Fun in the sun with Snapper Rock UV50+ Children's Swimwear

Summer is here, along with shorts, tank tops and lots of SUN! With problem skin of my own already, I do not take the issue of sun protection lightly. If I'm outdoors going fishing or picking fruit at my dad's ranch for the afternoon, you'll probably see me in jeans, a long-sleeve plaid button down, and a large sun hat. The same goes for Buddy and his fair skin when he's out playing. If he's going to be out for hours in direct sunlight, he's covered pretty well. 

 I received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Covering up in the heat can be miserable, but having the right sun protection gear can make it no big deal. For Buddy, this summer we've partnered with Snapper Rock swimwear, where sun protection meets fashion, functionality and fun. As the leading the UV50+ children's swimwear brand on the market, I knew we'd be in good hands this summer.

We graciously received the Red Sharks Boardies and the Solid Aqua UV50 Swim Shirt from Snapper Rock for Buddy. He's tall and slender at 5 1/2 years old, and the size 6 for each piece has worked out nicely, with growing room to spare.

The boardies feature a mesh lining for size 2-8, an elastic waist with a real drawstring, and a velcro pocket. Made of 100% polyester, they dry pretty quickly and offer plenty of breathability. The length is nice and long for good coverage.

Like all Snapper Rock swim shirts, this one will block 98% of all harmful UVA and UVB rays. It's made of 80% Nylon and 20% Elastane, and feels like a typical women's bathing suit material. It's a little stretchy, features flat lock stitching to prevent irritation to the skin, and offers lots of skin coverage. 

You'll notice the swim shirt sleeves go to Buddy's elbows and the neck is higher than a regular crew neck t-shirt, providing extra coverage on the back of the neck also. This swimwear appears to be quite comfortable and flexible for any outdoor activities that require sun protection. 

I opted for a short sleeve swim shirt since Buddy is typically a hot body. I will use a natural sunscreen on his arms and legs if we're going to be outside for hours at a time, but it's pretty rare. He usually wears a hat too. At home in the backyard with the hose or playing in his "work site" I don't have to worry as much since we have lots of shade, especially in the late afternoon. Buddy is great about staying in the shade most of the time, but his Snapper Rock swimwear gives me extra piece of mind.

As far as quality goes, you get what you pay for. Snapper Rock offers high end, high quality swimwear that is made to last. Since Buddy just seems to be growing up and not out, his boardies and swim shirt will easily fit him next summer too.

Snapper Rock boardies and swim shirts are fun to shop for. They offer coordinating colors and prints so you can mix and match to create the look you want. They also make long sleeve swim shirts, hats, swim bags, sunsuits for babies and beach wear for girls.

Let me be clear. I'm not opposed to being out in the sun, and in fact it's quite the opposite. It's important to soak up a little sun every single day! Actually, Vitamin D deficiency runs in my family so I do try to get a bit of sun everyday. What I am concerned about is sun damage from careless sun exposure and what that can turn into in the future. Yes, I take sun protection very seriously. Some might call it overkill, but I call it moderation. Feel free to get back to me if you ever need to have dozens of moles biopsied, and then biopsied again due to scary abnormalities. That's me. Fair skin runs in my family, as does skin cancer. In fact, my maternal grandfather has had multiple procedures on his face in recent years, and my dad recently had melanoma removed from his neck. That's likely my future, so I'm taking precautions now to lessen my family's risk.

So, my friends, cover up! The results of sun bathing aren't attractive, and pale skin is in. Don't put your kiddos at risk this summer, cuz' they'll be fine with a bit of pink. Damage accumulates little by little. Enjoy the sun, but do so responsibly. Protect their skin during long periods of exposure to the sun with Snapper Rock swimwear.

Boys Board Shorts - $40, Boys Swim Shirts - $38 and up. Shop now at SnapperRock.com.