Summer is here, yay! That means it’s time to finally switch from snow suits and rain suits to swimsuits and cute sunhats.
If you’ve been a reader of our blog or following our Instagram, you know we’re big fans of Jan & Jul kids’ gear, an affordable Canadian company. I raved about their sunhats last year, and then again about their snow suits this past winter, but it wasn’t until now that we got to test out a whole bunch of summer gear.
Because summer goes by so quickly, there’s no room for error when switching brands and gear, especially when we parents have other things to worry about. Like snacks and activities. And life in general.
So let me save you some time when choosing summer gear for your kids.
We’ve tried Jan & Jul’s:
Basically, all you need for a great summer filled with water activities.
This is my honest review of the gear, with some comments from my 5-year-old son, who has his own opinion about everything we get for him.
Sunglasses
What parents want: to protect their child’s eyes and be indestructible.
Jan & Jul’s sunglasses check both boxes. Their sunglasses are polarized with UVA, UVB protection, and UV 400 lenses. They’re super lightweight and truly indestructible. I asked my son to walk over them, just to test them, which he happily obliged, and there wasn’t a tiny scratch or crack on them.
What kids want: cool-looking sunglasses.
My son said the sunglasses look cool, so I know he’s going to wear them. Jan & Jul offers 25 different shapes and colours to choose from.
Sun hats
There are so many choices it’s overwhelming: cotton floppy hats, cotton bucket hats, cotton adventure hats, and aqua dry sun hats.
We went through at least 6 different cotton floppy hats, and I’m confident to say we’ll be buying them till they fit our kids. Currently, they offer over 50 prints! Yes, you read that right, 50 different prints to choose from.
One of the best features of the sun hats is that they have 50+ UPF protection but use absolutely no chemicals (as is common), but the UV protection comes from the weave of the fabric.
Our kids use them in water as well. Since the sun hats are so well designed, the wide brim above their eyes doesn’t get floppy and stays exactly where it’s supposed to – above their eyes and not in their eyes.
I wrote a full detailed review of the sunhats, if you’d like to read more about why we love them.
One-piece sun suit
I just can’t get over the cute prints Jan & Jul has. Just look at the Crabby Crab below. Who wouldn’t want this? My 18-month-old son rocks the look.
The main and most important feature is the 50+ UPF protection the swimsuit offers. And thanks to the long sleeves, no sunscreen necessary. Which is good news for both parents and kids. There’s nothing more annoying than to run after a toddler who doesn’t want to put sunscreen on.
I like the full body zipper – it’s really helpful for putting the sun suit on & off, and diaper changes.
Their wide selection of prints suits kids from 6 months to 4 years old. For older kids, the next category is more suitable.
Swim shorts & Rashguard top
For kids 2-12 years old, Jan & Jul has new UV tops & shorts collection.
For every kind of shorts you see, they have a couple of rashguard tops to choose from.
I like the additional coverage of the neck thanks to the high neck. And together with long sleeves, that’s another thumbs up for no sunscreen!
By now you know the 50+ UPF protection is standard and truly amazing! The rashguard top has a loose fit, so it doesn’t stick to the skin and kids aren’t sweating underneath it.
My son was happy I chose the wave print for him, phew! It always takes me so much time to choose which print to get, I’d buy many more but that’s not necessary. The top dries fast, so when I put it on the sun to dry, it was ready to be worn again by the time my son finished his snack.
Slip-on shoes
I’m still not sure why it took us this long to try Jan & Jul’s slip-on shoes. They’re the one shoe my son chooses over and over again.
Whether we go to the playground, on a bike ride, or splash in the river. Kids can wear them as indoor shoes for the school or outdoor shoes for all kinds of adventures.
My son loves the 1-second slip on. And I love that they’re breathable, flexible, and dry fast. If they made them for adults, I’d definitely buy a pair. They look incredibly comfy and versatile.
Needless to say, we’ll be buying more Jan & Jul gear for years to come. I’m thrilled we found affordable and functional kids’ gear for all seasons!
