Shopping for girls bathing suits isn't complicated, but it does involve a few more decisions than it looks like from the outside. One piece or bikini? Rash guard or regular suit? Does the swimsuit print coordinate with her brother's boardies? Will she actually keep the straps on her shoulders? This guide walks through all of it so you can shop with a clear head and end up with something she'll love wearing all summer long.
Key Takeaways
- Girls bathing suits comes in one-pieces, bikinis, smocked suits, and rash guard sets and each one has its place depending on how old she is, what you're doing, and what she'll actually agree to wear
- One-pieces are the easiest call for active girls since nothing floats away during a cannonball and nothing slips mid cartwheel
- Baby girl swimwear should prioritize easy on/off, soft seams, and good sun coverage
- A girls rash guard set is worth having for full beach days, lake trips, or any extended time in the sun
- Ruffles, smocking, and fun prints photograph beautifully and hold up through a full day of playling and splashing
- Coordinating and matching girls bathing suits with brothers, baby siblings, and parents is easier when the collection shares prints and colorways across the whole family
Girls Bathing Suits Styles and When Each One Makes Sense
The girls bathing suits collection has something for everyone, and that's kind of the point. Different kids, different trips, different needs.
One-pieces are the easiest call for active girls. Nothing floats away during a cannonball and nothing slips mid-cartwheel. They're also the easiest option for younger girls who aren't quite ready to manage a two piece independently. The ruffle hem and smocked styles in this collection look just as sweet as any bikini while giving parents a little more peace of mind at the pool.
Bikinis and girls two piece swimsuit styles work really well for older girls who have more opinions about what they wear, which, if you have a six year old, you already know starts earlier than expected. The smocked bikini styles are worth calling out specifically because the smocked band stays put. No gaping at the top, no shifting throughout the day. For girls who want a two piece but need it to actually function through hours of play, smocked is the answer.
And a rash guard isn't just for surfer kids or beach days. Any time you're planning a long beach day, a lake week, or back to back days of outdoor water time, a girls rashguard swimsuit cuts down on how often you're chasing a wet sandy kid around with sunscreen. The Seaside Petals and Summertime Sharks rash guard suits both zip up the front, which means getting in and out is easy enough that kids can do it themselves.
Baby Girl and Toddler Swimwear
Baby girl swimwear is a different shopping experience than buying for bigger kids, and honestly the priorities are pretty simple. Easy closures are at the top of the list. Snaps at the shoulder or back make diaper changes at the beach infinitely less stressful. Soft seams matter too because babies will tell you exactly how they feel about scratchy fabric and it won't be with words.
Toddler girl swimsuit styles should have enough coverage to keep things in place when she's running, splashing, and doing whatever that thing is where toddlers just throw themselves into water without warning. The ruffle hem one-pieces are a great call for this age group. Adorable in photos and genuinely secure in the water.
A baby girl rash guard is also worth throwing in the bag if you're doing any real time in the sun. Even with sunscreen, babies and toddlers have sensitive skin that burns faster than you'd expect. A long sleeve rash guard takes a lot of that pressure off.
Prints, Details, and What Actually Photographs Well
This collection leans into coastal and novelty prints - sardines, mermaids, stars, crabs, palm trees, and seasonal florals. They're fun without being babyish, which is a harder balance to strike than it sounds, especially for girls who are getting more opinionated about what reads as "little kid".
Ruffles, smocking, and flutter details photograph great in natural light! This matters if you're doing any beach portraits or family photos this summer. Smocking especially has a texture that catches light in a way that flat fabric just doesn't. If you're planning coordinated family photos at the beach, a smocked girls suit is a really strong anchor for the whole look.
For families doing family matching swimsuits, the Sardine Stripe and Coastal Cove prints run across both boys bathing suits styles and girls styles, which means pulling together a cohesive sibling photo doesn't require any extra effort. Pull a color from her suit and you've got a direction for everyone else.
Don't Skip the Cover Up
The girls swim cover up options in this collection are genuinely useful. The Pink Terry Coverup is a zip front sleeveless style that goes on in seconds and works for everything from the pool deck to a quick lunch run. The Girls Romper in Boca Blue Terry has a drawstring waist and actual shorts, so it transitions from pool to errands without looking like she just came from the beach.
For something that works for both boys and girls, the Waikiki White Terry hooded pullover is a unisex option that's easy to throw on over any suit. One less thing to think about when you're packing for the beach.
How Girls Bathing Suits Fit
This is the fun part. The prints in the girls swim collection this season are designed to coordinate across the whole family, so if she's in the Sardine Stripe one-piece, her brother can be in the Sardine Stripe boardies and the whole thing looks intentional without anyone having to overthink it.
The colorways also cross over into the womens swim collection and the mens swim collections. The warm pinks and soft blues running through the girls line tie into the mom's ribbed one-pieces and the dad's colorblock boardshorts. A coordinated family beach photo is genuinely doable without a lot of advance planning if you're shopping from the same collection.
Browse our kids swimwear collection to find this season's styles, or head back to our kids bathing suits guide for the full family swim breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions About Girls Bathing Suits
What is the best type of swimsuit for active little girls?
One-pieces are the most practical for active play. They stay put through jumping, sliding, and swimming without needing any adjustments. If your daughter prefers a two piece, a smocked bikini top is a good choice because the smocked band holds its shape and doesn't shift around.
How do I choose the right size in girls bathing suits?
Check the size chart for each specific style before ordering since swim sizing varies even within the same brand. For babies and toddlers, sizing up is almost always the right call since swim fabric runs snug and kids grow fast. For older girls, make sure the suit fits comfortably through the shoulders and doesn't gap at the back when she moves.
When should girls wear a rash guard instead of a regular swimsuit?
Any time you're planning extended outdoor swim time, full beach days, lake trips, camp, or back to back days in the sun, a long sleeve rash guard significantly reduces how often sunscreen needs to be reapplied. And is especially helpful for babies and toddlers with sensitive skin.
How do I coordinate girls bathing suits with siblings for family photos?
Start with her suit as the anchor. Pick one or two colors from her print and use those as the guide for everyone else's swimwear. A lot of the prints in the SGK girls swim collection run across boys styles and even adult swim, so coordination often happens naturally without any extra hunting.
How many swimsuits does a girl need for summer?
Two to three is the sweet spot for most families. One to wear, one to wash, and a backup for vacation weeks or back to back beach days. If you're doing a longer trip, three suits means you're never waiting on laundry.
How do I make girls swimsuits last longer?
Rinse in cold water after every swim since chlorine, salt, and sunscreen break down fabric faster than anything else. Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and skip the dryer. Laying flat to dry keeps the elastic in better shape and helps prints stay bright longer. With the right care a well made girls suit can absolutely be handed down to a younger sibling.
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