UV swimwear to keep our girls (and boys) covered

Every year, I look out for appropriately modest swimsuits for girls. Not to keep them bundled in tents, but to keep them cute and water-ready without having to succumb to ruching and triangle teeny-bikini tops for the nonexistent boobs. …

UV swimwear to keep our girls (and boys) covered

Every year, I look out for appropriately modest swimsuits for girls. Not to keep them bundled in tents, but to keep them cute and water-ready without having to succumb to ruching and triangle teeny-bikini tops for the nonexistent boobs. Well here's a cool New Zealand brand that knows a little something about cool swimwear for boys and girls that has nothing to do with premature sex appeal and everything to do with actual swimming. (Weird, right?)

Snapper Rock makes UV 50+ swimwear for boys and girls that's meant to be run in, waded in, and wave-jumped in. Hold the hooch. And hold the sunburn, hopefully--they block 98% of harmful rays, as certified by the Australian government.

Because Snapper Rock's swimwear is athetically oriented, the standouts are pieces like rash guard tops and board shorts, which I've always thought look so cute on girls. The three-piece sport set shows that patterns can be on trend without the cuts being uh...small. And the long-sleeve rash guards are great for early season swimming, or sensitive skin that tends to burn.

If you want a more traditional bikin set, the pale blue Ocean Raspberry pattern is just gorgeous--and still practical, with more of a sporty tank-style top.

For both boys and girls you'll find adorable long-sleeve sunsuits that are great for infants and toddlers; but my very favorite have to be the hibiscus boardies, which my girls are loving! We tried a pair and found them to be a little looser than expected--you might size down if you're on the fence or have a skinny girl like mine.

Mamas of boys, they've got you covered there too with some very cool long boardie styles.

Covered being the operative word. I like that. -Liz

Find rash guards, board shorts, and other UV 50+ swimwear for kids for kids in sizes 0-12 online at Snapper Rock. Please note the website is a little wonky with no permalinks to individual items. Be sure to scroll down in any given category to see more options than what is readily apparent. 

More in KidsView all picks →

shannon hale princess in black book and author

Q&A with children’s book author Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is the bestselling author behind The Princess in Black series. It's a favorite early chapter book series for kids ages 5–8 and boys love it as much as girls do. Her newest book, Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble, comes out just in time for Halloween. We talked with her about it as part of our Q&A author series and asked about a few of her favorite things too.

Explore Build-a-Bear

Some Not-So-Spooky Fun this Halloween

How can Build-A-Bear be used for Halloween costumes? Let kids create a spooky Build-A-Bear sidekick to incorporate into their costume, which can help the costume be enjoyed beyond Halloween.

Q&A with children's author Sophie Blackall

Q&A with children's author Sophie Blackall

Cool Mom Picks readers, we are so excited to launch a new series for you. We are obsessed book lovers over here at the CMP headquarters, and we have a particular soft spot for children's books (even though we're moving our kids into coll…