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I love to swim. I wanted to share my love of the water with my children as early as possible, so, I took my kids into the pool when they were babies. The children enjoyed wearing their toddler swimsuits and girls swimwear and boys and girls swimsuits almost as much as they enjoyed being in the water. My main concern, of course, was safety.

My son took many swimming lessons when he was little, but I did wonder if the lessons had done any good. Then, one day, he fell into the deep end of a pool fully clothed. In shock, my little four year old swam on his own to the edge of the pool and pulled himself out! I realized that he didn’t need to be wearing toddler swimwear or any type of bathing suit in the water and that those swimming lessons paid off and were worth every penny.

Swimming Safety Tips Parents of Young Children:

I love traveling, but I admit that I dread the packing associated with any vacation or trip. I always wait until the last minute, and it seems like my luggage is way too heavy. I wish sometimes I could just “beam” the things I need to my destination.

My youngest daughter tells me that she has a packing system that works for her. All she does is throw a bunch of “stuff” including cheap flower girl dresses inside of her suitcase. At the end of a trip, she just stuffs everything back in her suitcase including the flowergirl dresses. When she gets home, she throws everything she stuffed inside her suitcase into her laundry basket and washes her clothes. The tells me her system works and she doesn’t dread packing at all.

Although the system my daughter has come up with may work for some kids, it may be a good idea to give your children some guidance on how to pack for a vacation or short trip.

How To Help Children Pack For a Vacation or Trip:

When I was a kid, I looked at the calendar in late May and counted the days until summer. I couldn’t wait for June, July, and August. Three whole months of “no school” sounded like a dream come true! I wished for summer to come quickly.

Of course, my summers went too fast. As September approached, I vaguely remember having a feeling of dread inside. I just love the summer months and thinking about them ending always makes me sad.

There are so many things that seem to be left undone as the fall approaches. There are back to school sales, church picnics, weddings, baby showers, religious ceremonies including last minute shopping for communion dresses, and other family celebrations. There are family reunions, and also shopping sprees in the works. Some families schedule special activities or go shopping for school clothes or first communion dresses.

Getting in a few last minute summer activities is so very important. If your family has time, take a quick last minute long-weekend trip or just spend some time outdoors, go on a hike, or run through the sprinklers. Summer will be back soon!

Ten Things To Do With Your Family Before Summer Ends:

I don’t know about you, but my pool activities ironically consist of little to no activity at all. I usually prefer to relax on a raft with my sunglasses, a thick layer of sun block and a cool drink. It’s just me, warm sunshine and total relaxation. Of course to kids, pool time is a completely different story! For them going to the pool means a day filled with fun games and activities, not lounging around.

Keep your kids' swimwear looking new all summer long!

Because kids are always on the go, boys and girls swimsuits sure do have hard lives. They must endure sand, sun, salt water, chlorine, sun screen oil, grass stains from endless runs down the slip and slide, and who knows what other wear and tear. As summer fast approaches, it’s important for mom and dads to know how to properly wash swimwear pieces. If not well cared for, kids and baby swimwear will never see it through the summer!

You can read the full article for all the details, but here are some quick tips on how to make kids swim suits (and yours too!) last:

DO soak new swimsuits in cold water and white vinegar to prevent colors from running

DO rinse your swimsuit in cool water after each use and before each washing

DO wash swimwear by hand

DO use detergent specially designed for swimwear fabrics (found in swimwear shops)

DO air dry your swimwear garments indoors


DON’T wash swimwear in the washing machine

DON’T ever use bleach on your bathing suits

DON’T dry swim suits in the dryer

DON’T air dry your swimsuit in the sun

DON’T twist or wring the swimwear to remove excess water

You’ll also get more life out of your girls and boys swimwear if you invest in quality pieces that are made to last. At Sophias Style you can count on our swimwear to be well-crafted and affordable. We have designer swimwear by Kate Mack, Gossip Girl and Hula Star, all for up to 70% off the retail tag!

Swimwear for Girls

It’s August, do you know what that means?  It means lots of girls swimwear is on sale at Sophia’s Style!  And the stuff that’s not on sale is still being sold for way better prices than anywhere else, so come get new suits while it’s still hot enough outside to swim. 

I really like these kinda retro ones with the ruffles.  The red is (in my opinion) clearly meant to be worn with absurdly large, white, Jackie O sunglasses.  The other one looks so 60′s to me, it’s perfect for a barbeque at the lake where there’s a dock to jump off of. 

We also have lots of great baby girl swimsuits, so your littlest ones have something to wear as well!  Make sure you remember the sunblock, their delicate skin is easy to burn! 

Swimwear for Girls

Here’s a great tip:  If your child has sensitive skin, look for sunblocks that are made with physical blockers, which are listed in the ingredients as zinc oxide.  Zinc oxide isn’t absorbed by the skin, it’s a natural ingrediant that actually sits on top the skin and physically reflects sun radiation off the face.  Because it isn’t absorbed, it’s much more gentle and won’t cause irritation.

Have lots of fun in the sun while you still can!  And don’t forget to check out our swimwear for girls at Sophia’s Style!

This blog was first posted at Trendy Girls Fashion Blog. 

Jessi