Always ask permission as a sign of respect and consideration for the child’s experience and perspective.

Approach with a gentle stride and a calm demeanor. Place your hand on their back and sweetly ask, “May I check your diaper? Then wait for 7-to-10 seconds, giving them time to respond.

When a child says “no” and it is necessary to change it, honor the “no” by responding, “I hear you, you aren’t ready, I can come back in a few minutes and ask again.” When you return, the intent and verbiage should be different. “I am back. It is time to change your diaper now. Are you ready?”

If a child says no again: “You still aren’t ready, I understand, hmmm, I am worried if the pee or poop sit in your diaper, it may give you a rash, and I want to keep your skin and body safe, it is time now.” Then acknowledge the disruption by explaining how you will support them. “I see you are busy playing, so I will do it quickly so you can come right back to play.” More respect and acknowledgment of them and their perspective. You are building partnership and modeling respectful behavior in relationships.

Stick with respect and offer choices, so they feel like they are in control. “Would you like to walk to the diaper table, or would you like me to carry you?” This is a crucial moment for the child, you, your relationship, and future diaper changes because you are honoring the child’s experience and this detail is not going to be lost on them. In fact, they are taking it all in, making notes on what respect feels like. You are planting some serious and powerful seeds in these moments.

If they resist moving and plant their feet or throw their body down, say (and this is a gem that you will use often) “Ah, I heard you say you wanted to walk, but now you are choosing to stay still, you are telling me you want me to carry you, I would be happy to help.” Then bend down, still with love and kindness, pick up their body and carry them to the changing table.

The key in these moments is to avoid engaging in this resistant behavior. Your only job is to steady the course, no matter what attempt at distraction your little throws your way. This is a stellar opportunity to practice acceptance of all choices. Whatever the child does, accept it, take it in, and adapt but steady the course. This diaper change Is happening, buddy.

Children want us to be leaders because it permits them to be leaders in their own lives. Even though they are making it hard for you, they are testing your relationship.

When you steady the course and don’t let them pull you into their distraction, they feel loved by you. When you let them distract you or wear you down and/or abandon your mission, they question your commitment to them, and you become untrustworthy.

Here is another opportunity to model respect and ask, “May I pick you up?”

Typically, they will raise their little hands to say yes. Asking if you can pick allows them to prepare their body to be picked up. As soon as you ask the question, their brains communicate to their bodies to flex the necessary muscles to prepare to be picked up. This enables your child to feel strong and participate when you pick them up. Grabbing a child to pick them up without warning is shocking and scary. Asking and waiting until you have their attention and permission will support them physically, mentally, and will build more trust between you both.

Now that the child is in your arms, gently and lovingly lay them down, supporting their head and entire body until they are lying comfortably.

Once the child is lying comfortably, take a breath, lay your hand gently on their belly and look into their eyes. Smile sweetly and ask, “Are you ready?” Wait for them to respond and then begin the diaper change.

First: Ask them to help while you remove their bottoms. “Will you please lift your legs in the air so I can remove your bottoms?” then watch as they gleefully shoot their legs in the air.

Second: Tell them what you are doing next. “I am going to use this wipe to clean your body. It may be a little cold.” Then gently wipe them and, if necessary, hold their legs up with a gentle, respectful grip.

Third: Hold the new diaper and show it to them. “I am going to put this fresh diaper on you now. Will you please lift your legs again?” They are usually thrilled to assist you in this way, and their legs go flying in the air. “Thank you! That is so helpful.” Then slide the diaper under their bottom and ask them to please lower their legs back down.

This level of commitment to respectful interaction around diaper changes will create a beautiful relationship between you and the children you care for. They will rarely resist having a diaper change because the experience will be rich in connection, and connection leads to cooperation.

Avoid giving children electronics to distract them during a diaper change. You will be teaching them to check out when someone is touching them.

Avoid negative responses to how their poop smells or how much they pooped. It is embarrassing and disrespectful to make fun of how a child’s body creates smelly or gross things. They will interpret it to mean they are gross or smelly. Stay neutral, matter of fact, no big deal, all in a day’s work.

Stay present with your little one when changing a diaper. Stay off the phone and avoid interruption until the diaper change is complete. Make eye contact as much as possible and talk with them about the details. They love you. They trust you. This is a beautiful time to honor them, teach them, and model kindness.

Sarah is a child behavior & respectful child care expert. She has been coaching parents in effective respectful care strategy for over 10 years. She makes complex parenting issues simple to navigate and her methods are clear, effective and provide immediate relief for both parent and child.ehavior specialist and

Whether your little one has a bump, scrape or break, or something more serious, keeping your kids healthy and happy is a challenge every parent faces. Luckily, when your child does need more serious care, healthcare experts specializing in tiny humans are there to save the day. We talked to five physicians from top-ranked Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. to hear the things they wish all parents knew about their child’s healthcare—from prevention to how to make hospital visits less stressful.

Learn more and help your loved ones grow up strong with Children’s National Hospital.

Here’s what they had to say:

It's Okay to Ask Questions

Your doctors are there to help your family, which means helping you understand exactly what's going on. “Ask questions and don't be afraid to say when you don't understand,” says Children’s National Hospital Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist Elizabeth Sherwin. “Medicine has its own language and vocabulary, and it is important to ask for clarification if something doesn't sound familiar or make sense. We want you to feel heard, and we want you to understand what is being discussed.”

Check in With Your Doctor

If you're not sure whether or not that owie, rash or cough warrants a trip to the doctor, you can always reach out before making the trip. “Do not delay in seeing a medical professional for any worrisome condition. Many visits qualify for an initial telehealth appointment. You can ask your provider if that’s an option,” says Timothy Kane, Chief, Division of General & Thoracic Surgery.

This year, Children’s National Hospital is celebrating 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community! Learn more and help your loved ones grow up strong with Children’s National Hospital.

Sometimes There's Not An Easy Answer

As much as your child's doctor wants to give you an answer quickly, it's not always feasible. Associate Division Chief of Oncology Eugene Hwang shares: “Sometimes, there isn't a perfect test to diagnose a problem, and it may take time, careful observation and repeated visits in order to make the best decisions regarding diagnostic or treatment procedures.”

Give Your Doctors Details

When it comes to your child's health, there's no such thing as oversharing. Cardiologist Niti Dham says: “We want parents to feel empowered and advocate for their child. We want to hear from them. The parents’ perspective and observations at home are just as, if not more, important than what we see in the office. We want to hear how the child is doing at home: Are symptoms improving or worsening? Are they tolerating the medicines? Are there any other concerns?”

Children’s National is ranked number 1 for newborn care for the fourth straight year and as one of the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more and help your loved ones grow up strong with Children’s National Hospital.

As my son’s 5th birthday approaches, I have to stop and wonder where has the time gone? It has been five years of change, growth, challenge, and laughter above all. When I was pregnant with my son, I worried about what kind of mother I would be. Would I be the disciplinarian, the fun and cool mom, the teacher, or the helicopter mom?  It turns out in these past five years, I have managed to be all of the above.

I have grown and learned so much in the past five years. Who would have thought this little boy would have taught me more about myself than I ever could? The trials and tribulations of motherhood are ones that are ever-evolving. When my son was 7 days old, he developed a rash all over his face. The doctor had called it “contact dermatitis.” I immediately thought that I was the worst mom for letting my brand new baby get this rash all over his beautiful, brand new face. I feared it would scab and scar his face. That is enough to put a brand new, first-time mom into post-partum anxiety. I was nervous and fearful of anyone holding him that it would happen to him again. I was pushed and shoved out of my comfort zone anytime we brought him around people. I feared that if it happened once, that it would happen again. Helicopter mom to the rescue! As he got older, that fear very slowly went away.

Then we start pre-school which, if I couldn’t any more helicopter-ish, I then became the stalker-atzi of my son in pre-school two days a week. Because I am a teacher myself, I was never able to drop my son off or pick him up so that job went mostly to my mom. God bless her! I don’t know how she managed to drop off my son who without fail would cry at every single drop-off. I never understood why he cried until he became old enough to express himself and tell me why he cried at every drop-off.

When he was 3, we sent him to a new preschool where he instantly became comfortable and had the most loving teachers. As if I wasn’t the helicopter mom already, this time, my sister worked in the same school that my son was now attending. Each day around 9 a.m., she would just walk by his classroom, and update me that he was happy or playing or engaging with the other children. Those updates were all that I needed to ensure that my son was happy and thriving in his new school. This too has changed me as a teacher. I never realized the longing that I had to hear how my son’s day was and what he did. I then started a weekly “newsletter” highlighting all of the wonderful things we were doing in my classroom so that my parents of my students knew what we were doing and could then have those dinner time conversations with their children about what they were learning and what they would be working on next.

Cue the start of being in pre-school and all of the sicknesses that went along with it. We have had the stomach bug, common colds, ear infections, RSV, bronchitis, the flu, seasonal allergies, and lastly, pneumonia. I tried every vitamin and immune booster that was on market. When I was at the pediatrician’s office weekly, I figured I was being judged on my parenting. But thankfully, my son’s pediatrician, who was my pediatrician as a child assured me that this was all normal as my son’s immune system began its journey that it would get better by the time he was in grade school.

Now if things couldn’t have become any crazier, in comes the COVID-19 virus which is when I truly learned more about my son, myself, and our family dynamic. We were immediately forced into working from home and spending a lot of time together. My husband was working from home on his own zoom calls and meetings, I was teaching remotely, and my son had his own zoom meetings and work to do in Pre-K. While this time was one that was isolating at times, I wouldn’t trade that time with my little family for anything in the world. There were days that life was stressful, but having my son and husband home with me every day was truly a blessing. Being able to teach my son his letters and how to write his name was a time that I will never forget. In that time, I became the disciplinarian for everyone to get their work done and stay the course. I was the teacher-mom making sure that my son didn’t fall behind all while trying to make sure that 21 of my students weren’t losing any of their instructional time. I was the fun and cool mom because I was able to spend that time with my son and be outside with him whether it was riding bikes, swinging on the swings, or swimming in the pool. The time spent with my family during that time is a time that I truly cherish and makes me realize that there is nothing more important than family.

Melissa Christopher
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

My name is Melissa. I am a mom to an incredible 5 year old boy. My husband, my son, and I live in the same town that I grew up in. In those 5 years of being a mom, I have learned a lot about myself and can't wait to share it with you. 

There’s no shortage of celeb baby news in 2021. Along with Meghan Markle’s announcement and a recent rash of births including Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff and Bindi Irwin, you can now add another celebrity to the new parent list—Jason Derulo.

The singer and his girlfriend, Jena Frumes, are expecting their first child together! Derulo revealed the pregnancy in a recent Instagram post, writing, “Couldn’t be more excited for this new chapter in our life.”

In their IG video clip, the happy soon-to-be parents walk sweetly hand-in-hand on the beach. Derulo stops to gently rub and kiss Frumes’ growing baby bump as the couple strolls through the super-scenic setting. As the singer’s IG video comes to a close, the camera moves from the couple to the beach, with the words, “Coming soon” drawn in the sand.

Derulo and Frumes met just before the pandemic began. He later opened up to Page Six about his relationship with Frumes, spending time with his four-year-old niece Skylar, and whether he has “baby fever” saying, “You know, I think I’m getting to that age, you know what I’m saying? So, I don’t know.”

Congrats go out to the happy couple!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

 

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Travel light and super organized with this checklist of must-haves to pack in your diaper bag. Some of these will surprise you, but you’ll thank us later. Read on for diaper bag essentials you won’t want to skip.

Diapering Essentials

iStock

Diapers
Bring more than you think you’ll need. Think one or two for each hour you’ll be out, plus a few extras for good luck.

Wipes
Pack both bum wipes and hand & face wipes to clean all the body parts. Save money by buying the large containers and transferring what you need into smaller containers when you leave the house.

Diaper Cream
You never know when a rash will hit, and this will keep your baby comfortable.

Plastic Bags or Wet Bags
You’ll want these for disposing of dirty diapers in and for holding soiled clothing or anything else that gets messy while you’re out.

Portable Changing Pad
You never know where you’ll end up doing the dirty deed, so a plush changing pad is key to cleanliness and comfort.

Feeding Essentials

iStock

Burp Cloths or Bibs
Whether your little one spits up or spills your coffee, these absorbent cloths will clean it right up.

Insulated Bag
Keep baby bottles, water and snacks cool with a small insulated bag.

Snacks
Pack something for you and baby to eat while you’re out. Snacks make a handy distraction if you have to wait somewhere, and you never know when hunger will strike.

Bottles and/or Nursing Supplies
Bring more bottles of formula or breastmilk than you think you need, in case of spills.

Water
You and your child can get extra thirsty when you’re out and about, especially on warm days.

Comfort Essentials

iStock

Toys and/or Board Books
One or two small toys, stuffies or board books can keep your child occupied if crankiness sets in. If that doesn't work, rather than loading down your bag with more toys, sing or dance with your child to keep them entertained.

Pacifiers and/or Teethers
Bring an extra in case your baby is working on their pitching arm. A small container of pacifier wipes helps keep them clean if you’re not near a sink.

Light Blanket
A thin, muslin blanket keeps your babe warm if the weather turns colder, makes for a clean spot to sit on, and blocks the sun from the car seat or stroller during nap time. Leave some of the car seat uncovered so it doesn’t get too hot underneath it.

Extra Clothes—for Both of You
An extra outfit for your child and a shirt for you keeps you looking good and helps you forget the big spill or diaper blowout you just endured. Depending on the weather, you may need sun hats or winter mittens too.

Health & Safety Essentials

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Hand Sanitizer
Disinfect your hands and changing pad after a diaper change. You'll also want to clean your hands and your baby's after being in public spaces.

Sunscreen
Yes, you both need it even on cloudy days and cold days. Get a solid stick sunscreen; they take up less room and won’t leak in your bag. For babes under six months, a wide-brim sun hat, breathable UPF 50+ sun blanket and shade should do the trick.

Adhesive Bandages
Owies can ruin an outing, but a bandage with Peppa Pig on it takes away some of the sting.

Portable Phone Charger
Life happens, and you don’t want to be caught away from home without access to a map or a way to reach people. 

Your Name & Phone Number
If you happen to lose your diaper bag (nightmare!), you’ll have a better chance of retrieving it if you've tucked contact information into an outer pocket.

How to Keep It All Organized

How do you find all this stuff in your diaper bag? If your bag has built-in pockets, organize your items by category, storing all the diapering products together and the clothes in a different spot. If your bag is more of the black hole variety, pack items in smaller bags or containers. Clear, zipped pouches or bags in different colors can help you find what you need more quickly. Put the items you know you’ll need (hello, diapers) on top of the just-in-case products. Still looking for that unicorn of diaper bags? Check out the articles below for stylish diaper bag options and a guide to choosing the right bag for your needs.

—Eva Ingvarson Cerise

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Ashley Scribi

Mother of a 2.5 year old little girl and expecting a son. New England living.

I am trying to think positive thoughts and send out happy summer vibes that include packed beaches, dips in the ocean and ice cream before dinner. I hope I don’t look back at this post and roll my eyes because we are still social distancing. But, if if is going to happen, this post is to help prepare you for trips to the beach with children! This will be Amelia’s third year going to the beach. She was born in July and got a few trips in before the weather cooled down.


1

Pop Up Tent

Easy Pop Up tent for beach and home

$99.99

Perfect place for babies and toddlers to play at beach and can also nap in. Great way to keep them contained while also enjoying the beach day. Works in homes and yards as well.

BUY NOW

2

FISHER-PRICE® WINDMILL ON-THE-GO BABY DOME

Infant Tent for outdoors

$69.99

Perfect size for infants, easily collapses and stores. Great for outdoors.

BUY NOW

3

Tubby Todd Sunscreen

Clean Sunscreen for children of all ages

$20

Great brand, great product. Love their sunscreen and feel safe using it.

BUY NOW

4

Rashguards - Zip up

$24.99

I prefer the zipper rash guards that can go over any bathingsuit and can be easily taken on and off. Versatile and sun safe.

BUY NOW

5

Portable booster chair

Perfect place for baby/toddler to sit

$29.99

These chairs fold easily and are a great place to feed your child at the beach and have them play right in it. Easily transported and wiped down to avoid sand in their meals!

BUY NOW

6

Beach Toys

Fun for all ages

$13.80

16PC set of beach toys that is fun for all ages.

BUY NOW

Calling all shoppers! shopDisney is hosting its biggest sale of the year, with deals on all things magical. From back to school essentials and clothing to home and toys, the limited sale won’t last long. Keep scrolling to see some of the biggest steals you can nab now,

$12 Backpacks

Whether your kiddos are headed back to in-person school or their book bag just needs a big update, shopDisney's sale has seriously marked down prices. For $12, you can select from your fave princesses, Marvel superheroes, Star Wars and Disney classics.

Shop all $12 backpacks here.

$6 Lunchboxes

Whether your littles love Lightning McQueen or marvel at The Mandalorian, there are plenty of options on sale. Choose from options in lunch totes, bags and boxes.

Check out all the $6 lunchboxes here.

$10 Swimwear

It's not too late to stock up on summer essentials. shopDisney has everything from rash guards and swimsuits to wetsuits and coverups on deep discounts.

Shop all swimwear here.

$8 Action Figures

Can you ever have enough action figures? Kids don't think so! Head to Disney and check out all things action, including Marvel, Toy Story and Star Wars figures.

Search all action figures here.

$13 Shirts

While many Disney parks remain closed, you can still gear up for the magic! Kids and adults shirts are on major discounts, with everything from classic and vintage styles to all the newest characters.

Check out all sale T-shirts and tops here.

––Karly Wood

All photos Courtesy of shopDisney.

 

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Long, lazy summer days spent outside are the best. But babies’ tiny bodies and sensitive skin need careful consideration. Here are the top sun-safety rules to live by this summer, to keep your baby comfortable, covered up and well hydrated.

photo: Weefarers

1. Baby sunglasses! Not only are baby sunglasses all kinds of adorable, they provide important protection against the sun’s harsh rays. If your little one likes to fling them off, try sunglasses with a band or strap to keep them on securely. We love Weefarers sunglasses (above), which come with a removable strap and carrying pouch in two sizes (age 0-2 and 2-4) and polarized or not. All styles provide 100% UVA and 100% UVB protection.

2. Choose sun-protective swimwear. The key to keeping your baby safe in the sun is sun-protective clothing. Look for swimwear that has a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 30 or higher for the best protection. One-piece, full-coverage suits and rash guards cover more skin, which means less time struggling with applying sunscreen to a wriggly baby.

3. Dress in light layers. Look for breathable fabrics, like cotton, which soaks up sweat and can help keep baby cool. And dress kids in layers, covering as much of their skin as is comfortable. You can remove any excess clothing when you’re in the shade.

photo: iStock

4. Apply, and reapply, sunscreen. Check out our favorite sunscreen for babies, and reapply after contact with water, or approximately every two hours if you’ll be outside longer than that. Pro tip: Set your phone’s alarm to remind you when it’s time for more sunscreen. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants 6 months and younger shouldn’t wear sunscreen, so keep the little ones in the shade and in sun-protective clothing instead.

5. Pop on a wide-brimmed bucket hat, preferably with a chin strap. Baby hats are important for all kids, especially little baldies. The wider the brim, the better. Also, look for a hat that’s made of a lightweight material that will dry quickly and offers UV protection. A chin strap is extra helpful to hold hats in place, but avoid the ones with a one-piece strap, due to safety concerns over it being a strangulation hazard. Instead, get one with a two-piece strap that attaches in the center with a clip or velcro.

6. Limit time in the sun during the hottest part of the day. The sun’s rays are strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And since that’s pretty much most of the day, it can be hard to stay indoors the entire time. But if you can squeeze in a nap or some shade during this time frame, it helps to keep your little ones out of the sun at the time when it can be most dangerous.

7. Expand your shade options. A big sunshade on your stroller or a shady spot under an umbrella or tree can keep babies comfortable. But to protect the whole family, we love ShelterLogic’s pop-up canopies. They provide shade for 6-7 people, with ample room for playing.

photo: Veer

8. Consider a pop-up play yard. These little tents are great for the beach, park picnics, backyard fun and camping. They do the double duty of keeping your baby out of the sun and also providing a cool place for a nap, nursing or a quick diaper change. We love the Veer Basecamp (above) for its ease of use and UPF50 protection. Here are more of our favorite play yards.

9. Keep them hydrated. Keep your babes topped up with breastmilk, formula or water (if they’re old enough) to avoid dehydration. Fresh fruit makes a hydrating snack. 

10. Keep your summer bag packed. Stay ready for adventure by choosing a summer bag and keeping it mostly packed, with a change of clothes, sun hat, sunscreen and packaged snacks so you just have to add a few items to get you on your way.

—Heather Dixon

 

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It’s time to suit up for outdoor fun, whether that means a kiddie pool in the yard, the lake or a day at the beach. Read on to find the cutest bathing suits, including swim diapers and rash guards, from popular kids clothing brands like MORI, Janie and Jack and Tea Collection. And get ready to make a splash!

Pin the best swimwear for babies of the year.

Swim Diapers

Grow-With-Baby Swim Diapers

Sarah-Jane Collection

Pictured in the style Boho Rainbow, this swim bundle from the Sarah-Jane Collection covers all the basics: It comes with a swim diaper, a matching hooded towel and a wet bag for holding wet swimsuits, diapers, snacks or sunblock. Little ones grow so fast (they need to stop doing that!), and these diapers will grow with them. These swim diapers fit from the infant stage through toddlerhood. By the time your baby outgrows these, they'll be potty-trained! 

Ages: newborn-toddler (10-25 lbs.) 

Available at sarah-janecollection.com, $45.95 for the diapers, towel and bag. 

Pair Down to a Swim Diaper

Primary

We love these unisex swim diapers from Primary for their cute style and comfortable, snug fit. They boast UPF 50+ to keep baby's bum safe and are free of more than 300 chemicals commonly found in garments. Keep your baby's skin free from irritants with swimwear that doubles as a diaper (like most swim diapers, they only contain waste, not liquid). 

Ages: 3/6 months-18/24 months

Available at primary.com, $11.50. 

Stylin' in a Diaper Cover

Pottery Barn Kids

Keep it simple with this sunshine-print diaper cover from Pottery Barn Kids that lets your baby keep routine in their favorite diaper underneath. Add a monogram to make this simple nylon accessory more snazzy. 

Ages: 3/6 months-12/24 months

Available at potterybarnkids.com, $15.50. 

Boardshorts and Swim Trunks

Quick-Drying Board Shorts

Cheeky Chickadee

Australian children's wear company Cheeky Chickadee makes clothes with cute, vivid prints. Bonus: They ship free worldwide with orders over $45. We adore these board shorts dotted with hand-drawn cockatoos. They are lightweight so they dry quickly, and they come in larger sizes so siblings (or dad & son!) can go full twinsy at the beach or pool. 

Ages: 6/12 months-10 years

Available at cheekychickadeestore.com, $19.54. 

Stay-Put Swim Trunks

MORI

These swim shorts from MORI sport a snug fit so they stay put when your little paddler makes a splash. Made from recycled nylon and elastane for stretch, they offer UPF 50+ protection. Pair these adorable trunks with a matching rash guard ($34) for extra protection against the sun's rays.

Ages: 3/6 months-3/4 years

Available at minimori.com, $19. 

One-Pieces

Sail Away With a One-Piece

Janie and Jack

Tiny little sailboats and a billowy silhouette with a tiny ruffle detail keeps baby cute and comfy (and also does a great job of hiding a bulky diaper). This one-piece from Janie and Jack also keeps your little bundle's skin safe with a UPF 50+ fabric. We love that older sibs and cousins can find coordinating prints

Ages: 0/3 months-18/24 months

Available at janieandjack.com, $39. 

Twirl in a Skirted One-Piece

SnapperRock

If you're looking for solid protection from the sun, check out this line of swimwear from Snapper Rock that blocks 98% of the sun's harmful rays. We love this playful number that features one of summer's favorite fruits along with a sweet, pink skirt. 

Ages: 3/6 months-4 years

Available at snapperrock.com, $48. 

Tankinis & Bikinis

Go Seam-Free in a Two-Piece

SwimZip

We're a sucker for a seersucker, and this two-piece set from SwimZip couldn't be cuter. With no seams or tags and adjustable straps, it's the perfect suit for a fuss-free afternoon in the water. It comes in pink, peach and navy gingham; each fabric blocks out 98% of the sun's harmful rays. 

Ages: 6/12 months-5T

Available at swimzip.com, $20. 

Bloom with a Tulip-Back Tankini

Ruffle Butts

A two-piece bathing suit makes diaper changes a cinch. This sweet set from Ruffle Butts features a UPF 50+ seersucker fabric with (naturally!) a ruffled bottom and a chic tulip back (meaning it's slightly open at the waist to show off those ruffles). You can also monogram this swimwear for a super-cute customized look. 

Ages: 3/6 months-4T

Available at rufflebutts.com, $27.50

Rash Guards

Stay Sun Safe in a Full-Body Rash Guard

UV Skinz

When you want all-over protection from the elements, a full-body rash guard is in order. UV Skinz offers an extra layer of protection with a fabric that is certified UPF 50+. This guard comes in three adorable prints: Hibiscus Floral Geo, Peony Pink Geo and Pink Flamingo Dot. For head-to-toe protection, you can also order a matching sun hat

Ages: 3/6 months-3T

Available at uvskinz.com, $46.95. 

Make Things Easy with a Two-PIece Floral Set

The Gap

This multi-floral suit from the Gap really adds a pop of color to a sunny day. A rash guard offers extra protection with long sleeves, but this two-piece option comes with the convenience of a separate bottom. 

Ages: newborn-24 months

Available at gap.com, $29.95.

Zip It Up in a One-Piece Baby Rash Guard

Tea Collection

This rash guard from Tea Collection features an adorable ruffle leg line and an 80% nylon/20% spandex blend that provides UPF 40+ protection. A front zipper means you don't need to wrestle baby out of a wet suit when it's time for a change. 

Ages: 3 months-4T

Available at teacollection.com, $42. 

—Meghan Yudes Meyers

featured photo: Tea Collection 

 

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