Buying Summer Clothes for Kids

Summer always comes faster than you expect. Summer clothes for children need to be bought  ahead of time, so when the first sign of summer arrives they are ready to swim, jump and play. Sunhats and bathing suits, shorts and flipflops and sundresses are all essential. But all of these need to be bought with health and safety in mind, as well as comfort and style. This guide will give you a basic overview of the items kids will need during the summer months. Purchase ahead of time because the most popular styles will run out fast.

Hats

Hats are a summer essential for children. They protect their heads and sometimes necks from the sun. They also keep the sun out of their eyes. Sunglasses are sometimes too cumbersome for kids and a hat makes a great alternative. They come in a wide-brim straw styles, bucket styles, adventure styles, fashion sunhats and sun visors. Many hats for children come with draw strings to keep them on securely.

Sunhats For Kids

Sunglasses

If you child likes wearing sunglasses, they are a great way to protect their eyes from the sun. Make sure you buy a pair with sufficient UV protection. Most children will need a cord to keep them on. Sunglasses come in a variety of sizes so that you can find the perfect fit for your child. Younger children can wear an elastic -and style attachment to keep the sunglasses in place.

Coverups and UV protection clothing

When the sun is hot your child will need UV/sun protective clothing. They can wear their bathing suit underneath the top and shorts or one piece style. You will save a lot of money on sunscreen, you will still need to use it but not as much. They are made of a lightweight, breathable material. They give your child full protection from the sun. Children’s styles include long sleeve, short sleeve and one piece zip up the front styles. Children must always be covered in sunscreen or sun protective gear or a coverup. Traditional terrycloth coverups are great and help to protect them from the sun and keep them dry.

Coverups For Kids

Footwear

Children love to wear flipflops during the summer. They are inexpensive, relatively comfortable and easy to get on and off. Don’t have your children walk long distances in flip flops or thongs because they are not usually comfortable for long periods of time. Synthetic materials are what flipflops are usually made from and do not make good long term footwear. Small children can get elastic backs on their flip flops to help hold them in place. Flip flops are definitely the most popular footwear to wear to the beach. Children will also need a good pair of sandals for the summer. Sport sandals are very popular because they are comfortable and can also be worn in water. They protect feet in oceans, rivers and ponds. A second pair of leather sandals may be needed for those long summer strolls. For active families you may want to consider beach shoes or water shoes. They are great for long term, multiple exposure to beaches, lakes, rivers, etc. They help the child’s foot grip rocks and other surfaces. Make sure that all footwear for children fits properly. The shoe should be 1/2 to 1 whole shoe size bigger than they measure. Most summer shoes will not be worn with socks, so keep that in mind when choosing a size.

Flipflops For Kids

Summer tops

T-shirts and tank tops are always summer favorites, especially for boys. Alternatives for girls are tube tops and halter tops. Girls will love the varieties that the summer brings. Try to buy clothing an a breathable material such as cotton or the new moisture absorbing materials. Kids will need at least five lightweight summer tops.

Summer shorts

Shorts come in a variety of styles, including the loose basketball style, the traditional khaki style, cargo styles and the short swimsuit/coverup style. Kids will need several pairs for the summer. Bathing suits for boys are simple: They all wear the board shorts style of swim trunks. The only options are what length, color and pattern. Boys will need at least two good pairs of swim trunks for the summer.

Shorts For Kids

Bathing Suits for Girls

One-piece bathing suits are good for younger girls, because they stay in place better. As girl get older they may want to wear a two-piece style. Two-piece styles come with various tops and bottoms styles. Tops include halter, bikini and tube tops, bottom styles include bikini, high cut, low cut and boy short style. You can usually purchase the tops and bottoms separate and therefore you will not have a problem with the sizing. Make sure that you purchase bathing suits that are age appropriate, stay in place, are not too tight and do not allow anything to hang out. Toddler girls may also appreciate two-piece bathing suits because they can easily remove them to use the bathroom. Make sure that they are appropriate for toddlers.

Sundresses

Girls will need at least two nice sundresses for the summer. They should be light and comfortable. Cotton is usually the most comfortable a breathable. Buy cotton whenever you can. Make sure that dresses are an appropriate length. Young girls should wear shorts or legging under dresses because they will tumble and play and dresses will fly up. When buying children’s clothing the fit is important, you do not want items to be too big, but you don’t want to buy something that fits so closely that your growing child can only wear it once!