Fleece lined or neoprene? With a swim nappy built in, or without? If you're staring at a page of baby wetsuits wondering where to begin, take a breath, it's easier than it looks.
This guide walks you through every style in our range, so you can find the right one for your baby's swim, from cool pools to sensitive skin to squirmy dressing time.
Top tip: keep your baby's swim comfortable by checking the pool temperature before you go. Aim for at least 32°C for newborns and 30°C for older babies, in line with the guidance most UK swim schools follow. Cooler water calls for a warmer wetsuit, so have a look below at the options that add extra cosiness.
Jump to:
- Best for cool water: Warm In One
- Best for sun protection: Happy Nappy Sunsuit
- Best for sensitive skin: Warm In One (full coverage)
- Best with a swim nappy included: Happy Nappy Wetsuit
- Best for wriggly babies: Baby Wrap
- Best value: Thermaswim Baby & Toddler Suits
- FAQs
Best Baby Wetsuit for Cool Water: Warm In One™
A baby wetsuit adds a genuine layer of warmth in cooler water, so your baby can stay in longer, feel snug the whole time and stay cosy once they're out again.For maximum warmth, choose the Warm In One. It's a fleece lined thermal wetsuit covering the arms and legs. We make it from TPU, a material similar to the neoprene used in adult wetsuits, and line it with a super soft fleece that warms baby gently from the inside.The Warm In One protects against cool water and wind chill, so it's a lovely fit for British beach holidays or those early swimming lessons with younger babies who feel the cold more easily.
Best suited to:
- Cooler swimming pools
- Windy days at the beach
Main features:
- Cosy fleece lining
- Full length arms and legs
- Cuffed wrists and ankles
- UPF 50+ sun protection
- Stands up to wind and sand
UPF 50+ fabric helps, but it doesn't cover everything, so it's still worth popping some sun cream on your baby's face, hands and feet before you head out.
Best Baby Wetsuit for Sun Protection: Happy Nappy Sunsuit™
Swimming outdoors on a warm day calls for gentle sun protection more than thermal warmth. The Happy Nappy Sunsuit is a high neck, long sleeve rash top that keeps your baby's delicate skin shielded. It uses UPF 50+ fabric and has our Happy Nappy™ technology built in, so it looks after solid leaks in the pool too, giving you one less thing to think about.
Great for:
- All day comfort in warm weather
UV protection while your baby plays or swims outdoors
Shielding against wind and sand at the beach
Swimming lessons too, though it's worth checking your swim school's own nappy policy
Main features:
- High neck and long sleeves for sun protection
- Integrated Happy Nappy™ for leak protection
Don't forget sun cream on any skin left uncovered, like the face, hands and feet. Little bit of extra care goes a long way.
Best Baby Wetsuit for Sensitive Skin: Warm In One
Chlorine and salt water can be a bit unkind to sensitive skin conditions like eczema, so it's completely understandable to want extra reassurance here. The right swimwear helps by keeping barrier or eczema cream on the skin instead of letting it rinse off, so your little one stays comfortable for longer.
Look for full coverage styles that cover the neck as well as the arms and legs. The Warm In One is a lovely, gentle choice here.
Great for:
- Your baby has sensitive skin or wears creams and ointments
- You're swimming in cooler pools
Main features:
- Cosy fleece lining
- High neck, full length arms and legs
- UPF 50+ sun protection
- Stands up to wind and sand
Best Baby Wetsuit with a Swim Nappy Included: Happy Nappy Wetsuit™
Want the warmth of a wetsuit and a swim nappy in one go, so you have a little less to carry and think about? The Happy Nappy Wetsuit gives you exactly that, combining our Happy Nappy™ swim nappy with a proper wetsuit: one gentle garment, two jobs.
The Happy Nappy protection is already built in, so you can wear it alone for general swimming with real peace of mind. For organised lessons, it's worth checking with your swim school first: most ask for a nappy wrap on top as part of their double nappy system, even with a Happy Nappy already built into the suit. It's a small extra step, but a helpful one to know about in advance. As a true 1mm neoprene wetsuit, it also gives you all the warmth of adult style wetsuit fabric, plus the reassurance of built in leak protection.
If that reassurance is what you're after, this is a lovely wetsuit to go for. Just pop a nappy wrap in your bag too, in case your swim school asks for one.
Perfect for:
- Baby swimming lessons
- Babies who need wetsuit warmth and nappy protection together
- Parents moving away from disposable swim nappies
What you get:
- Upper body sun protection
- Integrated swim nappy
- UPF 50+ sun protection
- 1mm thick neoprene fabric
Best Baby Wetsuit for Wriggly Babies: Baby Wrap™
Dressing a wriggling baby is hard enough without fighting a wetsuit too, and we know how much that little bit of extra ease can mean at the end of a long day. We make the Baby Wrap from 2mm neoprene, and it keeps your baby's core body temperature stable and comfortable in the water. It leaves arms and legs free, so they can kick, splash and explore without any restriction, at their own happy pace.
Beyond the warmth, the Baby Wrap opens completely flat. And because of that, you won't need to wrestle a squirming baby into arm and leg holes. Strong velcro fastenings mean you can get it on and off gently and quickly: a small mercy when baby has other plans. Just remember the Baby Wrap doesn't include a swim nappy, so pair it with a Happy Nappy underneath for full peace of mind.
Works well for:
- Baby swimming lessons
- Wriggly babies, especially ones who hate being dressed
Features:
- Keeps your baby's core warm
- Leaves arms and legs unrestricted
- Adjustable velcro fastenings
- UPF 50+ sun protection
Best Value Baby Wetsuit: Thermaswim Baby & Toddler Suits
We built the Thermaswim range with parents in mind who want reliable warmth for their little one, without paying for a full neoprene wetsuit.
We make Thermaswim suits from a supersoft polyester and elastane mix with four way stretch, so they move gently with your baby. The brushed fleece lining keeps them warmer for longer in chilly pools, and you can also use the suit as a soft base layer under a wetsuit for outdoor water activities, or under regular clothing for extra warmth on cooler days out.
One gentle reminder: keep Thermaswim suits out of hydro pools or very warm water. They're not designed for use above 32°C, and there's a risk of your baby overheating.
Best suited to:
- Baby swimming lessons
- A base layer under a wetsuit for outdoor swimming
- Budget conscious parents who still want genuine warmth for their little one
What's included:
- Supersoft brushed fleece
- Four way stretch for full movement
- Zip fastening for easy dressing
- Doubles as a wetsuit or a thermal base layer
FAQs
It's completely normal to have questions when you're choosing swimwear for your little one. Here are the ones we're asked most often, with honest answers to help you feel confident in your choice.
What temperature does a baby need a wetsuit for?
Newborns are most comfortable in water of at least 32°C, and older babies in water of at least 30°C, in line with widely used swim school guidance. Below that, a fleece lined wetsuit such as the Warm In One helps keep them warm and lets them enjoy the water for longer.
Can I use a baby wetsuit instead of a swim nappy?
Because most swim schools ask for dedicated nappy protection, a plain wetsuit on its own usually isn't quite enough. The Happy Nappy Wetsuit combines both in one gentle garment, though many swim schools still ask for a nappy wrap underneath on top to meet their double nappy system rules, so it's worth a quick check with your swim school before your first lesson together.
What's the difference between the Baby Wrap and the Warm In One?
The Baby Wrap is a 2mm neoprene wrap that opens completely flat for easy, fuss free dressing and leaves arms and legs free to move: lovely for wriggly babies. The Warm In One is a fleece lined thermal suit with full length arms and legs and a high neck, so it gives broader coverage and warmth for cooler pools or sensitive little skin.
Do baby wetsuits protect against the sun?
Most of our wetsuits and sunsuits use UPF 50+ fabric, including the Warm In One, Baby Wrap, Happy Nappy Wetsuit and Happy Nappy Sunsuit. This protects any covered skin from UV rays, but it isn't a substitute for sun cream, so do smooth some onto any skin the suit doesn't cover, such as the face, hands and feet.
Do I still need a swim nappy under the Happy Nappy Wetsuit for lessons?
Often yes, and that's alright, it's just worth knowing in advance. The Happy Nappy Wetsuit has leak protection built in and can be worn alone for general swimming, but most organised swim schools ask for a double nappy system for lessons, which means a nappy wrap to be worn underneath the happy nappy even with the Happy Nappy already built in. A quick check with your swim school's own policy before you go will set your mind at ease.
Are Splash About wetsuits recommended by swim schools?
We work closely with UK swim schools, and Happy Nappy™ technology is what 90% of them recommend for swim nappy protection. That said, lesson requirements do vary from school to school, so it's always worth checking what your own class asks for.
Lesley Beach
Splash About has been developing ground breaking swimming products for babies and children for over 20 years. With its invention of the first float jacket through to the award winning Happy Nappy range of products, Splash About is now a world class supplier to thousands of swim schools, leisure complexes and parents in over 45 countries.
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