We think most parents would agree with us when we say that we have a love/hate relationship with swim shirts. We love them because they protect our children from the sun’s harmful rays, but we have to take a deep breath and keep from screaming while we try to convince the kids to actually put one on.
We get it – most rash guards get stuck on their heads when trying to put them on. Then they are too tight, itch like crazy and roll up on their bellies. Because we have 4 kids and have been through this fight too many times to count, we were very considerate when designing our version. Beachmate swim shirts are a bit roomier in the neck and sides, offer a good amount of stretch (but miraculously don’t stretch out at all, kind of amazing actually!) and longer to combat all of the typical kid complaints.
Another huge upside you get from choosing the Beachmate “shovel” shirt is that we made our rash guards from 80% polyester and 20% spandex with UPF 50 protection. The fabric is thick, but extremely comfortable, almost soft even, and dries quickly. This level of protection is better than most sunscreens offer, and it lasts all day. Take the sunscreen battle (well at least for their upper bodies) off the table and make your life a little easier.
Photo by Alena Potapchuk-Golubovich
But the most important thing we thought about though were the safety concerns we all have when we are at the beach. We know it can be hard to keep an eye on your kids when the beach gets crowded. With so many distractions, and kids are fast when they see something they like, it’s important to feel comfortable that they are safe. We made sure to use bright, neon colors so that your kids will stand out, rather than blend in, against the water. Whether they are playing in the sand next to you, wander down the beach or are jumping in the surf, you will be able to spot them in a second. Beachmate shirts are available in vibrant orange, pink, and yellow, in both short-sleeve and long-sleeve options. Conveniently, these are machine washable, and hang dry.
With the right amount of safety, comfort and protection, throw your child in our swim shirt and you both will be happier, we promise.
Since we didn’t make a full body suit (yet, haha) here are a few of our favorite sunscreen suggestions:
Best Face Sunscreen
One of our absolute favorite sunscreens this summer is Mineral Sport SPF 50 Organic Sunscreen Stick Coola. This organic SPF 50 stick not only will protect your skin from harmful rays, but also works to enrich your skin with antioxidants, without the greasy feel. Swipe this on your face, lips, ears, the backs of hands, and other target sports while the swim shirts cover the rest. This-on-the-go sunscreen with zero white residue and non-nano Zinc Oxide is a perfect addition to throw into your Beachmate this summer. Hello sunshine, goodbye wrinkles!
Best Kids Sunscreen
This mineral-based sunscreen is designed for active kids and beach activity! The sweat resistant formula stays water resistant for 80 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about constantly lathering the kids up. The best part, the Smart Bottle Technology will turn blue in the presence of harmful UV rays, as a reminder to cover up! The deeper the shade of blue, the higher the UV rays. This 30+ SPF bottle offers both UVA and UVB protection, and is paraben free, BPA-free, fragrance free, and oxybenzone free. We love this brand because it is dermatologist recommended for over 20 years, so we trust it to protect our kids.