Being in the sun makes us happy - it's warm, it causes serotonin boosts, and it encourages us to spend time with our friends and family. There are so many upsides to being out in the sunny weather, and we want to make sure our family is as safe as can be while enjoying the warmth of the sun.

Unfortunately, there are also some downsides to the sun — namely, the UV rays. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can harm the skin, and the best way to protect our family against the harmful effects of UV rays is through UV ray-blocking products and the best UV protective swimwear.

Sunscreen works, but what happens when your little ones take a dip in the pool or the ocean and it runs off?

Read through this article to learn more about UV rays, why they're dangerous and how you can protect your children from them.

What Is Ultraviolet Radiation and Why Is It Harmful?

UV (Ultraviolet) radiation are electromagnetic rays that are present in sunlight. It sits outside of our colour spectrum, so we can't actually see them with the naked eye. Ultraviolet lights are also emitted by black lights, mercury-vapour lamps, and tanning beds. In small doses, UV rays aren't too harmful, but the longer your exposure to them, the more at risk you become.

How Does It Harm Me?

UV rays can damage both your health and your appearance. Unprotected exposure to too much sun can cause surface-level damage like premature aging, tough or leathery skin, sun spots, and wrinkles.

Too much sun can also cause sunburn, something almost all of us have faced to varying degrees in our lives.

UV rays also weaken the immune system, making it harder for our bodies to fight off illness and infection.

At its worst, too much exposure to UV rays can cause skin cancer. There are links between sun exposure and basal cell and squamous cell cancers, as well as melanoma. This can be from natural or man-made UV rays. 

One of the best ways to keep your children protected when they’re at the beach or the pool is to have them wear UV protective swimwear.

Positives of UV Rays

It's not all doom and gloom, and we certainly aren't saying that you should stay indoors for the rest of your life to avoid UV rays. In moderation, UV rays can actually be healthy. For one, they promote the production of vitamin D in our bodies.

Vitamin D has several health benefits and helps fight off a myriad of illnesses, but doctors still aren't quite sure what the optimum level of vitamin D is, or how much is too much.

Why You Should Invest in UV Swimwear for Your Kids

While some other brands are picking up on the benefits of making UV protective swimwear for toddlers and children, it's not mainstream yet, and we think it should be.

UV swimwear is an investment. Not only are our products crafted to last long with the appropriate care, but they make a good investment for your health. The damage UV rays can cause can be catastrophic for some, and the worst part is that you can't see the damage until it starts to make you ill.

Investing in your welfare as well as your children's will keep your family unit healthier and stronger.

3 Reasons Why Anti UV Clothing Should Be the Standard for Modern Swimwear

Anti UV clothing doesn't seem to be on people's priority lists because most aren't even aware they exist! While there are some brands out there that sell UV protective clothing, they're generally mass-produced cheaply or suffer when it comes to aesthetics. The truth is that the best UV swimwear for toddlers, children, and adults come from a reputable, Australia-based, family-owned business...like Cheeky Chickadee!

There are a hundred reasons to wear UV protective clothing or swimwear, but here are our top three:

1. Act Now So You Don’t Have to Act Later

The best offence is a good defence, right? Instead of having to treat health or skin issues that could pop up years down the line, do your future self and your family a favour by not letting things get to that point.

It's also imperative you're protecting your baby's skin. Their skin is still very delicate and fragile, so investing in the best UV swimwear for babies when you're out at the beach or pool makes a lot of sense as it provides all-day protection that doesn’t wear off.

2. Take the Stress Out of Beach Days

Beach days are great fun for the whole family, but planning isn't always so exciting for the parents. There are a million things to remember, so when you get to the beach or the pool and you realise you've forgotten the sun hats and the sunblock lotion, it can ruin your day. You spend the whole time worrying, stressing, and reminding your children to sit in the shade when they can.

Kids don't understand the dangers of UV rays yet, and they’ll think you’re not being fun for not letting them play under the sun. However, having Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) swimwear for girls and boys means they're protected the whole time they have it on, and you can sit back, breathe, and enjoy the day too!

3. Bin the Boring Designs

Safe and secure doesn't have to equal boring. Bin those drab designs and don the designs you and your kids will love. Ever shown up to the beach in matching flamingo shorts?!

Each one of our designs is thought up, drawn-out, and realised in-house. We pride ourselves with our out-there designs that play with colours, flora, and fauna. They're also all available for the whole family — we love matching sets!

Buy the Best UV Swimwear for Your Family

By now, you should know exactly why it's important to invest in the best UV swimwear out there. It's protective, durable, and when it comes to us, super fun too! Teaching your kids from a young age that safety can be cool is never a bad thing either.

If you want to see which products our customers love most, from our best UV swimwear for toddlers all the way to swimwear for adults, come and browse our favourites. We promise you'll love all of them!