sunuva kids uv swimwear & beachwear review

We live in South Florida, so we're out in the sun year 'round. Ethan swims twice a week at his outdoor lessons and if you tack on all of our time spent at the local splash pads, water parks or playing outdoors, we're in the sun a lot. I always carry sunscreen with me though applying it on a wriggling three year old can be difficult at best. That's why when I heard about Sunuva's UV swimwear for kids, I couldn't wait to learn more about their products!

A couple of years ago, my mother had to have a skin cancer procedure and it really got me thinking about how much time we're in the sun and how important it is to take proper care of your skin. After all, melanoma is now the leading cancer for people 12-24 years old. Scary, right? In order to take a stand against the skin cancer epidemic, Sunuva's rash guards are made from a special Italian fabric that provides 50+ UPF for your kids. That means it blocks out approximately 98% of the suns rays! I was excited to be able to try a swimwear set for Ethan. To my surprise, Sunuva's swimwear isn't just smart, effective and protective -- but it's super stylish. If you've ever seen my child before, you'd be able to guess we're pretty into the surfer-skater look. I'm pretty picky with what clothing he wears so when I stumbled through Sunuva's extensive swimwear options, I was so excited! We selected the Boys Shark Rash Vest and the Boys Shark Board Shorts. I've gotten several mock board shorts for Ethan over the years -- you know, the elastic-waistband swim shorts designed to look like board shorts but aren't -- but these were his first real pair. And they were adorable.

Aside from the obvious cute factor, I loved these as soon as I pulled them from the packaging. They have a true board short tie-up front and also have velcro to snap the front closed. This allowed me to put the shorts on Ethan, secure the velcro and then tie the front to where it needed to be -- ensuring the perfect fit for Ethan and allowing him a little more room to grow into them if needed. The length was also perfect! Usually when I find a pair of swim shorts that fit Ethan around the waist, they go down to his ankles. It's obvious Sunuva is a lot more meticulous with their sizing and creating an actual quality product. Yes, these shorts are also made from UPF 50+ fabric and are also quick drying. By the time we took an ocean break to enjoy our packed lunch, Ethan's board shorts were already nearly dry. You'd never be able to tell that Ethan was wearing a bright blue swim diaper underneath these white board shorts -- the quality of the fabric is that good.

The rash guard also didn't disappoint. As I said earlier, the rash guard provides 50+ UPF protection. I was curious to see how the material would feel in person and was surprised by how thin and breathable it was. My main issue with long sleeved swim suits is that the sleeves are always really open and baggy. Between getting scoops of sand stuck in them or just being plain old uncomfortable, I usually try to stay away from long sleeve rash guards for Ethan for that reason. He usually begs me to roll up his sleeves when we're swimming because they drive him nuts. However, I noticed immediately that these long sleeves were different. They fit closely to his skin without seeming restrictive which definitely allowed for that added sun protection. The material felt more like a wet suit on his arms rather than big, bulky sleeves. He didn't even notice they were there!

The quick drying feature is also wonderful as I could avoid the "fun" of peeling off a wet rash guard off a squirming toddler. I never buy Ethan swim trunks without a rash guard so I'm no stranger to the art of selecting a rash guard -- and you can tell a huge difference in the Sunuvua fabrics and materials as far as quality goes. They're not itchy, scratchy or bothersome. They fit snugly, perfectly and are super comfortable. It's added peace of mind knowing that Ethan's upper body and arms are covered in sun protective gear in the event I happen to miss a spot or two with his sunscreen (anyone who has tried to apply sunscreen to a toddler can sympathize, I'm sure).

Something I really, really liked about Sunuva, as a company, is that they donate 10% profit on several items to the British Skin Foundation, which is the only charity in the UK (where Sunuva is based) dedicated to fighting skin disease and skin cancer. It's obvious to me that Sunuva was founded by two moms because there is care and heart in every bit of everything they do. They even make UPF 50+ float suits for little ones who need a little help in the water as well as goggles and sunglasses -- I am in love with these Wayfarers -- that provide 100% UV protection.

As I also mentioned earlier, they're so stylish. I love the hip prints and designs available for boys. It's a refreshing break from the silly cartoon characters or plain colors available at most larger retailers. Since I found out I'll soon be shopping for girls clothing, too, I had to take a peek at their selection of UPF 50+ swimsuits for girls, too. This girls skull swimsuit made my heart skip a little beat. Can we talk about how much Sunuva rocks?!

In addition to Ethan's completely amazing new rash guard and board short set, we got the chance to try out some other Sunuva quality gear. We currently use a cloth diaper wet bag to tote Ethan's wet swimwear home after a day in the water. It works just fine but it's sort of huge. I loved how petite and compact Sunuvua's striped wash bag is. I loved that it also had pockets and compartments that could be used for keeping your important items -- like your cell phone -- dry while at the beach or pool. The inside is also lined and did a fabulous job keeping our beach bag dry while toting Ethan's wet bathing suit home from the beach.

We also loved being able to try out Sunuva's adorable burlap-style beach backpack! Yes, they also sell beach bags as well -- check out this amazing Rajasthan patchwork bag!

We are huge Sunuva converts and would recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the utmost sun protection for their little ones -- or not so little ones, as Sunuva's quality swim and beachwear can be ordered for kids up to 13-14 years old! I love the true fit sizing of their products. Ethan is seen here wearing an Age 3-4 size -- way truer to his age than the 5T and up he wears in standard clothing. Sunuva's products are quality products that will last and grow with your little ones -- all while keeping them safe from the harsh sun.