and out of one can be tough, so choose a costume that you can lie flat and wrap around them, to make changing much easier.Wrap-around swimsuits, such as the Splash About Baby Wrap are similar in style to a standard swimsuit but with the added benefit of being made from neoprene, a fabric used to make wetsuits. This material helps keep a baby’s core body temperature at the right level.

Happy Nappy Wetsuit

Standard swimming costumes are fine to wear at this age, but they still need a swim nappy. However, getting a tiny baby in and out of one can be tough, so choose a costume that you can lie flat and wrap around them, to make changing much easier.Wrap-around swimsuits, such as the Splash About Baby Wrap are similar in style to a standard swimsuit but with the added benefit of being made from neoprene, a fabric used to make wetsuits. This material helps keep a baby’s core body temperature at the right level.