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As the summer approaches, temperatures are rising, and you’re probably looking to the water to help cool off your kids. Before you board a plane to a Caribbean isle, take a trip to the shore, or just walk down to the community pool, you’ll need to outfit your new boy or girl. Here are our favorites for dog-paddling and sprinkler-splashing in style. — Oz Spies
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Babble Best: Patagonia Baby Sunshade Top (Unisex) - $29
Our top pick for swimwear isn’t a swimsuit – it’s a multi-purpose cover-up that can be worn in the water or while building sand castles. We think your rugrat will get more mileage out of this longsleeve shirt, available in pink, white and dark blue, than a pair of trunks or a bikini. For the super-sun conscious – and who isn’t when it comes to a baby or toddler’s virgin skin? – the shirt has built in UPF 30. Bonus: it can be worn for afternoons at the park or backyard playdates, since it doesn’t have that shiny rash-guard/for-the-beach-only feel. After it’s been passed down through your offspring, the remaining threadbare shreds can be recycled through Patagonia’s Common Threads Recycling Program, which makes new fleece jackets and outdoor apparel out of worn and processed cotton, fleece and nylon clothing.
Get it from Patagonia.
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Eberjey Ruffled Haltered One-Piece (Girls) - $58
So much of what’s available for girls looks like it was created by a marriage of Pepto-Bismol and the Bedazzler as officiated by a cupcake – pink, saccharine, and sparkly. This suit has youthful, feminine touches – a halter neckline and a touch of light pink ruffled trim accenting the neckline and leg openings – but doesn’t send us running for a pink antidote. It’s available in three adorable prints, including zebra stripes for the zoo-obsessed and a retro mini floral print. Not cutesy, just cute enough.
Get it at Garnet Hill.
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Flap Happy Island Doodles Surf Trunk (Boys) - $26
Flap Happy, the maker of sun-protective baseball caps with the built-in fabric mullet that covers your baby’s neck, also makes swimwear with built-in swim diapers. That means your budding swimmer won’t be dragged down by a water-logged diaper under his trunks. The polyurethane barrier under the cotton shorts was created to keep accidents of a more solid nature in and water out. Trunks are available in a range of patterns and colors, including this brown print with blue flowers, perfect for a Hawaiian vacation. Note: Flap Happy’s boys’ and girls’ swimwear with swim diapers should be put on just before entering the water, as they won’t necessarily contain pee, so these might not be the best choice for a trip to your in-law’s in Florida with the "We don’t swim in your toilet, so don’t pee in our pool" sign.
Get it from ComfyKid.com.
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Gap Smocked Floral Tankini (Girls) - $19.50
Wet and sandy one-piece suits can be challenging to pry off for diaper changes, but most two-pieces leave baby’s delicate belly exposed to the sun. The solution: a midriff-covering tankini. This blue floral suit, made of stretch nylon, comes with generously-sized bottoms to cover diapered butts. We love that reliable retailer Baby Gap’s swim line for boys and girls comes equipped with UPF 40+. And, at under $20, this two-piece is a steal for the budget-conscious.
Get it from Gap.
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Aloha Swim Trunks (Boys) - $30 - $42
California-based Charlie Rocket’s trunks have a laid-back, surfer style perfect for playing on the beach or in a backyard wading pool. Available in eight prints, including a gray and white shark pattern emblazoned with red skull and crossbones for pirate-lovers. The elastic waistband will keep shorts up on slim or chubby bellies, and we love that the modern prints and longer lengths suit the entire 12 months – 12 years size range.
Get it from Garnet Hill.
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