3 Things I Avoid as a Mom & Swim Safety Advocate This Summer
Water safety tips, kids swimwear advice, and summer skin protection for families
As a mom, water safety advocate, and founder of Sun Safe On The Lake Ltd, there are a few things I personally avoid every summer when it comes to my kids around pools, lakes, and cottages.
These are all things I’ve either experienced firsthand or learned more about over time — and honestly, some of them surprised me too.
Keeping kids safe in and around water goes beyond sunscreen and swim lessons. The right kids bathing suits, high visibility swimwear, and safe swim habits can make a huge difference.
1. Puddle Jumpers
I’ll be honest — before I knew better, I thought puddle jumpers were amazing.
They seem like a great tool because they help little ones float and feel confident in the water.
But here’s the concern: they can sometimes give children confidence without actual swimming ability.
I experienced this firsthand with my youngest. One day, he confidently jumped straight into the deep end of the pool. When we quickly fished him out, he said:
“I forgot I was not wearing puddle jumper — I swim.”
That moment stuck with me.
While flotation devices may have their place, it’s important that children understand the difference between floating assistance and real swim skills, try explaining that to a 3 year old.
2. Large Floaty Toys
Big inflatables and flamingo floaty toys can absolutely be fun for summer days by the pool or lake.
But they can also create blind spots.
Large floaties may block your view of a child who is struggling, slipping under the water, or swimming nearby.
In busy summer settings — cottages, pools, beaches, and docks — clear visibility is everything.
For me, water safety always comes before convenience or aesthetics. There needs to be an assigned person to watch the kids at all times.
3. Patterned or Blue Kids Bathing Suits
This is a big one for me.
Certain kids bathing suits, especially blue, green, aqua, or patterned suits, can blend into pool water or lake water, making it harder to spot a child quickly.
This is why I strongly prefer high visibility swimwear for kids in bright SOLID colours that stand out.
Neon pink, bright orange, yellow, and other hi-vis shades are much easier to see underwater and from a distance. Studies were done on the best colours for visibility in and on the water, shop all the hi-vis colours here!
Of course, there are times when this matters less — for example during water sports when kids are wearing properly fitted high visibility life jackets.
But for everyday swimming, visibility matters.
Summer Skin Care & Sun Protection Matter Too
Water safety and sun safety go hand in hand.
Along with choosing safe swimwear, I always prioritize:
- UPF 50+ swimwear
- regular sunscreen application
- hats and sunnies
- shaded breaks during peak sun hours
Protecting kids’ (and our own) skin during summer is just as important as protecting them in the water.
At Sun Safe On The Lake, I believe in combining summer skin care, sunscreen support, and high visibility water safety into one easy solution with our Canadian-made UPF 50+ swimwear for babies, kids, and adults.
If you’re looking for hi-vis UPF 50+ swimwear this summer, Sun Safe has you covered.
Please share this with another mom to help keep more kids safe around the water this season ☀️
