Kids' swimwear to make it feel like a holiday in your backyard

Best swimwear on the high street: Boden

For eye-catching prints in vibrant hues, Boden's swimwear for kids can't be beat. Choose from cross-back silhouettes for girls, rash vests with shorts, frill bikinis and surf-ready suits; for boys it's all about the printed swim trunks and shorts with whales and dinosaurs. Most items start at £14.

Best swimwear silhouettes: Seafolly

Kids' swimwear can be just as stylish and sophisticated as what grown-ups wear – just check out Aussie brand Seafolly's silhouettes for girls to see what we mean. From sporty tankinis to frilly one-pieces, surfer girl rash vests to 80s-era swimsuits, there's a silhouette to appeal to every child – and adult: we quite fancy the Blue Tropo Loco tie-back swimsuit (£38) for ourselves.

Best for tweens/teens: Miska Paris

Designed for teens using plant-based fibres, French brand Miska's sporty-silhouette bikinis are two pieces you'll actually allow your 13-year-old to wear (yes, even beyond sunbathing in your garden). They can even mix and match the green or yellow shorty bottoms with the blue racerback bikini top (£35) for a colourful style statement.

Best swim bloomers: Bonton

Bonton's appealing pieces might have a familiar sensibility, with a twist – no surprise considering it's Bonpoint's little sister brand. Well, we can't think of anything that feels more Riviera-ready then a small child wearing these Liberty-print, ruffled swim trunks (£47) as they run around and enjoy the sunshine. There are several prints, as well as solid colours, to choose from.

Best paddling pool and outdoor play destination: John Lewis

If you've tried to buy a paddling pool in the past few weeks, you probably haven't had much luck. Thank goodness for John Lewis then; there are some brilliant swim-day essentials back in stock, like this Sunnykids mermaid pool (£45), Bestway's inflatable water slide (£29.99) and Summer Waves' dinosaur pool with sun shade (£12.99). You'll also find pools big enough for the whole family – parents included – to chill out in, like the Summer Waves inflatable family pool (£17.99) and 12-foot quick set pool (£99.99).

Best sandals for kids: M&S

If you've got stones or a slippery surface as part of your outside space, you'll want to make sure that the kids have something on their feet – and flip-flops can be even more of a slip and trip hazard than nothing at all. These fluoro riptape trekker sandals from M&S should do the trick for under a tenner (prices now start at £7.12). They also come in blue and orange, and can handle weekend walks, too.

Best statement-making swimwear: Olga Valentine

Aussie brand Olga Valentine has just landed in the UK for summer, and parents and kids alike will love the bold prints, pattern-clash swimsuits and versatile silhouettes (we love the girls' three-piece with a bikini top, ruffled bottoms and cropped rash vest). There's boys' stuff too, with printed board shorts and rashies for surf-ready dudes. Did we mention the fabric is all UV protective, with many pieces made from recycled polyester? You'll also find beach-ready cover-ups for kids, like kaftans and kimonos. To get 15% off anything online, use the code UKSUMMER.

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Best recycled UV swimwear for kids: Muddy Puddles

Muddy Puddles is already one of our favourite brands for recycled outerwear, and this season marks the brand's first swimwear collection. Made from recycled plastic bottles, the new range of UPF 50 swimwear also protects children from the sun's rays. With raindrop and fish prints, across long-sleeved surf swimsuits, surf suits and rash vests, the collection is also super-stylish, too.

Best swim hats: Oeuf NYC

Oeuf NYC has the most adorable collection of kids' clothes and nursery accessories, with ethically made, organically produced clothes. We're obsessed with their adorable swim range – tomato prints, frills – especially their swim hats (£23). Is anything cuter than a baby in leek print, after all?

Best swimwear for babies and toddlers: Close

Close's printed baby swimwear sees animals like manta rays and hummingbirds swimming and flying across their rash vests and baby sun suits. The designs have UPF50 sun protection and this snug suit (£31) includes an integrated swim nappy.

Best for prints: Mini Rodini

For the child who likes to make a bold, sophisticated statement, it's all about Scandi-brand Mini Rodini's prints, which have shells and dolphins on them this season. We also love the long-sleeved silhouette for girls – this design ticks the made from recycled materials and UV protection boxes, too.

Best swim trunks for boys: Vilbrequin

It is an undisputed fact that Vilbrequin swim trunks for men are the best of the best and have been adorning the sun-kissed among us since the 70s. With a comfy adjustable waistband, lightweight fabric and fabulous selection of prints and colours, Vilbrequin's boys' swim trunks may be on the expensive side but they are built to last, plus they double as warm-weather shorts, whether you're poolside or in the park.

Best for that summer mood: Minnow

With a dreamy pastel palette and subtle ruffles on every girlie silhouette – one-pieces, long sleeved swimsuits, bikini briefs – LA brand Minnow's simple, eye-catching designs (they have a statement tie-back or criss-cross back), like this frill-detail one piece in green (£63), are just perfect for our daughters. And our sons – choose from pastel-hued wetsuits and swim trunks.

Best nautical vibe: Oii at Alex & Alexa

Alex & Alexa's own-brand, Oii, launched earlier in 2020 with a selection of GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled pieces in earth tones and quirky prints. The Scandi brand's first swimwear collection is great too: these sailor swim shorts (now £20.30) tick all the practical boxes with UV50 protection, a drawstring waist, elasticated legs and a back pocket (there's a swimsuit and UV suit in the same nautical style, too).

Best swim aid that doesn't seem like one: SwimFin

Swimming is about more than style: safety is paramount. And with kids who aren't yet confident swimmers, swim floats and swim aids can mean the difference between positive, confidence-building time spent in the water and a fearful, tearful kid. SwimFin floats (from £19.99) are colourful shark fins that capture the imagination while working as a flotation device; when submerged, it means they're supporting your child completely. They also don't need to be inflated.

Best swim accessory to win parent of the year: Planet Mermaid mermaid tails

This is the kind of swim accessory kids beg for: bright colours, cool prints and with a Magic Fin Monofin, you can even swim in these mermaid tails (you have to be a strong swimmer to manage it, so these are great for helping kids improve their swimming, in addition to all of the photo ops they'll yield). You can also get tails for mini mermen, as well as matching tankinis, leggings and crop tops. Fabric tails start at £33.99 – if you can't be a mermaid when you're six, when are you ever going to have the chance?

Best place for wetsuits: Two Bare Feet Boarding Co.

For anyone who plans to spend their outdoor time this summer learning to surf, Two Bare Feet is your go-to brand. The Squadron Junior wetsuit (pictured, £24.99) is a versatile design in a great colour combo and price. We also like how you can choose from long- or short-sleeved wetsuits, and they can either be full-length or short – perfect no matter what your adventurer needs. And yes, babies are also catered for.