Whether you’re thinking about taking your baby swimming, planning a vacation near the water, or just spending time in the backyard, you may be considering a swimsuit for your baby. With so many to choose from, how do you pick the swimsuit that’s best for you and your baby?
As moms, we’ve spent hours researching the best and safest ways to spend time by and in the water with our babies. It’s tricky balancing safety, relaxation, and fun, but with some professional help, we’ve chosen the 20 best swimsuits for babies, so you can enjoy your time by the water.
- Easy diaper change zipper
- Durable, sun-safe fabric
- Minimal sun exposure design
- Full arm & leg coverage
- Sizes start at 3 months old
- Cute prints
- Two-piece suit isn’t “adult” looking
- Comes in multiple sizes
- Stands up well to repeated washings
- The waist tie keeps shorts snug
- Easy to mix & match
- UPF 50+ fabric
- Newborn to 3 years sizes
- Comfy leg cuffs
- Keeps diaper messes inside
- Includes an adjustable sun hat
- Chlorine & salt water resistant
- Comes in multiple animal styles
- Cute retro look
- Matching headband
- Available in 3 colors
- Includes sun hat & neck guard
- Front & back zip for convenience
- 14 color & pattern combos
- Doubles as a shorts & t-shirt
- Includes a sweet, matching hat
- Made from quick-dry fabric
- Sun covering long sleeves
- Doubles as an outfit with shorts/skirt
- UPF 50+ fabric
Review Methodology: At Mom Loves Best, we ensure you can trust our content by conducting thorough research, comprehensive analysis, and hands-on assessments. Our experienced team compares and ranks the best baby swimsuits based on key criteria such as comfort, material, durability, and safety. We measure a product’s performance and provide you with factual data and evidence, gathered from our professional evaluations and user experiences. We then review and score each swimsuit, identifying unique features that set it apart from its competitors. By focusing on vital decision-making factors such as design choices and their effects on users, we offer an in-depth guide to help you choose the best swimsuits for your little one.
The Best Baby Swimsuits of 2024
We used these factors, online reviews, and our own experiences to select the best baby swimsuits.
Swimzip: Baby And Toddler Swimsuits
Best One-Piece
We were stoked to try out the Swimzip swimsuits because they are labeled as chlorine and salt water resistant, and they didn’t disappoint. After a month of use, in and out of salt water, fresh water, and chlorinated pools, the suit still looks like new.
A long zipper reaches the bottom of the leg seam, which makes diaper changes so easy. The 100% polyester material has a 50+ UPF rating, so you don’t have to worry about sun exposure.
The only problem we found is that the sizing runs from 0–6 months and 6–12 months, making sizing selection tricky for some.
Pros
- Full-length zipper for easy diaper changes.
- Durable, sun-safe fabric.
- Full-length arms and legs make for minimal sun exposure.
Cons
- Sizing is difficult to choose as ranges are very wide.
Our Ratings
User Experience
The Tiny Universe: UV Protection Sunsuit
Best UV Protection
For full-body protection, it’s hard to beat this UV protection suit from The Tiny Universe. The suit is made from 84% polyester and 16% spandex, giving it enough flexibility to move with your child without being so loose as to chafe.
There’s a durable YKK zipper down the back with a zipper guard to ensure it doesn’t touch the skin.
We found it stood up well to a lot of crawling on the sand and even older kids climbing on rocks. It’s easy to wash, and quick to dry.
Pros
- Full arm and leg coverage.
- Sizes start at three months.
- Cute prints.
Cons
- No leg opening, so it’s tricky for diaper changes.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
RuffleButts: Baby/Toddler 2-Piece Swimsuit Set
Prettiest Two-Piece
Developed by a US mom, these Rufflebutts two-piece sets combine adorable swimsuit bottoms with the cutest layers of ruffles with matching rash-guard tops that are available in sizes from three months to ten years.
We love the fact that the bottoms are easily removable for diaper changes and that buying two or more sets for a holiday means you can mix and match tops and bottoms.
Pros
- Two-piece suit isn’t “adult” looking.
- Multiple sizes make it possible to match older siblings.
- Stands up well to repeated washings.
Cons
- Ruffles can hang on to a surprising amount of sand!
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Simple Joys by Carter's: 2-piece Baby Swimsuit
Best Mix And Match
Carter’s Simple Joys baby swimsuits are available exclusively on Amazon. They are the same standard and fit as any Carter’s swimsuits you can buy in the store, so sizing isn’t a problem.
We particularly like that you can buy a couple of these two-piece sets and mix and match them. The shorts can be made snug because the drawstring runs all around the waist, not just at the front like some other examples.
Pros
- The waist tie keeps shorts snug.
- Easy to mix and match.
- 50+ UPF fabric
Cons
- Not all styles have long sleeves.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Splash About: Happy Nappy™ Swim Diapers
Best For Indoor Swimming Pools
When it comes to swimming indoors, you may not want to bother with a full-coverage swimsuit for your baby.
If you’re looking for baby swimwear for indoor swimming, we recommend Happy Nappy swim diapers because they are colorful, well-fitting, and most importantly, prevent embarrassing accidents in the pool by holding any poops in.
A soft but snug waistband and leg cuffs hold this swim diaper in place, but they aren’t so tight as to get uncomfortable or leave elastic marks.
Pros
- Available in sizes from newborn to three years.
- Leg cuffs are comfy on the chunkiest thighs.
- Keeps diaper messes from escaping into the pool.
Cons
- It doesn’t provide body coverage when outside.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Cuddle Club: Baby and Toddler One-Piece Swimsuit
Best Animal Print
This cute swimsuit comes with a matching wide-brimmed sun hat. Depending on which color you chose, the hat comes with bear ears or a duck, penguin, or flamingo bill with eyes, making these suits a charming swimwear option.
The UPF 50+ suit has long sleeves, knee-length legs, and a zipper that runs halfway down the trunk.
Pros
- Includes an adjustable sun hat.
- Chlorine and salt water-resistant.
Cons
- The hat fits large.
- The swimsuit runs smaller than typical sizes, so get a size up.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
China Rose: 50's Floral Bathing Suit
Best Retro
If you’re looking for a gorgeous floral swimsuit with a 1950s retro vibe, this is the option for you. A simple halter neck cut makes this a breeze to get on and off, which is ideal for easy diaper changes, and you never have to wrangle wriggly arms through any stretchy fabric.
Pros
- Cute retro look
- Matching headband.
Cons
- Doesn’t provide much sun protection.
- Only one size for babies (0–12 months).
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Upandfast: Baby/Toddler One Piece Sunsuits & Hat
Best with Hat
These light, stretchy swimsuits come in a variety of styles. Choose from a selection of full or mid-length arm coverage and knee-length leg coverage. The matching hat shields babies’ faces from the sun while providing neck coverage in the back
There are no lower snaps for easy diaper changes, so the entire swimsuit needs to be removed for diaper changes.
Also, if the hat gets wet and dries while the rim is folded, it will remain bent. This is easy to fix by soaking the cap and leaving something heavy on the rim while it dries.
Pros
- Coordinating sun hat with neck guard included.
- 14 color and pattern combos available.
Cons
- Hat brim is foam and can become misshapen.
- No bottom snaps for diaper changes.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
DNggAND: Three-Piece Swimwear Set
Best for Everyday Wear
This three-piece swimwear set consists of shorts, a t-shirt, and a matching hat. Choose from a dinosaur, crab, or shark set, each with unique detailing. For example, the dinosaur has three sweet, soft spines running down the back of the shirt.
We particularly like that this set is made with quick-dry fabric. It’s suitable for playing in the water but looks just like a regular t-shirt and shorts. It can be worn for shopping, eating out, or any other off-beach activities.
Pros
- Doubles as a shorts and t-shirt combo.
- Includes a sweet, matching hat that toddlers will want to wear.
Cons
- The shorts are very short.
- Faux pockets are upside down and not useful for holding anything.
Our Ratings
User Experience
RuffleButts: Baby/Toddler Long Sleeved One Piece
Cutest One-Piece
The RuffleButts brand makes a range of coordinating mix-and-match swimwear for babies. This makes it easy to dress your baby in a swimsuit at the beach and throw on some shorts or a skirt to create an outfit without having to do a complete clothing change.
Although this swimsuit pulls on over the head and is held snug with a zipper at the back, there are snaps at the bottom, making it easy to do a quick diaper change without having to remove the entire suit.
Pros
- Long sleeves provide better sun coverage.
- Can be worn out of water as an outfit with shorts or a skirt.
- UPF 50+ fabric keeps baby’s delicate skin safe from the sun’s rays.
Cons
- Snug fit makes it tricky to pull onto wiggly toddlers.
- Zero leg coverage.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
SwimZip: 3 Piece Long Sleeved Rash Guard
Best Three-Piece
This unique swimsuit includes a tank top and a long-sleeved jacket-style zippered top to provide flexible coverage options. You can dress your little one in the shorts and tank top for indoor swimming or when you’re in the shade or add the rash guard jacket for full sun protection.
This trio can also be worn as an outfit away from the beach, allowing you to get more use from it.
Pros
- Flexible coverage options.
- Easy for diaper changes.
Cons
- The smallest size is 6–12 months
- Two layers may be too hot for little ones.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Green Sprouts: Swimsuit with Built-in Swim Diaper
Best Built-in Diaper
Having to buy or use swim diapers under a baby’s swimsuit can be costly and annoying, which is why we are big fans of this swimsuit by Green Sprouts.
This baby swimsuit includes a reusable cloth diaper that is built right into the design. The legs and body fit snuggly, so if your baby poops while in the water, none of the solid waste will escape the suit. However, it is not waterproof, so if you’re holding your baby and they pee, you will get wet.
Pros
- No need for an additional swim diaper.
- Allows for plenty of movement in the pool.
Cons
- Sizes run small.
- Changing baby after a messy poop is a challenge.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Bonverano: Baby Girl’s Bathing Suit
Best Tropical Printed
An excellent swimsuit for the price, this 50+ UPF one-piece sunsuit has mid-length sleeves and knee-length bottoms and comes with a matching hat.
A fabric strip on the inside of the suit, behind the zipper, prevents your baby’s delicate skin from being irritated.
The matching hat includes a neck guard for better sun protection and fits snuggly on baby’s head. We didn’t have any issues with it falling off.
Pros
- Cute tropical patterns.
- 50+ UPF fabrics.
- Comes with a matching hat, without annoying ties.
Cons
- Pattern panels can be misaligned, which looks odd.
Our Ratings
User Experience
i Play: Two-Piece Rash Guard
Best Cloth-Diaper-Friendly
If you’re a cloth diaper user, you know how it can be challenging to find reusable swim diapers that fit well under a swimsuit. That’s why this baby swimsuit set by Green Sprouts is a good option for cloth diaper users.
The cloth diaper bottoms are simple to remove, and the rash guard tops (that won’t fade in saltwater) provide protection from the sun. Both pieces come in vibrant-colored modern designs, unlike anything else we’ve tried.
Pros
- Gorgeous colors, patterns, and details.
- Great for cloth diaper users.
Cons
- Not all bottoms have snaps, making messy diaper changes challenging.
- You’ll need to buy a size up for chunky-thighed babies.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Uideazone: Zipper Rash Guard Swimsuit
Best Pattern Choices
An affordable option with many pattern choices, this rash guard swimsuit is from Uideazone is an excellent choice if you love variety. Choose from over 30 options for boys or girls. If you can’t decide, the affordable price tag makes it easy to buy more than one.
These adorable baby swimsuits tend to run a little big, so you can choose to size down, or purchase the correct size to get extra use out of them.
Pros
- 30+ designs to chose from.
- Thin, comfortable fabric offers UPF 50+ sun coverage.
Cons
- Inconsistent quality standards.
- Without any leg snaps, diaper changes are challenging.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Gerber: Long-Sleeved Rash Guard Baby Swimsuit
Best Long-Sleeved
These sweet two-piece baby swimsuits from Gerber are adorable. Choose from three cute fruit or ice cream prints. And because they’re machine washable and dryable, these swimsuits are straightforward to care for.
However, the bottoms run pretty large, even with a diaper under them. And the tops tend to ride up a little on chunkier babes, leaving bellies exposed to the sunshine.
Pros
- Machine washable and dryable.
Cons
- Bottoms are huge and may require a bulkier swim diaper under them to fit.
- Top rides up exposing bellies and backs to the sun’s rays.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Bonverano: UPF 50+ Sun Protection Zip Swimsuit
Best Certified
This Bonverano swimsuit is made with OEKOTEX-100 Certified Fabrics that are independently tested and rated free from substances harmful to human health (1).
The swimsuit itself has undergone testing against AS/NZS 4399 — a sun-protection standard against which items are independently tested. There’s even a photoreactive logo that turns purple if the sun is too intense, alerting you to move your child into the shade.
Pros
- Photoreactive logo lets you know when the sun’s rays are too strong.
- Independently tested to meet UPF50+ sun protection standards.
Cons
- Must be carefully hand washed to maintain sun protection.
- Hats run small while suits run big.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Green Sprouts: Trunks with Built-in Swim Diaper
Best Swim Diaper Trunks
These swimming trunks with a built-in swim diaper are an excellent option for little ones going to the pool or just playing in the yard.
The diaper section is snug around the legs and waist to keep in any messes. This can cause an issue with chunkier babies as they can be too tight for comfort. Going up a size will help with the tightness, but then the shorts will be very long.
Pros
- Durable material holds up to lots of wear.
- Keeps diaper messes from leaking.
Cons
- Decorative drawstring means you can’t tighten the shorts.
- Very tight waist.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
SwimZip: Two-Piece Long-Sleeved Swimsuit
Best Zippered
Instead of the typical t-shirt or long-sleeved top, this rash guard set from Swim Zip has a jacket-like top with a full-length zipper down the front. This makes it easy to dress and undress your baby.
These cute swimsuits include fun details such as ruffled layers, flowers, or lacy pompom trims.
However, the higher cut of these swimsuit bottoms seems to be designed more for older children who don’t wear swim diapers. For babies, the cut exposes their swim diaper and looks a little unusual.
Pros
- Full-length zipper makes for easy dressing and undressing.
Cons
- Decorative details may not wash well.
- Bottoms have an odd, higher cut, revealing swim diapers underneath.
- Stiff zipper can be hard to adjust.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Amazon Essentials Two-Piece Baby Rash Guard
Best Budget
This simple, two-piece rash guard set from Amazon comes in a variety of colors and prints.
Although these sets are cute, they would be more functional if they maintained standard sizing for babies and toddlers. We found that even on a petite three-month-old baby, the nine-month-old size was just about the right fit.
Apart from the sizing issues, we found that the fabric had a chemical smell, which dissipated after a short while of being out of the packaging.
Pros
- Very budget-friendly swimsuit.
- Comes in a variety of cute prints.
- Long sleeves and UPF 50+ fabric protect arms from the sun’s rays.
Cons
- Tight fit over the head.
- Sizes run extremely small.
- The fabric has an initial chemical smell.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
How to Choose the Best Baby Swimsuits
These are some of the factors to consider when choosing a swimsuit for babies.
Baby Swimsuit FAQs
As moms of babies who spend a lot of time in the water, these are the questions we hear most.
Raising Water Babies
The best baby swimsuits are those that are comfortable, convenient, and safe.
To make the best choice for your baby, consider how much of your baby’s skin will be covered by a swimsuit to protect them from the sun’s harmful rays. Then think about how easy it will be for your baby to move about and explore the great outdoors.
Finally, consider the practical things such as how easy it will be to wrangle your child into and out of a particular swimsuit, and how difficult it will be to change your baby’s diaper when they’re wearing their swimsuit.