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13 best kids’ swimming costumes for girls, boys and babies

From sun-safe, holiday-ready cossies to training swimwear for their next lesson, dive into our pick of the best

Zoe Phillimore
Monday 20 May 2024 09:21 EDT
We recruited a raft of mini testers to try these trunks, two-pieces and swimsuits
We recruited a raft of mini testers to try these trunks, two-pieces and swimsuits (iStock/The Independent)
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Updating your kids’ summer wardrobes? Cossies and trunks are probably near the top of your list. As the weather warms up and thoughts turn to holidays, we’ve been busy rounding up the best kids’ swimming costumes, so they can hit the pool and beach in style.

Kids’ swimwear is not just for summer, of course. With swimming lessons continuing year-round, we’ve considered the best swimming togs for those, too.

We’ve even got some competitive wear in the mix – those frills and cutouts are cute on the beach but they’re not designed to aid a backstroke.

If you’re looking for holiday swimwear for the kids, you would be wise to look for swimming costumes with UPF protection. This means the swimming costume will help protect delicate skin underneath the fabric, shielding it from the sun’s harmful rays. UPF is rated in factors, like sun cream, with UPF 50+ offering protection from 98 per cent of the sun’s harmful rays.

With all that in mind, dive in and discover the best kid’s swimming costumes for this summer and beyond.

How we tested the best kids’ swimming costumes

A selection of the swimming costumes we took for a dip
A selection of the swimming costumes we took for a dip (Zoë Phillimore)

We recruited a raft of mini-testers of all ages to try out these kids’ swimming costumes. The kids were interested in comfort and style, and we had testers with all different sartorial tastes. The kids went to swimming lessons in these, took them to splash parks and wore them in the garden during water fights. As parents, we were more interested in value for money, how well the garments washed, and whether they were made of sun-safe and chlorine-resistant fabrics.

The best kids’ swimming costumes for 2024 are:

  • Best kids’ swimming costume overall – Monsoon tropical palm print swimsuit: £22, Monsoon.co.uk
  • Best budget kids’ swimming costume – Next multi bright abstract-print swimsuit: £12, Next.co.uk
  • Best gender-neutral kids’ swimwear – Toastie Kids UV protector swim top and bottoms: £60, Toastiekids.com
  • Best swimwear for babies – JoJo Maman Bebe UPF 50 1-piece sun-protection suit: £24, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
  • Best rash vest for kids – Kidly seersucker rash vest: £18, Kidly.co.uk

Monsoon tropical palm print swimsuit

best kids swimwear Monsoon tropical palm print swimsuit
  • Best: Kids’ swimming costume overall
  • Size range: 3-4 years to 12-14 years
  • UPF: 50+
  • Why we love it
    • Looks great
    • Good for independent dressing
    • Sun-safe
    • Comfortable

This colourful print is going to tick boxes for the style-conscious and those who love florals. The swimsuit is well made, with good-quality, sun-safe fabric, and there’s plenty of coverage, as it’s long-sleeved and comes right up to the neck. It is also cut into a brief style on the legs.

Another tick for us was that it zips up through the front, so it was easy for our mini-testers to get themselves dressed independently. We found it washed well and our tester seemed very happy to wear it, without complaining of any uncomfortable areas.

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Next multi bright abstract-print swimsuit

best kids swimsuit Next multi bright abstract-print swimsuit
  • Best: Budget kids’ swimming costume
  • Size range: 3-16 years
  • UPF: None
  • Why we love it
    • Good coverage
    • Easy to spot
    • Comfortable
    • On-trend colours
    • Affordable

Our discerning seven-year-old tester loved this bang-on-trend swimming costume. The colours meant we could see them on the beach and in the pool, too. The double crossover back is a sweet design feature but confused our tester slightly when they were getting dressed – you might need to lend a hand, though older kids should be able to cope just fine.

We liked the round, high neckline and modest cut on the legs, while our tester felt grown-up in the neon-ish print. It’s quite a thick material, so it took slightly longer to dry, but it also felt good quality. Importantly, our tester reported it was comfortable to wear.

  1.  £12 from Next.co.uk
Prices may vary
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M&S lobster swim set

best kids swimwear Marks and Spencer lobster swim set
  • Best: Swimwear for preschool boys
  • Size range: 2-3 years to 7-8 years
  • UPF: 50+
  • Why we love it
    • Sun-safe fabric
    • Good coverage
    • Fun print
  • Take note
    • Our preschooler couldn’t reach zip

Our four-year-old tester loved this set – the lobsters were a hit with our fashion-conscious preschooler, while the top gave them good coverage and kept them relatively warm during their 30-minute swimming lesson.

The rash vest has a half-zip at the back, which our tester couldn’t do up solo, but other children may be able to. A drawstring waist helped prevent the shorts from sliding down during the energetic “swimming” they were doing. The shorts are lined, for extra comfort, too. What’s more, as parents, we were pleased to see the fabric is UPF 50+.

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Toastie kids' UV protector swim top and bottoms

best kids swimwear Toastie Kids UV protector swim top and bottoms
  • Best: Gender-neutral kids’ swimwear
  • Size ranges: 1-2 years to 9-10 years
  • UPF: 50+
  • Why we love it
    • Great colours
    • Made from recycled plastic
    • Sun-safe
    • Premium quality
    • Carbon neutral
    • Good coverage

As a household where our male tester loves pink, we sometimes struggle to find swimwear to suit their tastes. However, Toastie has come to the rescue. The brand’s UV protector top and bottoms come in a range of bright hues (and some subtler ones) that are bound to put a smile on your face. We went for “ocean blues” (with plenty of pink) but there are eight stylish colourways to choose from.

As parents, we loved that the bright colours meant our kids could be spotted on the beach, and we also loved the inclusion of UPF 50+. The silky material was comfortable to wear for our tester, and the shorts give great coverage for both boys and girls. We were so heartened to see this style of swimwear for different genders on the market – more of this, please.

You can buy the top (£36, Toastiekids.com) and shorts (£24, Toastiekids.com) separately, or you can buy both bundled together (£48, Toastiekids.com) with a saving of 20 per cent.

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Speedo endurance+ max high-waisted jammers

best kids swimwear Speedo endurance+ max high waisted jammers
  • Best: Boys’ competitive swimwear
  • Size ranges: 5-6 years to 13-14 years
  • UPF: None
  • Why we love it
    • Great for swimming lessons
    • Adjustable waistband
    • Chlorine-resistant
    • Made from recycled materials
  • Take note
    • On the expensive side

These were our tester’s first pair of jammers – swim shorts that are more akin to cycling shorts, which are favoured by competitive swimmers, thanks to the streamline shape. Our tester, who is not given to praising items of clothes, said they loved these jammers.

There’s a drawstring in the waistband to tighten them, and our tester was able to swim (and muck around) without any restrictions. Us adults liked that the jammers were chlorine-resistant and that they looked as vibrant after four weeks of regular pool dipping as they did when they arrived. Speedo’s jammers are super speedy when it comes to drying, too.

  1.  £38 from Speedo.com
Prices may vary
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Nabaiji Lexa Kali girl’s one-piece swimsuit

best kids swimwear Nabaiji Lexa celo girl’s one-piece swimsuit
  • Best: Girls’ competitive swimwear
  • Size range: 7-8 years to 14-15 years
  • UPF: None
  • Why we love it
    • Snug fit
    • Bright colours
    • Chlorine-resistant
    • Relatively affordable
  • Take note
    • Better for swimming lessons than the beach

Our tester loved this swimsuit’s bright colourway – and we loved that we could easily pick it out of a crowd during swimming training. The swimming costume offers a snug fit, while the elasticated straps offer comfort and provide growing room.

This swimwear style also created a streamlined silhouette, enabling our tester to swim through the water with ease. Our tester was certainly pleased with it and went back to it after testing had finished. Lastly, it’s chlorine-resistant (although there’s no UPF) and washes really well. It dries quickly, too.

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Kidly seersucker rash vest

best kids swimwear Kidly seersucker rash vest
  • Best: Rash vest for kids
  • Size range: 1-2 years to 6-7 years
  • UPF: 50+
  • Why we love it
    • Gender-neutral colourways
    • Sun-safe fabric
    • Great for UK swimming lessons
    • Well made
  • Take note
    • Fabric isn’t super silky

The cute seersucker design of this rash vest had us as soon as we opened it. It’s extremely good quality and made from durable UPF 50+ fabric. It is relatively thick, and not super silky, unlike some rash vests, so, children who are averse to slightly scratchy fabrics may not like it next to their skin. However, our fairly sensitive child didn’t complain once.

We found the rash vest was perfect for swimming lessons, as it provided a bit of extra insulation for our chilly learners. Our tester found it easy to pull on themselves, as there’s no zip – it just slips over the head. We also liked that it’s stretchy, so there’s plenty of room to grow.

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JoJo Maman Bebe UPF 50 1-piece sun-protection suit

best kids swimwear JoJo Maman Bebe UPF 50 1-piece sun-protection suit
  • Best: Swimwear for babies
  • Size range: 0-6 months to 4-5 years
  • UPF: 50+
  • Why we love it
    • Good coverage
    • Sun-safe
    • Good range of movement

Stretchy and silky, this one-piece is great for babies, crawlers and toddlers, all the way up to preschoolers. It’s thin enough to be bearable on hot days and offers UPF 50+ across most of the body. Elbow-length sleeves and knee-length legs, along with a high neck, give great coverage.

Because the suit is thin, it doesn’t restrict movement, so, our tester could frolic on the beach making sandcastles and running around without being impeded. There’s also plenty of space under there for a swim nappy. We tested the pastel floral one-piece, but it comes in a range of eight colourways, to suit all styles.

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M&S printed frill long-sleeve swimsuit

best kids swimwear Marks and Spencer printed frill long-sleeve swimsuit
  • Best: Kids’ swimming costume with frills
  • Size range: 2-3 years to 7-8 years
  • UPF: 50+
  • Why we love it
    • Comfortable
    • Sun-safe
    • Chlorine-resistant
    • Cute design

Our tester reported that this swimming costume one-piece was very comfortable. They also loved the chunky rainbow design. It’s made from a silky polyester and elastane fabric with added stretch, which meant our tester could lunge about the pool without being restricted. We liked that a half zip meant our tester could get changed independently for their swimming lessons, too.

This costume is also chlorine-resistant, so it kept its colours through several swims and washes and didn’t sag. The UPF 50+ fabric offers peace of mind, and the full-length arms give great coverage. The playful frill on the legs is a cute detail, too.

This is currently in M&S’s three-for-two offer, which means it’s amazing value if you have a few children who need new swimwear.

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Boden long-sleeved swimsuit

best kids swimwear Boden long-sleeved swimsuit
  • Best: Swimming costume for teens
  • Size range: 2-3 years to 13-14 years
  • UPF: None
  • Why we love it
    • Easy dressing
    • Good size range
    • Great coverage
    • Easy to spot kids in it
    • Great range of colourways

This swimsuit comes in a great range of sizes, while the bright pink colourway means you can easily spot your child at the pool or beach. We liked that it gave good coverage, with long sleeves and a high neck.

The zip comes down to the belly button, meaning independent dressing was possible for our tester, who reported the swimsuit was comfortable, too. Although the fabric isn’t sun-safe, we found that it was very good quality and the whole swimsuit feels premium.

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Wheat Marie-Louise swimsuit

best kids swimwear Wheat Marie-Louise swimsuit
  • Best: Swimming costume for preschool girls
  • Size range: 3 years to 12 years
  • UPF: None
  • Why we love it
    • Cute design
    • Well-made
    • Comfortable

We couldn’t help but smile when we saw this cute kids’ swimming costume, with its ditsy floral print, pastel rainbow hues and big frill. Our tester found the swimsuit comfortable, and we were really impressed with the quality. Despite there being quite a chunky frill, the shoulder straps didn’t seem to slide down like they do on some other swimsuits. This meant our tester was free to play and leap around the garden in the sprinkler with no inhibitions. The suit also comes in a blue floral print.

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Liewood Duke stripe board shorts

best kids swimwear Liewood Duke strike board shorts
  • Best: Premium kids' swimwear
  • Size range: 1.5 years to 10 years
  • UPF: None
  • Why we love it
    • Sustainable
    • Comfortable
    • Good for day-to-pool wear
    • Stylish
  • Take note
    • Pricey

The quality of these swim shorts is impressive. They are lightweight yet durable, and the elasticated waist has a drawstring, which meant the swimming shorts stayed snuggly on our tester, even during a very energetic session at a splash park.

We liked that the swim shorts looked stylish enough to wear during the day with a T-shirt, too, and they didn’t seem to get itchy and sweaty like some swimwear tends to. What’s more, the cut on these shorts is quite baggy, which gave our tester a great range of movement.

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Funky Trunks sun protection boys’ jump suit

best kids swimwear Funky Trunks sun protection boys’ jump suit
  • Best: Kids’ swimwear for sun protection
  • Size range: 1 to 7 years
  • UPF: 50+
  • Why we love it
    • Premium
    • Great value
    • Good size range
    • Chlorine-resistant
    • Sun-safe fabric

We were so impressed by this sun protection suit. The coverage was amazing – only calves and forearms were out in the sun – and the fabric offers the gold standard of UPF 50+. This jumpsuit has a zip, which made it easy for our four-year-old tester to independently dress themselves, too.

The sizing is generous, and we were glad to note there’s a bit of growing room built in. The vibrant colours survived a busy splash park session and several washes without fading, thanks to the chlorine-resistant fabric. Our tester said the suit was comfy, and we were very impressed with the quality of the fabric and the design on the suit – we think this is amazing value, and we loved that the size range goes up much older than most swimsuits of this style.

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The verdict: Kids’ swimming costumes

We were really impressed with Monsoon’s long-sleeved swimsuit. It’s great value for money, looks gorgeous and our tester said it was super comfy. Shout out, too, to Funky Trunks – a fantastic-quality suit at a fair price, with all the features and coverage we were after.

Now their swimwear is sorted, kit them out with the best kids’ swimming goggles

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