Best Kids’ Rashies: Finding the Right Rash Vest for Kids

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Last Updated on April 28, 2023 by Ariana Svenson

Our kids’ rashies are a vital part of our beach kit.  We won’t venture near the beach (or do any kind of water activity) without the children wearing these sun protection shirts.  Whether the children are messing around in a resort swimming pool, snorkeling on a reef, enjoying our SUP or kayaking out on the water, you will find them wearing a kids’ rashguard pretty much all the time!

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Best Kids’ Rashies Quick Comparison Chart

You can find out more about each of these kids thermal rash vest, or rashies, further down the page.

All About Kids’ Rashies – FAQs, Info & Tips

Why Are We Sharing Our Tips for Buying the Best Kids’ Rashies?

We are an adventure-loving Australian family living near the beach, and can be found on or around the water during most of the year.  Even though the water is very cold where we live (think coming up directly from Antartica)!  As such, a lot of the time the children wear thermal rashies for kids.  Or when they are in the surf, wetsuits.

When we are in hotter places (like on a tropical holiday or in the north of Western Australia), the kids are able to swap out their thermal rash guards for standard rash vests (or rashies ☺).

Umm… So What’s a Rashie?

With the informal Australian way of speaking seeming to shorten most words, rashie is the Australian term for a rashguard or rash vest.  In fact, adults and kids’ rash guard shirts may well have been invented in Australia.  Rashies for adults, boys, girls and babies tend to comprise multiple panels joined together with flat lock stitching.  There are thermal rash guards long sleeve and short sleeve, as well as top and bottom sets.

The name comes from the fact that this form of sun protection for kids was invented to prevent skin irritation and redness.  Adult and children rashies are worn to protect against sunburn, neoprene reactions, jellyfish stings and abrasions.

In our experience, around 95% of Australian kids wear rashie tops all the time when at an out-of-town or city beach.  They’re just as common as sun protection hats for kids.  In fact, adult rashies are just as often seen as a rash guard for girls, boys or babies is.  Though the view may be different in New Zealand, the United States or the UK, for example.

What Should You Be Looking For in a Standard Rash Vest or Rash Guard?

For me, it’s a given that you put your toddlers and children in a rash guard to protect them against the sun.  Even 12 years ago, when my oldest kid was a baby, there were little rashie shirts.  Nowadays, though (for my 3rd child), it was easy to buy a neck to knee, or full length rashie, in small sizes to wear as sun protection suits for babies and toddlers.

It seems generally accepted that if you live in Australia, you need to protect your skin.  Even from a very young age.  Making rashies one of the most important beach accessories of all! Along with life jackets where required, of course.

Can You Burn Through a Rashie?

Rashies are designed as sun protection swimwear for kids.  They’re also lightweight for wearing in the water without being weighed down.  These childrens sun shirts often have built-in UV protection, so you shouldn’t burn as you would when wearing a regular shirt.

In fact for us, rashies are used as child and youth sun protection shirts.  Instead of slathering the kids in sunscreen, we choose for the kids to wear a long sleeve rashie (my daughter prefers this) or a short sleeve rash vest (my son).  These can protect their shoulders, chest and neck from the sun.  Also their arms, if it’s a long sleeve rash vest.

For this reason, our rash guard shirts for kids need to be well made, with a dense enough weave to offer protection from the sun.  Here in Australia, you can buy cheap rashies for girls and boys for  about $15 to $20 from Kmart, Big W or Target.  But believe me (we’ve been there) that after only a few weeks’ use, they tend to be stretched and out of shape.

So I do wonder how much protection a budget rash guard for kids would actually be giving from harmful UV rays. I mean, if you aren’t in the water that much, then these are probably adequate options that aren’t hard on the pocket. But if you re in the water a lot, then a higher quality option is a wise investment in their future health.

Care of Your Rashie

This is intended as general advice only, and is based on our own experience.  Each rash guard for kids should have care advice on the label.

Educate your kids.  Don’t wrap the child or infant rash vest up in a towels or dump it in a bucket after getting home.  Try not to screw these rash guard shirts for kids into balls.  Also, get them washed in fresh water as soon as you can.

If you can, your rash guard swimwear for kids into the washing machine for a gentle rinse and spin.  Then hang them on the line after re-shaping, as this seems to make them last a lot longer.

Should You Wear Bathers Under a Rashie?

Something you will definitely need to think is deciding what to wear under this sun protection clothing for kids!  That is why it’s usually recommended to wear a swimsuit under these shirts to protect from sun.  It is also nice to be able to take off a rash guard off in-between activities, so your skin can dry off more quickly.

If you’re considering children’s long sleeve rashies, it’s also worth knowing this.  In the past couple of years, long sleeved bathers have become very popular for teen and tween girls.  That has been my daughter’s preferred choice of swimsuit.

However, as she can’t take her rashie off, then at times she gets quite cold when all the rest of us have dried off.  You can also buy a similar style of ‘surf suits’, or ‘paddle suits’.  These are like swimsuits for girls, with long arms and a high neckline.

6 of the Best Kids’ Rashies

2 Best Boys’ Rashies

Quiksilver Long Sleeve Rashie for Boys

This rash guard for boys comes from a top brand, and is available in five colours.  With sun protection of UPF 50+ and being made from moisture wicking, recycled fabric that’s also chlorine resistant, you won’t find a better rash vest for boys.  Free shipping from the US for Australian customers is offered by Amazon.

Pros:

• UPF 50+
• Recycled materials
• Chlorine resistant fabric

Cons:

• Top brand pricing

Click here to check price and find out more

Kanu Surf Short Sleeve Rashie for Boys

 Kanu Surf also offers some of the best rash guards for kids.  This one comes in a multitude of colours, has a UPF 50+ rating, comes in loads of sizes from age two to men and has quick dry technology.  You can even buy matching swim trunks for him to go with this one!  This is one of the best thermal rashie for swimming.

Pros:

• UPF 50+
• 18 colours
• Kanu Surf Quick Dry technology

Cons:

• No protection for lower arms

Click here to check price and find out more

2 Best Girls’ Rashies

Roxy Short or Long Sleeve Rashie for Girls

This children’s sun protection clothing from Roxy is styled especially for girls.  She can pick between colours including pink, black, coral, indigo and lavender.  It’s designed for a soft, snug and stretchy fit for comfort, and you can choose between long and short sleeved versions!  The UPF rating is 50.  Roxy really makes a great kids thermal rash vest.  They also make thermal rash guard mens and womens styles too.

Pros:

• UPF 50
• Lovely colours
• Long or short sleeves

Cons:

• Sizing can come up small

Click here to check price and find out more

Kanu Surf Long Sleeve Rashie for Girls

If you (or they) would prefer a long sleeve rash vest for your kids, this rash vest for girls from Kanu Surf offers pretty much everything you want.  It’s available in lots of colours, is fast drying, comes for ages two to 16 and has a UPF 50+ rating.  Again, you can also buy matching swimsuits and board shorts.

Pros:

• UPF 50+
• Ages 2 to 16
• Matching items available

Cons:

• No mention of chlorine resistance

Click here to check price and find out more

2 Best Infant and Toddler Rashies

WeVSwe Baby and Toddler Swimsuit Rashie

This rash guard for babies is available up to toddler rashie sizes.  It also comes in 10 bright colours they’ll love, for both boys and girls.  This covers more of the body than a typical infant sun protection shirt, and has a zipper for changing swim nappies and diapers.  It’s saltwater and chlorine resistant with a UPF 50+ rating and is made from recycled fabric.

Pros:

• Ages 0 to 3 years
• Chlorine and saltwater resistant
• Crotch zipper for changing nappies

Cons:

• Unfamiliar brand

Click here to check price and find out more

iPlay Baby and Toddler Rashie

This infant sun shirt is perfect for those who want something smaller and shorter in the arms and legs.  You can also buy these toddler rashies in Australia for fast delivery from Amazon AU.  This toddler rash vest comes in a range of colours and sizes, from six months to four years.  It offers all day UPF 50+ sun protection, keeps your little one warm, and has a front zipper to make life easier.

Pros:

• UPF 50+
• Adds warmth
• Ages 0 to 4 years

Cons:

• No protection for legs

Click here to check price and find out more

Which Kids’ Rashies are Best For Your Family?

At the end of the day, it’s all about your family life.  What makes the best kids’ rashie for one family will be different for another!  Finding a rash vest for kids involves thinking about what suits your budget and how much they’ll use it.  If that’s going to be a lot, then you might also want one that will last.

For proper sun protection, a Target rashie, rashies from Big W or a Kmart rashie aren’t ever going to be as good as the likes of a Rip Curl or Quiksilver rashie for a boy, girl, toddler, teen or baby.  Good sun protection swimwear for your kids might even save them from skin cancer at some stage in the future.

In the shorter term, it’s also likely to prevent the tears caused by sore, itchy and inflamed skin.  Isn’t that worth more than a few bucks to invest in a good kids thermal rash vest?

The Verdict – Best Kids’ Rashies: Finding the Right Rash Vest for Kids

We hope this guide to the best kids’ rashies has been helpful.  As an Australian, beach-going family we certainly have been through our share of rash vest for kids and adults alike.  While buying cheap ones will suffice if you are in a pinch or on a tight budget, the more expensive ones seem to be better quality thus lasting longer.  Especially if you have multiple kids that can pass them down, better quality ones make more sense.

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