When you’re shopping for summer gear, it’s easy to grab that adorable mint green or light blue swimsuit without a second thought. It matches their goggles. It brings out their eyes. It’s aesthetic. But here’s the thing—when it comes to swim safety, especially around pools, visibility matters way more than style. That’s why kids bathing suit color is important for safety.
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The Color Bathing Suit You Choose Could Save a Life
It sounds dramatic, but it’s true. Experts in water safety have found that blue and green swimsuits can become virtually invisible underwater—especially in pools with blue or green linings. Even in the shallow end, it can be hard to spot a child in distress if they’re wearing a suit that blends in.
Now add sunlight, water movement, and pool party chaos to the mix? That cute teal two-piece or swim trunks may as well be camouflage.
Bright Colors = Fast Visibility
Kids bathing suit colors in neon orange, hot pink, red, purple, or even bright yellow stand out like a flare in the water. That visibility can make all the difference in a moment when every second counts.
Whether it’s a lifeguard scanning the pool or a parent looking up from a beach bag, spotting your child quickly is everything.
Here are images from Alive Solutions that show what each kids bathing suit color looks like in different bodies of water.
Kids bathing suit colors in a pool with a light blue or greenish bottom.

Suits in pools with a darker bottom.

And these are suits in a lake.

Best Kids Bathing Suit Colors: Style With Purpose
Of course, we still want our kids to feel good in what they wear (and yes, be cute for the summer album). Thankfully, brands are catching on and designing vibrant suits that feel playful and fun without compromising safety. Overall, it looks like bright pink and orange are two of the best colors for the above water settings.
Look for:
- Bold color blocking
- Bright solids with UV protection
- Retro-inspired neons that double as safety gear (the 90s are back…for the better in this case!)
Your child gets a cool suit they love, and you get peace of mind. Win-win.
As parents, we think about sunscreen, water bottles, snacks, rash guards, sun hats… but the color of their swimsuit? It’s a tiny shift that can make a massive impact.
This summer, go for the bright one. The one that pops. The one they’ll love to wear—and you’ll love to see across the pool deck.
Final Thoughts on Swim Safety
The best kind of style is the kind that keeps our kids safe. But let’s not forget that the color of your child’s suits isn’t the only safety measure to take.
Be sure to always remain close and keep an eye on children around water, especially those who can’t swim. Investing in swim lessons early on, even Infant Rescue Swim (Infant Swimming Resource, aka, ISR) is a big step in making children feel confident around water and giving them a leg up on safety.
But even children who are good swimmers can easily get swept under by a busy or chaotic pool session, pool toys or just sheer exhaustion. So it bears repeating, always keep a close eye on your children.
