Premium Long Sleeve Rash Vest, UPF 50+

Where the other suncare products in this list are things you apply, this is something you put on and forget about — a zip-front rash vest in 92% polyester/8% elastane, rated UPF 50+, that covers the torso and arms so there's less bare skin needing cream in the first place. It's lined rather than a single layer of swim fabric, which stops the seams and zip pull chafing against wet skin during an hour of splashing about at the pool or on the beach.

Against a sun cream like Childs Farm or Green People in this list, the trade-off is straightforward: a rash vest never wears off, sweats off, or gets missed in a rushed reapplication, but it only protects the skin it actually covers — you still need cream on the face, hands, and legs. It's best used together with a hat and cream rather than as a replacement for either, which is how most parents end up using it in practice.

Sizing starts at 1-2 years rather than newborn, so it suits toddlers and preschoolers more than very young babies who are usually kept in the shade or under a pram parasol instead. The front zip makes it faster to get on a wriggling toddler than a pull-over UV suit, though the zip pull itself is worth checking sits away from the chin on the smallest sizes.

Compared with a full UV wetsuit-style sunsuit, this is lighter and quicker-drying since it's not neoprene, which suits warm-weather beach and pool use rather than cold-water swimming. It's a sensible, low-cost addition to a suncare routine rather than a standalone solution — five separate colours are available, mainly a styling choice rather than a functional one.