A wetsuit for children becomes important as soon as kids spend longer periods in or around the water and need extra warmth and protection. This is not only during cold days. Even in summer, children can cool down quickly because of cold wind, splashing water, or long swimming sessions. Young children especially lose body heat much faster than adults. A good wetsuit helps keep children comfortable, warm, and safe in, on, and around the water.

The advantage of junior wetsuits is that it is specifically designed for children’s body shapes, giving a much better fit compared to oversized adult wetsuits. At Kitemana, wetsuits for children are available for almost all ages, from baby wetsuits for the smallest children to wetsuits for teenagers around 16 years old. Around the age of 16, many kids can transition into adult wetsuits, depending on their growth and build. For babies and young children, a wetsuit mainly focuses on warmth and protection while swimming, playing, or floating in the water. Older children often use wetsuits for watersports such as surfing, kitesurfing, SUPing, or wakeboarding.

A good fit is very important for a kids wetsuit to work properly. A wetsuit should fit tightly against the body without limiting flexibility. If a wetsuit is too loose, too much water enters and your child cools down faster. Especially around the arms, legs, lower back, and neck, you want the wetsuit to fit snugly without large gaps.

Also keep the wetsuit thickness and wetsuit type in mind. Thicker wetsuits provide more warmth but usually feel slightly stiffer than thinner summer wetsuits. Thicker wetsuits are especially useful in colder locations, and they are also great when learning a watersport such as kitesurfing because beginners often spend more time in colder water. Thinner wetsuits are better for younger children who mainly want to play and need a lot of flexibility. The wetsuit type also matters. A shorty gives more freedom of movement thanks to the short sleeves and legs, while a fullsuit provides more warmth and protection during colder conditions.

Many parents wonder if they should buy a childrens wetsuit “to grow into.” However, a wetsuit that is too large often works less effectively because it retains less warmth. It is better to choose a wetsuit that fits well and has enough stretch, so your child can move comfortably while still having a little room to grow. One important thing to remember during fitting is that dry wetsuits always feel tighter. Once they get wet, the wetsuit will loosen up slightly. Do you live near our Megastore in Noordwijk? For the best advice, we recommend visiting us so we can make sure the wetsuit fits perfectly!

The wetsuit entry system also makes a difference. A backzip wetsuit has a zipper on the back and is usually the easiest to put on and take off, ideal for younger children. Frontzip wetsuits seal better around the neck and allow less water inside, but can sometimes be slightly harder to put on. This closure is generally better suited for beginner watersports enthusiasts.

A child wetsuit offers many additional benefits for children. Of course, a wetsuit helps children stay comfortable for longer in cold or chilly water, but it also protects them against all kinds of external influences they encounter while playing and swimming. Especially at the beach or in the ocean, a wetsuit acts as a great extra layer of protection. One of the biggest benefits of a junior wetsuit is protection against UV rays from the sun. During long days at the beach or on the water, children are exposed to a lot of sunlight. The wetsuit covers a large part of the skin and helps reduce the risk of sunburn. Your child stays better protected against the sun, and you save on sunscreen!

For children who spend a lot of time playing on the beach, a wetsuit also offers extra protection against chafing, sand, and small bumps. The neoprene acts as a soft protective layer, making everything feel a little more comfortable. This allows children to move freely and enjoy every day on the water for longer. In other words, fewer bruises and scratches.

At Kitemana, we offer kids wetsuits from all major kite brands.
ION: WE LIVE THE VERSATILITY OF ACTION SPORTS
Mystic: BOUNDLESS WATERS
Prolimit: PUSH THE EVOLUTION OF WATER SPORTS TOGETHER