When does a child need a wetsuit?

A child needs a wetsuit when: • they quickly get cold in the water or splash around for a long time in summer, • the water is colder than the air (sea in June/September, rivers), • they frequently dive or jump into waves, • they attend outdoor school or swimming lessons in outdoor pools, • they want additional protection from wind, sun, and abrasions. A wetsuit significantly extends playtime in the water and reduces the risk of hypothermia.

How long can a child stay in the water with a wetsuit?

The time depends on: • thickness of the wetsuit, • water temperature, • sensitivity of the child to cold. General rule: • 1–2 mm wetsuit → 30–60 minutes in warm water, • 2–3½ mm wetsuit → 1–2 hours in colder water.

Is children's wetsuit also suitable for the pool?

Yes — swimming wetsuit for children is an excellent choice for: • cold outdoor pools, • swimming in spring and autumn, • children who get cold quickly, • swimming, sup, or playing on inflatable elements in water parks. In indoor pools, we recommend it only for children who get cold very quickly, as they can overheat in warm water.

Does a children's wetsuit help with buoyancy?

Yes, partially — a children's wetsuit slightly increases buoyancy, but it does not replace swimming aids. How it helps: • adds a small lift (due to the wetsuit), • the child can more easily turn onto their back, • improves the feeling of safety in the water, • reduces fatigue because the body "floats" more easily. Important: • a wetsuit is not a life jacket, • it does not replace armbands or swimming belts, • it is not suitable as the only protection for children who cannot yet swim.

Should a child wear a swimsuit under a wetsuit?

Yes — under the wetsuit wear: • classic swimsuits, • bikinis or the bottom part of swimsuits, • for infants, a swim diaper. Not recommended: • cotton shirts, • sports shirts, • too thick clothing. These materials retain water, rub the skin, and interfere with the tight fit of the wetsuit.

Is children's neoprene suitable for waves, sup, or snorkeling?

Yes — children's neoprene is an excellent choice for most water activities. For waves (surfing / bodyboarding): • reduces cooling with every jump into the wave, • protects the chest, ribs, and skin from abrasions, • gives more confidence when playing in the waves. For sup and kayaking: • warms the legs and torso, which are most exposed to the wind, • enables longer sup sessions even in colder seas or rivers. For snorkeling: • the child stays warmer during prolonged swimming, • neoprene adds slight buoyancy and a feeling of safety, • protects the skin from jellyfish or sharp stones.

Can a child wear a wetsuit that is too big “for the next season”?

No. A wetsuit that is too big will not keep the child warm and can even increase the risk of hypothermia. Why: • oversized suits have wrinkles → cold water enters them, • the water does not warm up and constantly circulates → the child cools down faster, • the wetsuit loses its purpose because it does not fit the body, • loose wetsuit hinders movement during swimming or diving, • the child has a worse feeling in the water and less stability. A properly chosen wetsuit must be tight, like a “second skin,” without wrinkles and without empty space around the lower back, shoulders, or thighs.

Kids Wetsuits

Children's wetsuits for the sea, lakes, pools and paddle boarding

A kids wetsuit is a close-fitting suit made of stretchy neoprene that slows heat loss in the water and protects children from wind, sun and scrapes. Thickness ranges from 1 mm for sunny days to 5 mm and more for cold water. Children lose heat faster than adults, so a wetsuit keeps them playing in the water for longer – well past the point where they'd normally be shivering on a towel with blue lips.

Boy in a full kids wetsuit with a chest zip standing in the sea

Neoprene hugs the body and traps a thin layer of water against the skin. Body heat warms that layer, so your child stays warm through long splashing sessions, wave jumping or their first strokes on a paddle board. Neoprene also shields covered skin from the sun; for bare skin and the hottest days, go for kids UV rash guards. Gear for the whole family is in all wetsuits and neoprene.

What thickness wetsuit does my child need for the water temperature?

In mid-summer, children rarely need a wetsuit in the Adriatic or in Slovenia's alpine lakes. A wetsuit earns its place in May and June, September and October, when the water is still – or already – on the cool side but kids still want to swim. Because children cool down faster than adults, the recommendations below are one step warmer than a standard adult wetsuit chart.

Water temperature	When in Slovenia and the Adriatic (approx.)	What to choose for a child
26 °C and above	Adriatic and lakes in July and August	no wetsuit needed – a UV rash guard for sun protection; 1 mm for kids who feel the cold
23–26 °C	early and late summer, long swims or paddle boarding	2 mm shorty
18–22 °C	Adriatic in May, June, September and October; Lake Bohinj in summer and autumn	3/2 mm full suit; on sunny, windless days a 2 mm shorty or long-sleeve springsuit for swimming
12–17 °C	sea and lakes in April and late autumn	4/3 mm full suit in calm conditions, 5/4 mm in wind or for longer sessions
below 12 °C	rivers, winter and early spring	5/4 or 6/5 mm with hood, boots and gloves – short, supervised sessions only

These ranges are a guide and can shift by a few degrees depending on your child's build, activity level and air temperature.

Why kids get colder on the beach or the board than in the water

Once a child gets out of the water, wet skin and a wet wetsuit lose heat through evaporation, and wind chill speeds that up. That's why kids often feel colder on the beach or on a paddle board than in the water itself. On windy or cloudy days, go one step warmer than the table suggests. After swimming, get the wetsuit off straight away and wrap your child in a kids changing poncho.

Shorty or full wetsuit for kids?

A kids shorty is the right call for sunny days and swimming in the shoulder season. A full wetsuit is for windy days, colder lakes and water sports in spring and autumn. When the water is warm, a UV rash guard is enough.

	UV rash guard	Shorty	Full wetsuit
Keeps warm in water	no	yes, torso	yes, whole body
Sun protection	arms and torso	covered areas	almost the whole body
Water temperature	26 °C and above	approx. 20–26 °C, sunny and calm	below 20 °C or in wind
Best for	all day at the beach	summer sea, sunny calm days in the shoulder season, swimming, paddle boarding	water and wind sports in spring and autumn

Kids shorty wetsuit

A shorty covers the torso and the upper arms and legs. It's light, quick to put on and doesn't get in the way of swimming. It's ideal for kids who would swim all day, every day – including in May, June and September. On a sunny, windless day when the water is still a little cool, it adds time in the water without the shivers. In summer, it suits kids who feel the cold or spend hours in the water. Once the wind picks up or clouds roll in, switch to long sleeves or a full suit.

Long-sleeve kids wetsuit (springsuit)

A springsuit combines short legs with long sleeves, adding sun and wind protection for the shoulders and arms. It's a good choice for breezy days, paddle boarding and kids with fair skin.

Full kids wetsuit

A full wetsuit covers the body down to the wrists and ankles. You'll want one once the water drops below about 20 °C or the wind comes up: in spring and autumn, in lakes and rivers, and for water sports where kids spend a lot of time in the wind.

How to read wetsuit thickness for kids

Thickness is given in millimetres. With two numbers (e.g. 3/2 mm), the first is the thickness on the torso and the second on the arms and legs, where kids need to move freely.

1–2 mm – sunny shoulder-season days, swimming, and kids who get cold even in summer
3/2 mm – May, June, September and October, lakes, paddle boarding and windy days
4/3 and 5/4 mm – cold water in spring and late autumn; 5/4 mm when it's windy

Thicker neoprene is warmer but stiffer, so it's harder to get on and more tiring to move in. For younger children, a good fit matters more than an extra millimetre. Thinner kids wetsuits usually have flatlock seams, while thicker ones use glued and blind-stitched seams that let in less water.

Back zip or chest zip?

Most kids wetsuits have a back zip because it makes the suit the easiest to get on and off, even when wet. A long zip cord lets children close it themselves. A chest zip seals better and lets in less water, so you'll mostly find it on thicker suits for older kids who already surf or sail.

How to choose the right kids wetsuit size

Kids wetsuit sizes are numbered roughly by age, but your child's height and chest measurement are more reliable. Always check the size chart on the product page.

the suit should fit like a second skin, with no folds,
creases under the arms or at the lower back mean it's too big,
if your child can't raise their arms or squat freely, it's too small,
the neck should seal without choking,
older kids who outgrow the largest kids size move on to adult XS or S full wetsuits.

Girls' and boys' cuts differ very little for younger children; the difference is mostly in colours and prints. The most reliable way to get it right is a fitting, so bring your child to our shop in Ljubljana and we'll help you choose. Looking for a size or thickness we don't have in stock? Just ask.

Kids with surfboards running along the beach in a shorty wetsuit and long-sleeve UV rash guards

Toddler and baby wetsuits

For babies and toddlers in warm summer water, a UV rash guard is often all they need: it blocks the sun without overheating them. If your toddler gets cold quickly, ask us in store about the smallest wetsuit sizes.

How to put a wetsuit on a child

The easiest trick is a small plastic bag over the foot and hand. Slip the bag over your child's foot and push the foot through the leg of the wetsuit, so it slides through without catching. Take the bag off and repeat on the other leg, then on both arms. Put the wetsuit on while your child is still dry, as wet neoprene sticks to the skin. Pull the material with your fingertips, not your nails, so you don't damage it. To take it off, peel it inside out like a sock – it comes off much more easily.

Kids wetsuits for swimming and paddle boarding

For swimming, choose a thin 1–2 mm wetsuit, ideally without seams under the arms so it doesn't rub during strokes. A swim wetsuit for kids is handy for lessons in outdoor pools, in lakes, or in the sea in May, June and September.

When paddle boarding with kids, children spend most of their time on the board but often fall or jump in, and a wet body loses heat fast in the wind. That's why a 2 mm shorty or long-sleeve springsuit works well on sunny days, while a full suit is better in spring, autumn and whenever it's windy. A wetsuit adds a little buoyancy but is no substitute for a buoyancy aid or life jacket. For a board sized for children, see our kids paddle boards.

How do I know my child is getting cold?

Kids rarely say they're cold while they're having fun. Shivering, blue lips and pale skin mean it's time to get out of the water. Clumsiness and going unusually quiet are warning signs too. Get the wetsuit off, dry your child and dress them warmly. If it keeps happening, go for a thicker wetsuit or a full suit.

Why quality matters in a kids wetsuit

Stretchier neoprene is easier for kids to get into and move in, so they're happier to wear it. Softer material rubs less, and well-made seams let in less water. That's why you pay for comfort and warmth, not just thickness.

Who is a kids wetsuit for?

kids who spend hours in the water and never want to get out,
kids who get cold easily, even in summer,
sea swimming in May, June, September and October, plus lakes and rivers,
beginners in swimming, surf and paddle boarding lessons,
school trips, summer camps and first water adventures,
snorkelling, where kids swim slowly for a long time and cool down faster.

What to wear with a kids wetsuit

Feet: wetsuit boots protect against sharp rocks, sea urchins and hot sand, and keep feet warm in cold water.
Head: a neoprene cap or hood holds in heat in cold water and wind.
After swimming: a changing poncho so your child can get changed and warm up quickly.

How to care for a kids wetsuit

After every use, rinse the wetsuit in fresh water, dry it inside out in the shade and store it on a wide hanger. Don't leave it in the sun or scrunched up in a bag. For washing, use the care products in wetsuit accessories.