Your child’s swimwear could save their life: The importance of wearing bright colours in water

We know how much enjoyment kids get from being in the water, but swimming can be risky too and as parents we always want to ensure our children are as safe as they can be. Whether at the beach or in the pool, when little ones are in the water it is important to constantly supervise them but what else can we do? The swimwear babies or children wear for swimming can make a difference and make it easier to watch them in the water.

What is the best colour for a child to wear in the pool?

Royal Life Saving Society UK says "research from a package holiday company has shown that certain swimsuit colours are easier to spot underwater and could therefore help children stay safe while enjoying water." On the Beach, who conducted the research, say that 66% of children wear blue, white or grey swimwear which is not visible under water, which, critically, means they will be difficult to spot if they get in trouble. Matt Croxhall, Charity Director for Royal Life Saving Society adds, "we would urge parents to choose brightly coloured swimwear for their children while planning their holidays, rather than colours such as blue, white and grey, which are more difficult to see underwater. Brightly coloured swimwear makes it even easier to keep your child under constant supervision when playing and swimming in the water.”

What swimsuit colours are best for pool visibility?

For the best visibility think bright colours which can seen underwater instead of blending in. The BBC says that "one reason for this is because water absorbs and scatters light differently from in the air, causing many colours to become desaturated to our eyes."

The best colours to choose include:

• Neon or fluorescent colours
• Pink
• Yellow
• Red
• Black
• Purple
• Green

This video demonstrates how certain swimwear colours can cause a child to disappear in the water and shows why it is important to choose bright, or neon, colours if possible.

Does pattern matter when choosing safe swimwear?

Yes! The BBC writes that a study from Alive found that "the best visibility came from solid colours." It adds "next best were very small printed patterns. But for larger prints, even if the base colour was bright, a print still affected visibility. When patterned with white stripes, fluorescent orange – which was the most visible solid colour – looked more like a reflection in the water. With dark stripes, it all but disappeared."

Therefore, it is recommended that the best swimwear to choose is one with no pattern and neon colour, for example a solid neon orange swimming costume for girls, or neon orange trunks for boys. However, finding swimsuits which are all one colour, and neon, is not always easy, since retailers often opt for fun designs and patterns that appeal to children.

Best brightly coloured swimwear

It can be tricky to find swimwear that is safe for your little one to wear so we have rounded up our favourite colourful swimwear to ensure you can all have fun in the water and stay safe too.

Should children wear neon swimwear?

Neon colours have been proved to be the easiest to spot under water, and therefore are safer for your little one to wear. However, it is also important to consider the design and ideally choose a single block colour rather than a swimsuit with lots of patterns. If you choose not to use a neon swimsuit then bold, bright colours like red, pink, orange and green are better than colours which blend with the water like blue, white or silver. While black is a good colour if the bottom of the pool is a light colour, if your child is swimming in water with a murky or dark bottom, it makes it harder to see them.

Should children wear long sleeved swimsuits?

In terms of visibility, a long sleeve swim suit won't increase visibility but it will protect them from the sun. If you choose a swim suit, or all in one suit with long arms and legs it will give their skin sun protection especially if the fabric is UPF rated.

How to keep children safe around water?

Considering the colour of your child's swimsuit is just one way to keep your little one safe around water. It is also important to always supervise them when they are in the water. Swim England says, "Always swim in a safe place. Always swim with an adult. If you fall in, float, breathe, relax. If someone else is in trouble call 999."

Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting, she is particularly interested in the toddler years and eco-friendly baby products, as well as children’s literature. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and has published short stories in the UK and Ireland, as well as previously writing freelance for her local paper.