Discover the safest swimsuit colors for kids. Studies show neon orange and pink are most visible underwater, while blue and white can be dangerous. Learn more here.

Published: December 11, 2025

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

There’s no end to the choices when it comes to buying a swimsuit for your child. But did you know that certain swimsuit colors are safer than others, and the right color can actually assist in spotting a child who may be drowning? 

Sadly, drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4, and the second leading cause of injury death in children ages 5 to 9. Drowning also is one of the most preventable childhood fatalities. 

Swim lessons and wearing a life jacket or floaties are very effective water safety measures, but another important consideration should be the color of your child’s swimwear. 

Studies show vibrant kids swimsuits —  bright colors such as neon orange, neon pink, yellow and green — are more visible underwater. Dark colors – blues and darker greens – are almost completely invisible when submerged in a swimming pool or other body of water. This is especially true in a pool with a dark bottom, where these colors almost disappear the farther they are from the surface. Swimsuits that are white or light blue were the hardest colors to see. For example, in a natural body of water, such as a lake, a white swimsuit easily can be mistaken for a reflection of the clouds in the sky. 

While the color of a child’s swimsuit should be something to think about in terms of drowning prevention, a bright swimsuit is no substitute for supervision. For the best protection against drowning, designate an adult to be the “water watcher” anytime children are playing around or in water. If the water watcher has to step away, make sure another water watcher is designated. This ensures someone is watching at all times. Stay safe and have fun!