Infant Swimwear:
This Summer's Go-To Guide for Baby Fun in the Sun

{Photo by ninjaneil902}

This article is your one-stop-shop for high-quality information on where to find the best online deals for baby swimsuits, infant trunks, fun toys and beach gear.

I don't know about you, but the summer always seems to sneak up on me.

I'm pretty darn busy, so the note on the fridge "pick up new swimsuits" seems to sit there for weeks as my children get antsy and I get stressed. When I figured out that I could find and purchase some pretty-darn adorable infant swimwear online, I was ecstatic.

No more post-its on the fridge, I hop online and browse through my favorite online boutiques and find the perfect suit. Box checked. Task complete. I'm in heaven. Here's a collection of the places I've found over the years that have the best infant swimwear, best deals, and best toys for babies.

Of course, like everything else in the world of parenting, outdoor fun has to be balanced with safe responsibility.

On one hand, you have the excitement of choosing the infant swimwear (or trunks), setting up the toys and grabbing the camera for some memory-making. On the other, you have the responsibility of making sure your infant will be as safe outdoors as she is in.

Before we jump into the fun, here are two articles that provide good information on the other, more parental part of summer.

• Tips to Babyproof Your Yard
• Practical Suggestions to Save Your Baby's Skin from the Sun

Dimples and Dandelions

Find out if Dimples and Dandelions has any current coupons or sales going on. Or...

View the entire baby swimsuits collection at Dimples and Dandelions

Pink Provence	Pink Provence Sandals	Lollypops	Lollypops Sandals

The Children's Place

Find out if The Children's Place has any current coupons or sales going on. Or...

Browse right away through all the baby swimsuits at The Children's Place.

Striped One-Piece	Newborn Bubble Swimsuit	Floral Tankini

Tuga Sunwear

They have pretty much anything you could want. 1-piece suits, 2-piece suits, 3-piece suits, hats, shoes, cover ups...it's a one-stop shop.

The lightweight nylon/lycra material is comfortable to wear and dries quickly. All their swimwear is UV Protective with a UPF 50+ rating.

Find out if Tuga Sunwear has any current coupons or sales going on. Or...

Pay a visit right away to Tuga Sunwear to see their entire collection.

Flower Parade Ruffle 1-Piece	Two-Piece Sunsuit	Three-Piece Sunsuit

Dimples and Dandelions

By the way, the "Blue Tire Threads" pictured below is currently 50% off. Act quickly, since when it sells out it's gone!

Find out if Dimples and Dandelions has any current coupons or sales going on. Or...

Visit Dimples and Dandelions baby boy collection.

Bobby Mack Brown Summer	Bobby Mack Summer Circles	Blue Tire Threads

Hartstrings

Unfortunately, I cannot deep link to bring you to the specific page that shows you the shorts. To see them listed, near the top of the home page, next to the word "SEARCH" click the down arrow to highlight baby and then type the word "swim" in the "what are you looking for" search box. The trunks will pop right up.

Find out if Hartstrings has any current coupons or sales going on. Or...

Click here to visit Hartstrings and see these baby swim trunks right away.

Tuga Sunwear

All the infant swimwear sold there is UPF 50+ and made from a unique fabric that is light and dries quickly. The green bodysuit below has zippers in the back and snaps on the inseam for quick and easy diaper changes. That particular breaker also comes in blue and black.

Find out if Tuga Sunwear has any current coupons or sales going on. Or...

Click here to see the boys swimwear at Tuga Sunwear.

Boy's Breakers 1-Piece Sunsuit	Boy's Low Tide Sunsuits	Mallies 2-Piece Sunsuit

Preventing Diaper Disasters

• Purchase disposable swim diapers.
• Purchase a re-usable cover for your baby's diaper. If you size them right, these can be a real blessing. Besides being cheaper than disposables, when on vacation, you only have to pack 1 or 2, rather than find room for a whole package!

Baby Water Shoes

Purchasing baby water shoes solves that problem. The shoes protect sensitive toes and feet from harsh UV rays (without the lotion), while allowing baby to explore the baby pool. They dry quickly and won't mold or smell funny after a few uses.

Once your baby starts walking, the hard rubber sole allows him to safely transition from pool to ground without fear of hard rocks or slivered mulch providing tender ouchies.

There are two places online that sell worthy long-lasting baby water shoes. Tuga Sunwear and One Step Ahead. I've shown and example of each, and hyperlinked them to the right. Next to the baby swimsuit, this may be your best purchase this summer.

The best place to find baby water shoes that won't fall apart by July is at Tuga Sunwear. They have an impressive array of water shoes, starting at infant size 5 and up through children's sizes. You can view their entire water shoe collection here.

Sun Hats

Bucket Hat at
Tuga Sunwear

I understand that many babies don't like wearing sun hats. My Elena hated her hat. However, being significantly older and much bigger than she was, I knew that what Elena wanted wasn't good for her.

As a parent, it's my job to over-rule and keep her safe. She was going to wear that hat. Since I knew I was going to win in the end, I was able to patiently endure the temper-tantrum. She'd take off the hat, I'd put it on, holding it on her head. She would scream, wiggle, kick. I would calmly tell her "Elena, the hat stays on". She'd manage to rip it off, I would calmly put it back on.

This went on for about 15-20 minutes. Eventually, she got the picture. She was exhausted, and all her fussing wasn't giving her what she wanted. Mom won. The hat stayed on the entire day. If you persevere, you WILL get your infant to leave the hat on, and the sooner she learns that lesson, the more peaceful your future summers will be.

Here are two online stores I've stumbled upon that offer high-quality sun hats.

• Tuga Sunwear
• One Step Ahead

I'm not exaggerating when I say that these items are not found anywhere else. They are designed and manufactured by One Step Ahead and sold only through their website. (Click here to check for sales and coupons at One Step Ahead.)

The usual caveat: Never, EVER, leave your baby unattended, even for a second, when s/he is around water. This is a HUGE no-no, that many grieving parents have regretted.

• The Li'l Squirt Baby Pool
  A gentle splash pool that helps make your baby more comfortable in water. With floating 3-D fish, soft rain-like sprinkles, your baby will love sitting the water and splashing away. This toy is best for babies who sit up comfortably and without assistance.
  
  
  
• Baby Spring Float Activity Center
  This is a safe, balanced, baby float that features a removable UV canopy. Attached floating toys make floating in the water even more fun. All the extra toys are tethered, so they can't float away and get lost. Folds flat and includes a tote for easy storage and travel.
  
  
  
• Sun Smarties Infant Cabana
  This little pop-up cabana allows your infant to enjoy the summer without getting over-heated or sunburned. The mesh-siding and ventilated roof allows a healthy breeze to sweep through, while the shading fabric blocks 98% of UV rays. Folds compactly into it's own carrying case. It's the perfect place for napping-time at the beach. If the idea of shade and breezes appeals to you, check out this family-sized beach cabana.
  
  
  
• Sand-Away Beach Bag
  I love this bag. It's simple - you pile all your beach toys inside it, give it a good shake, and leave the sand at the beach. It has a hook'n loop closures to keep toys in place and a zippered security pocket (leave your purse!) that snaps to your gear. Just one more practical product that will save time cleaning out the car and prevent sand-deposits around the house.
  
  

  ---

  
  So there it is. The complete go-to guide for infant swimwear and summer fun with your baby. In my opinion, summer doesn't really begin until the swimsuits are purchased. Perhaps that's why my kids get so antsy when it's June and I still haven't picked up their suits!

  I've found peace of mind (and in the home) by purchasing my summer-stock of clothing, gear, and toys online.

  In these crazy-hectic days, it's such a blessing to open the door for the Fed-Ex man to bring my shopping straight to me. I hope these online finds can be as useful to you as they were to me.

  Return to Infant Safety from Infant Swimwear

  
  
  ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: Blink Del.icio.us Digg
  Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb
  
  
  • EiR HomePage
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • SiteMap
  • FREE eZine
  • Bargain Shopping