Best on the beach: summer kids' fashion

Vida wears: Ricochet Kidswear stripe nautical swim hat, $11.99, babyfactory.co.nz; Max & Maisy kaftan in blue spot, $43, maxandmaisy.com; Tommy Tickle by Bobux softies in daisy chain, $24.99, babycity.co.nz; Shark beach bucket set, $6 from Kmart.

Lucia wears: Ricochet Love top, $12.99, babyfactory.co.nz; dot 2 dot roll cuff short, $22.99, babycity.co.nz; Sun-San Salt Water sandals in white, $79.95, naturebaby.co.nz.
Hugo wears: Feather 4 Arrow fin T-shirt, $34.95, augustboutique.co.nz; Hugo Boss leisure summer swim shorts, $71, and Hugo Boss leisure spring flip flops, $55, kizclub.co.nz

Hugo wears: Plum aqua swim cap, AU$24.95, and swim shorts, AU$19.95, plumcollections.com.au; Snorkel skull swim rashie (part of a set), $24.99, babycity.co.nz.
Vida wears: Hi Hop Treasure Island bucket hat, $17.99, babyfactory.co.nz; Sunday The Label tie-up denim playsuit, $59.95, littlebambinos.co.nz; Pretty Brave slip-on in mint with navy stripe, $49.90, cravehome.co.nz.

Ophelia wears: Kukukid bodysuit in octopus print, $39.90, littlebambinos.co.nz; Bobux soft sole in blue octopus, $40, bobux.co.nz, Kids' beach towel in ice cream print, $6 from Kmart.

Vida wears: Nature Baby toddler poplin sunhat in kaleidoscope floral print, $29.95, splash top, $34.95, swimsuit, $34.95, and Sun-San Sea Wees sandal in silver, $69.95, all from naturebaby.co.nz

Hugo wears: Munsterkids Bacco T-shirt in ocean, $55, and Skip Hop Zoo Shark backpack, $49,90, both from smithandcaugheys.co.nz; Kukukid shorts in ship print, $44.90, littlebambinos.co.nz; Bobux Reef sandal in tan, $75, bobux.co.nz; Shark beach bucket set, $6 from Kmart

Lucia wears: Billybandit chapeau, $39, smithandcaugheys.co.nz; Little Marc Jacobs Aloha T-shirt in peach, $57, kizclub.co.nz; Ricochet marl shorts in blue indigo, $11.99, babyfactory.co.nz.

Hats are an essential this season, but many kids need a few reminders of this fact.
Check out our picks for cool protection from the hot sun.

It’s not always easy to keep a sunhat on a child but we have some tips that may help your campaign:
✹Take your child hat shopping – let them select their favourite hat so that they, hopefully, want to wear it.
✹ Elastic or a tie under the chin can help deter younger children from pulling their hats off, as can the repetition method – when the hat comes off, you just put it back on again. They will eventually get the picture.
✹ If forgotten hats are a problem, try keeping spares in places like the car and your nappy bag.
✹ Keep a spare hat in your child's kindy backpack. Some preschools and kindergartens have a ‘no hat, no play’ policy during summer months, so strategically placed spare hats will ensure your child doesn’t have to miss out on outdoor fun.
✹ Don’t forget to use an SPF30+ on your child's face as well to safe-guard from any time exposed with the hat off.

Milk&Soda Kipling toddler fedora, $39, kizclub.co.nz

Plum abstract hat, AU$24.95, plumcollections.com.au

Nature Baby bucket sunhat, $32.95, naturebaby.co.nz

Nature Baby newborn seaside sunhat, $29.95, naturebaby.co.nz

Pumpkin Patch legionnaires hat, $19.99, pumpkinpatch.co.nz

Plum fruit swim hat, AU$24.95, plumcollections.com.au

Plum sailor swim cap, AU$24.95, plumcollections.com.au

Whistle & Flute Je tʼaime baseball cap, $42, sobeaubaby.com

Pumpkin Patch Jackson legionnaires hat, $19.99, pumpkinpatch.co.nz

Pumpkin Patch zebra hat, $19.99, pumpkinpatch.co.nz